Name: IBRAHIM USMAN DIKKO

ID No: 201203058
Department: COMPUTER ENGINEERING (SECTION 2)
Course: GET 221- GENERAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 1- THERMODYNAMICS
Date: 29 November 2021
Instructors Name: ADELEKE W.A ENGR. TECH

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 Table of Content
I. RESISTANCE TEMPURATURE DECTECTORS (RTD)
II. RTD ADVANTAGES
III. THERMOCOUPLES
IV. BIMETALLIC THERMOCOUPLES
V. IMPORTANT PROPERTIES A MATERIAL SHOULD HAVE TO BE SELECTED FOR
BIMETALLIC THERMOMETERS
VI. METALS USED IN BIMETALLIC STRIP
VII. ADVANTAGES OF BIMETALLIC THERMOMETERS
VIII. LIMITATIONS OF BIMETALLIC THERMOMETERS
IX. LIQUID-IN-GLASS THERMOMETER
X. ADVANTAGES OF LIQUID-IN-GLASS THERMOMETER
XI. DISADVANTAGES OF LIQUID-IN-GLASS THERMOMETER
XII. REFERNCES

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Assignment
Write a brief description on the temperature measurement apparatus listed in the manual.

(1) Resistance temperature detectors (RTD)

The acronym “RTD” stands for “Resistance Temperature Detector”. Typically, RTDs contain
either platinum, nickel, or copper wires, as these materials have a positive temperature
coefficient. This means that a rise in temperature results in an increased resistance – this change
of resistance is then used to detect and measure temperature changes. As the temperature
increases in a metal, resistance also increases. RTDs use this relationship to measure the heat of a
process fluid.
For some metals such as platinum, this relationship is nearly linear and remains stable across a
wide temperature range. As a result, the resistance measured in a platinum element corresponds
closely to its temperature-and therefore the temperature of the surrounding fluid, when installed
in a thermal fluid system. Copper wires transmit the actual RTD element’s resistance to a
measuring instrument, which computes the associated temperature.
The number of wires is an important consideration in RTD design. With a theoretical ideal wire,
the resistance registered by the measuring instrument would equal the resistance of the platinum
element. In reality, the wires themselves have their own levels of resistance which must be
compensated for to ensure accurate readings.
For example, a two-wire system does nothing to account for the resistance of the wires, leading
to a less accurate temperature reading. Three- and four-wire RTDs, on the other hand, are
carefully designed to cancel out the resistance of the wires, drastically increasing accuracy. As a
basic rule of thumb: the more wires, the more accurate the reading. However, three-wire systems
are sufficient for most common industrial applications.
The two critical elements of an RTD are the platinum resistance element, which functions as the
sensor, and the wire configuration, which communicates that sensor’s reading. Other important
elements include:
• Outside diameter (OD). The OD measures the wire and its surrounding insulation-typically
no thicker than 0.5″.
• Tubing material. The tube housing is often made of stainless steel, although more
temperature-resistant metals might be chosen depending on the application.
• Process connection. Various types of pressure fittings can be used as the process connection
with many of the options resembling those used in thermocouples.
• Cold end termination. At the cold end of the wire, an RTD can terminate into a plug, wire, or
terminal head, among other options, depending on the measuring instrument.
RTD ADVANTAGES
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RTDs offer many benefits when used in thermal fluid systems:
• Highly accurate measurements
• Stable metal construction
• Consistent repeatability
• Functional in high temperature ranges

(2) Thermocouples
Thermocouples are electrical devices consisting of two dissimilar electrical conductors forming
different electrical junctions at various temperatures.
Building on the thermoelectric effect, a thermocouple produces temperature-dependent voltage,
which can be used to measure temperature. The working principle of the thermocouple relies on
a law of physics. We call it the See-beck effect, after Thomas Johann See-beck. This French
scientist found out that if we join two different metals and heat them on one end, the temperature
differential between the two ends produces an electromotive force (EMF). This EMF depends on
the type of metals used and the temperature. Therefore, if we know the characteristics of both
metals, we can calculate the temperature change by measuring the milli-voltage produced. A
thermocouple consists of two metals that produce an EMF when one end experiences a
temperature change. However, one thermocouple can’t handle all temperature ranges, so we use
different metals to measure all the ranges we need. You can tell the thermocouple types apart by
the cable colors.
But one needs to be careful because those colors change between countries and standards. This
table will give you an idea of the most common thermocouple types, their temperature ranges in
some of the most common standards.
Thermocouples have very wide temperature ranges so they are often used in extreme conditions.
This makes thermocouple replacement a key aspect of maintenance.

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(3) Bimetallic Thermometers
A bimetallic thermometer is a temperature measurement device. It converts the media’s
temperature into mechanical displacement using a bimetallic strip. The bimetallic strip consists
of two different metals having different coefficients of thermal expansion. Bimetallic
thermometers are used in residential devices like air conditioners, ovens, and industrial devices
like heaters, hot wires, refineries, etc. They are a simple, durable, and cost-efficient way of
temperature measurement.
A bimetallic thermometer works by using two basic properties of metal:

 The thermal expansion property of the metal

 The coefficient of thermal expansion of different metals is different for the same
temperature.

The main component of the bimetallic thermometer is the bimetallic strip. The bimetallic strip
consists of two thin strips of different metals, each having different coefficients of thermal
expansion. Thermal expansion is the property of a metal to change its shape or volume with a
change in temperature. The metal strips are connected along their length by fusing them together
or riveting. The strips are fixed at one end and free to move on the other end.

The two metals typically used are steel and copper, but steel and brass can also be used. Since
their thermal expansion is different, the length of these metals changes at different rates for the
same temperature. Due to this property, when the temperature changes, the metal strip at one side
expands and the other does not, which creates a bending effect. This can be seen in Figure 1.
When the temperature rises, the strip will turn in the direction of metal with the lower
temperature coefficient. When the temperature decreases, the strip bends in the direction of metal
having a higher temperature coefficient. The deflection of the strip indicates the temperature
variation. This bending motion is connected to the dial on the thermometer, outputting the
media’s temperature. Calibration is an important step to ensure the correct temperature reading.

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Figure 1 - Bimetallic strip: fixed end (A), free end (B), deflection (C), bimetallic strip (D)

Advantages of bimetallic thermometers

1. They are simple, robust and inexpensive.
2. Their accuracy is between +or- 2% to 5% of the scale.
3. They can with stand 50% over range in temperatures.
4. They can be used where ever a mercury–in-glass thermometer is used.
Limitations of bimetallic thermometer
1. They are not recommended for temperature above 400’C.
2. When regularly used, the bimetallic may permanently deform, which in turn will introduce
errors.

(4) Liquid in glass thermometer

The liquid in glass thermometer, is the most commonly used device to measure temperature and
it is inexpensive to make and easy to use. The liquid in glass thermometer has a glass bulb
attached to a sealed glass tube (also called the stem or capillary tube).A very thin opening, called
a bore, exists from the bulb and extends down the center of the tube. The bulb is typically filled
with either mercury or red-colored alcohol and is free to expand and rise up into the tube when
the temperature increases and to contract and move down the tube when the temperature
decreases. In the Liquid in Glass Thermometers (LIG) the thermally sensitive element is a liquid
contained in a graduated glass envelope. The principle used to measure temperature is that of the
apparent thermal expansion of the liquid.

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 The main components of a Liquid in glass thermometer are:
 A bulb which acts as a container for the functioning liquid where it can easily expand or
contract in capacity.
 A stem, “a glass tube containing a tiny capillary connected to the bulb and enlarged at the
bottom into a bulb that is partially filled with a working liquid”.
 A temperature scale which is basically preset or imprinted on the stem for displaying
temperature readings.
 Point of reference i.e. a calibration point which is most commonly the ice point.
 A working liquid which is generally either mercury or alcohol.
 An inert gas, mainly argon or nitrogen which is filled inside the thermometer above mercury
to trim down its volatilization.

Advantages
Following are the major advantages associated with the use of liquid-in-glass thermometers:
 They are comparatively cheaper than other temperature measurement devices.
 They are handy and convenient to use.
 Unlike electrical thermometers, they do not necessitate power supply or batteries for
charging.
 They can be frequently applied in areas where there is problem of electricity.
 They provide very good repeatability and their calibration remains unaffected.

Limitations
Use of liquid-in-glass thermometers includes following limitations too:
 They are considered inapt for applications involving extremely high or low temperatures.
 They cannot be applied in regions where highly accurate results are desirable.
 As compared to electrical thermometers, they are very weak and delicate. Therefore, they
must be handled with extra care because they are likely to break.
 Besides, they cannot provide digital and automated results. Hence, their use is limited to
areas where only manual reading is adequate, for example, a household thermometer.
 “Temperature readings should be noted immediately after removal because a glass
thermometer can be affected by the environmental temperature, heat produced by the hand
holding it, cleaning, etc. This temperature should be recorded because a glass thermometer
does not offer a recall of the measured temperature.”
 Reading temperature via liquid-in-glass thermometers call for brilliant eyesight.
 Liquid element contained in a glass thermometer may be perilous or risky to health owing to
their potential chemical spills.

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 These thermometers display temperature either in Celsius or Fahrenheit scales. Thus,
temperature conversion would be needed if the temperature reading is wanted in some other
scale.

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Reference

Editorial Staff, Liquid in Glass Thermometer Principle, (2021),

https://instrumentationtools.com/liquid-in-glass-thermometer-principle/

Tamson, How Bimetallic Thermometers work, (2021), https://tameson.com/bimetallic-

thermometer.html

https://www.prelectronics.com/the-fundamentals-of-rtd-temperature-sensors/

https://www.transmittershop.com/brand/thermo-probes/rtds-resistance-temperature-detectors/

https://www.tfsheat.com/what-is-a-resistance-temperature-device/

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