TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT

8.1 LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this experiment, students should be able to:

i. Calibrate Type K, and Type J thermocouples.

ii. Analyze the principles of a thermocouple transmitter and calibration of a thermocouple
transmitter.

iii. Calibrate Platinum Resistance thermometers


8.2 INTRODUCTION


Thermocouples are based on the Seebeck effect, Peltier Effect and Thomson Effect. Seebeck
Effect states that if wire made of two different materials are joined together at their ends and if the
two end or junctions are maintained at different temperature, a current will flow in the circuit.
Thermocouples are based on this effect. Two other effects known as Peltier Effect and Thomson
effect are also related to thermoelectric effects. The important pairs of materials used as
thermoelectric effects. The important pairs of materials used as thermocouples are shown in
Table 8.1.

Table 8.1 Important Thermocouple Pairs

Type Material Range,
0
C Resolution V/
0
C
B Platinum 30% Rhodium- 0 to 1820 11
Platinum 6% Rhodium

E Chromel-Constantan -270 to 1000 80

J Iron-Constantan -210 to 1200 60

K Chromel-Alumel -270 to 1370 45

R Platinum 13% Rhodium- -50 to 1760 15
Platinum

T Copper-Constantan -270 to 400 60


The Temperature-EMF relantionships of the important types of thermocouples are shown in
APPENDIX table A1-A6. These tables give the EMF for the cold junction at 0
0
C and the hot
junction at the temperature T.







189
8.2.1 Cold Junction Compensation


Though thermocouple calibration tables are given with the cold junction at 0
0
C it is rarely possible
to maintain the cold junction at that temperature except in laboratories. In industrial applications
the cold junctions are maintained at the ambient conditions and suitable corrections are applied.
The EMF of a thermcouple maintained with the hot junction at T and cold junction at 0, E
T,O
is
given by,

E
T , O

E
T , t

E
t ,O

where,


ET,t = temperature of the thermocouple with hot junction at T and cold junction at t
Et,0 = temperature of the thermocouple with hot junction at T and cold junction at O


In industrial thermocouple transmitters cold junction compensation is performed electronically.


8.2.2 Thermocouple connection

Law of intermediate metals in a thermocouple made up of Metals A and B at temperatures t
1
and
t
2
we can introduce one ore metallic wires between A and B without altering the EMF (Figure 8.2),
provided all the junctions with which the junctions at t
1
is replaced is maintained at t
1
and all the
junction with which the junctions t
2
is replaced is maintained at temperature t
2
.














Figure 8.2 Law of intermediate metals


Because of the law of intermediate metals we can use wire made of some other material to
connect a thermocouple with the secondary measuring instruments. For this purpose we use
compensating cables for e.g. Type K compensating cable.



190
8.2.3 Resistance Thermometers


Resistance thermometers work on the principles of the change in resistance of a metallic wire
with change in temperature. Platinum is the preferred metal used in resistance thermometers.
The change in resistance of platinum thermometer with temperature is shown in appendix table
A.6

8.2.4 Resistance Thermometer Connections


One of major causes of error in resistance thermometers is the change in ambient temperature
which affect the resistance of the connection wires between the resistance thermometer and the
Wheatstone Bridge which is used for measuring the change in resistance. Using the three wires
or four wire connections can minimize this error as shown Figure 8.3.In the three wire
connections any change in the resistance of lead 2 is added to the thermometer resistance.
However this is balanced by the equal change in the resistance of lead 1 which is added to the
reference resistor. In the four wire connection change in resistance of lead 1 and lead 3 are
compensated by that of lead 2 and 4 since the former adds top the thermometer resistance while
the later adds to the reference resistor.
























Figure 8.3 Resistance Thermometer Connections










191
8.3 EXPERIMENTAL APPARATUS


The equipment required for performing the experiments are shown in Table 8.4


Table 8.4 Equipment Required


Description Unit name Model no


Experimental Units Temperature Measurement Unit Yokogawa Model YTC-01



Constant Temperature Bath Isotech Model Jupiter 650



Handheld Communicator Yokogawa Model BT200



Digital Indicator Yokogawa Model UM330



Units Under Test (UUT) Thermocouple Sets Types K, J, E,

T, B and R


Plantinum Resistance Thermometer

100 Ohms


Thermocouple Transmitter Yokogawa Model YTA110


ResistanceThermometer Yokogawa Model YTA110

Transmitter


Master Standard Units Wheatstone Bridge Yokogawa Model 275597

(MSU)

Digital Thermometer Yokogawa Model 756301






8.4 PROCEDURE


8.4.1 Calibration of thermocouples


8.4.1.1 Experimental Setup and Procedure


Thermocouples can be calibrated up to 650
0
C using the constant temperature bath (Figure 8.5)



























Figure 8.5 Calibration of Thermocouple


A platinum resistance thermometer together with Model 756301 digital thermometer is used as
the Master Standard Unit. A thermocouple together with UM330 digital indicator is used as the
Unit Under Test.

1. Connect the equipment as shown in Figure 8.5.Use a Type K thermocouple as the UUT.
2. Set the constant temperature bath temperature to 40
0
C and allow the temperature to
stabilize. We can consider the temperature to be stabilized if the MSU reading does not
change for say 5 minutes. Note the MSU reading and the UUT reading.

3. Select a minimum of FIVE (5) bath temperatures between 40
0
C and 300
0
C to develop a
calibration curve for the type K thermocouple. After each change wait for about 15
minutes for the temperature to stabilize. Record all the relevant data.
4. Repeat the experiment for the type J thermocouples.

8.4.1.2 Questions


1. Based on the data that you have collected, plot relevant graphs and compare with the literature
values given in Appendix table A1 to A6. Comment on your findings.

2. Discuss about the sensitivity of thermocouples J and K. Calculate the sensitivity and compare
with the values reported in literature as given in Table 8.1. Discuss about the linearity of the
thermocouples over the temperature range.












8.4.2 Step response of thermocouples


In this section the dynamic response of the thermocouple is determined by step testing.
The experimental setup for performing step response testing is shown in figure 8.8.



























Figure 8.8 Step response of thermocouples






8.4.2.1 Experimental Set-up and Procedure


1. Connect the equipment as shown in figure 8.8

2. Keep the thermocouple in the air outside the constant temperature bath.
3. Adjust the bath temperature at say 70
0
C.

4. Suddenly dip the thermometer into the bath and keep it there. This way we are introducing
a step change
5. Note the change in temperature with respect to time.

6. After the temperature reading has become constant, do the reverse step by suddenly
taking out the thermometer from the bath and keeping it in the air. Wait till the temperature
again stabilizes.

8.4.2.2 Questions


1. Based on the data that you have collected for both heating and cooling, identify whether the
response for each step is first order or higher order. Determine the corresponding time
constant(s) and gain of each system. Discuss your results.










8.4.3 Thermocouple transmitter


The function of the temperature transmitter is to convert the mV output given by different types of
thermocouples to standard 4-20 mA output. Yokogawa YTA110 transmitter will be calibrated in
this experiment. In this experiment distributor is introduced to supply 24 VDC to the transmitter
and convert its 4-20 mA output to 1-5 V.















8.4.3.1 Experimental Set-up and Procedure


































Figure 8.11 Thermocouple Transmitter Calibration



1. Connect the equipment as shown in figure 8.11.
2. Adjust the bath temperature for 40
0
C. After the temperature has stabilized read the value
given by the digital thermometer and the digital indicator.

3. Repeat the experiment by selecting a minimum of FIVE (5) bath temperatures between
40
0
C and 300
0
C
4. Record all relevant data.

8.4.3.2 Questions


1. Convert the output of the transmitter to corresponding temperature and analyze your data
with appropriate plots. Perform maximum error calculation and verify its consistency with
the UUT specifications. Discuss your results.


Specifications of YTA110 is as follows:


Total accuracy = {(A/D accuracy)/span + D/A accuracy} or 0.1% of span, whichever is greater.
For thermocouple inputs, add Cold Junction Compensation accuracy of 0.5
0
C to the total
accuracy.

For type K TC,
Total accuracy = (0.25/500 + 0.02% of 500) + 0.5
0
C or (0.1% of 500 + 0.5)
= 0.85 or 1.0

= 1
0
C













8.4.4 Resistance thermometer transmitter


8.4.4.1 Experimental Set-up and Procedure
Two and three wire connections in resistance thermometers

































Figure 8.13 Resistance thermometer connection


1. Make connections as shown in figure 8.13 for 3 wire connection

2. Disconnect the lead wires from the YTA110 transmitter. Measure the resistance of the
lead wire (terminal B and B) using the wheatstone bridge. The lead wire resistance for
terminal A and B is same as lead wire resistance for terminal B and B.

3. Reconnect the two lead wires to the transmitter YTA 110.

4. For the three wire connection read the output of the transmitter on UM330 Digital
Indicator.

5. Connect brain terminal to the transmitter. Change sensor type from 3 wire to 2 wire.

6. Read the output of the transmitter on UM330 Digital indicator.
7. Adjust the temperature bath for 50
0
C.

8. Repeat step 1 to 6 with the lead wires in the temperature bath.

9. Record all relevant data.



200
8.4.4.2 Questions

1. Based on your data, determine the resistance of the 2-wire and 3-wire systems at both room
temperature and 50
o
C and calculate the corresponding error %. Discuss your results.



























8.4.5 Resistance thermometers
8.4.5.1 Experimental Set-up and Procedure































Figure 8.15 Calibration of resistance thermometer up to 300
0
C


1. Connect the equipment as shown in figure 8.15. Use a 2 wire resistance thermometer as
the UUT. Short circuit terminal 2 and 3 at the back of UM330.
2. Set the constant temperature bath to 40
0
C and allow the temperature to stabilize. We can
consider the temperature to be stabilized if the MSU reading does not change for say 5
minutes. Note the MSU reading and the UUT reading

3. Select a minimum of FIVE (5) bath temperatures between 40
0
C and 300
0
C to develop a
calibration curve for the 2 wire resistance thermometer. After each change wait for about
15 minutes for the temperature to stabilize. Record all the relevant data

4. Repeat the experiments for the 3 wire resistance thermometer. Record all relevant data.








8.4.5.2 Questions


1. Based on your data, plot relevant graphs and comment on your findings. Compare the
sensitivity of a resistance thermometer with a thermocouple.

8.6 REFERENCES


1. Coughanowr, D. R, Process System Analysis and Control, 2
nd
edition McGraw Hill New
York 1991.