Temperature Measurement Book PDF
Temperature Measurement Book PDF
Temperature Measurement Book PDF
Temperature Measurement
Second Edition
Temperature Measurement
Second Edition
L. Michalski
K. Eckersdorf
J. Kucharski
Technical University ofLodz
Poland
J. McGhee
University of Strathclyde
Glasgow, UK
e-mail (for orders and customer service enquiries) : cs-books@wiley .co .uk
John Wiley & Sons (Asia) Pte Ltd, 2 Clementi Loop #02-01,
Jin Xing Distripark, Singapore 0512
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
PREFACE xiii
LIST OF PRINCIPAL SYMBOLS xiv
2. Non-Electric Thermometers 19
2.1 Liquid-in-Glass Thermometers 19
2.2 Thermometers Using Expansion of Solids 23
2 .2.1 Dilatation thermometers 23
2 .2.2 Bimetallic thermometers 25
2.3 Manometric Thermometers 28
2 .3.1 Liquid-filled thermometers 28
2 .3.2 Vapour-pressure thermometers 31
2 .3.3 Gas thermometers 32
2 .3.4 Summary of properties of manometric thermometers 32
2.4 Temperature Indicators 32
2.5 References 35
3. Thermoelectric Thermometers 37
3 .1 Physical Principles 37
3 .1 .1 Thermoelectric force 37
3 .1 .2 Law ofthe third metal 39
3 .1 .3 Law of consecutive metals 41
3 .1 .4 Law of consecutive temperatures 43
3.2 Thermocouples 44
3 .2 .1 General information 44
v
vi CONTENTS
4. Resistance Thermometers 85
4 .1 General and Historical Background 85
4.2 Physical Principles 86
4.3 Resistance Thermometer Detectors (RTDs) 88
4.3.1 General information 88
4.3.2 Properties of different metals 89
4.3.3 Construction 90
4.4 Resistance Thermometer Sensors 94
4.5 Measuring Circuits 96
4.5.1 Voltage divider circuits 96
4.5.2 Bridge circuits 98
4.5 .3 Quotient instruments 101
4.6 References 102
Autumn 2001
The Authors
X1L
List of Principal Symbols
A amplitude, area
a thermal diffusivity
C radiation constant, electrical capacitance
c specific heat
D, d diameter
E thermal emf
e thermal emf in a junction
f frequency, function
G(s), F(s) transfer function
G (jco), F(jco) frequency response
I electric current
K gain
k general coefficient
L time lag also called dead time
I length
N time constant
P power
Q energy
q heat flux density
R resistance
r radius
s Laplace operator
T temperature in K
t time, temperature in °C
V voltage, volume
v velocity
W thermal resistance, radiant intensity
a heat transfer coefficient, coefficient of linear thermal expansion,
temperature coefficient of resistance, absorptivity
,li coefficient of cubic thermal expansion
A error, difference, amplitude, sampling time
8 relative error, penetration depth
s emissivity
9 temperature in °C or °F
O excess temperature over a reference temperature such as ambient or
original value
wavelength, thermal conductivity
P density, reflectivity, resistivity
heat flux or rate of heat flow
phase angle
xiv
LIST OF PRINCIPAL SYMBOLS xv
angular frequency
T transmissivity
Subscripts
a adjustable, ambient, average
C correction, corrector
C compensating, conduction
d disturbance
e effective, end-value, equivalent
gr grey body
i indicated, input value
k convection
l leads, limit value, loop
M measuring instrument
n nominal value
o black body, output value
r radiation, reference, reflection, relative
s set-point value, shield, solid
T temperature sensor
t true value
w wall
spectral
Subject Index
absolute temperature, 4 two-wavelength pyrometers, 153
absorptivity See two-wavelength pyrometers
band, 158 auxiliary testing equipment, 437
definition, 154 black bodies, 445
spectral, 158 cylindrical cavity radiation sources, 445
ADC, 263 flat plate radiation sources, 445
See also analogue-to-digital converters heat pipes, 446
analogue-to-digital conversion, 236 high temperature furnace, 446
analogue-to-digital converters middle and high temperature sources,
in a signal transmitter, 248 445
in strip chart recorders, 255 pyrometer fixed points calibration, 446
anti-Stokes light, 134 spherical cavity furnace, 446
associative temperature measurements, 4 calibrators, 447
automatic pyrometers, 177 applications, 447
application, 154 automatic reference junction
block diagram, 153 compensation, 447
distance ratio, 179 portable type, 447
fibreoptic fixed points, 437
operating principle, 180 boiling point of water, 437
lens materials for thermocouple tersting, 438
fluorite, 178 ice point, 437
KRS-5, 179 most commonly used (various), 438
pyrex glass, 178 laboratory type calibrators, 447
quartz, 178 testing furnaces, 441
silicon, 179 heat pipe, 444
spectral transmission of plates, 178 heat pipe materials, 444
synthetic sapphire, 178 spherical, 443
multi-wavelength, 154 tubular furnaces, 441
See multi-wavelength pyrometers whole instrumentation, 442
mirrors thermometer testing baths, 439
specific spectral reflectivities of metals, fluidised bed thermostat, 440
180 for higher temperature range, 439
optical systems, 177 liquid baths, 439
distance ratio examples, 179 water bath, 439
lens focusing, 179
lens transmission, 177
lenses, 177 bimetallic strips
light guides, 179 cylindrical helical, 28
mirrors, 180 bimetallic thermometers, 25
sighting window, 177 errors, 28
transmission limits of lens materials, 178 flat shaped strip, 26
photoelectric, 153. for surface temperature measurement, 28
See photoelectric pyrometers helix shaped strip, 27
ratio, 153 materials, 27
total radiation, 153 numerical example, 27
479
48 0 SUBJECT INDEX
ITS-48, 7, 8 capillary, 19
ITS-90, 7 common thermometric glasses, 21
defining fixed points, 147 common thermometric liquids, 21
fixed points, 420 correct immersion depth, 20
construction, 420 cubic expansion of glass, 19
cryogenic, 420 coefficient of, 19
ranges (various), 420 cubic expansion of liquid
fixed points realisation coefficient of, 19
details of various, 421 domestic, 22
reproducing, 420 emergent liquid column 20
enclosed scale, 22
etched stem, 22
junction etched stem, 22
of two dissimilar metals, 37 example of calculation of correction, 21
heating and cooling of, 37 industrial, 22
inner capillary, 19
laboratory, 22
Kelvin, 12 maximum, 22
kelvin (unit of ITS-90), 5, 9 max-min, 22
Kelvin Thermodynamic Scale, 8 nominal immersion depth, 20
Kelvin's proposal, 5 sensitivity, 19
Kirchhoffs law, 158, 221 standardised laboratory, 20
correct use of, 20
structure of, 19
Lambert's directional law, 161 systematic error, 20
Lambert's law, 161 correction of, 20
law thermometric glasses
Boyle's, 4 properties of, 21
Boyle-Mariotte, 4 thermometric liquids, 19, 21
Charles', 4 with elongated bulb, 21
Kirchhoffs, 158, 221 zero depression, 22
Lambert's directional, 161, 162 low-temperature source, 4
Newton's low velocity gas temperature measurement
cooling, 285 conductive heat flux loss
of third metal methods of reducing, 366
surface temperature measurement, 352 contact sensors, 361
Ohm's, 37 convection heat flux, 362
Planck's, 6, 8, 9, 11,128, 132, 156, 157, convective heat flux from sensor, 364
173, 195, 213 direct pyrometric method, 371
Stefan-Boltzmann, 159, 160, 164, 214 error
Wien's, 8, 156, 157, 166, 172, 174, 204 analysis, 365
Wien's displacement law, 157, 177 from radiant heat transfer, 364
lead resistance, 37 reducing methods, 365
linearisation of characteristics. extrapolation method, 369
See temperature signal graphical estimation of radiation error, 364
transformation :shape increase of convective heat flux, 365
liquid temperature measurement, 375 indirect pyrometric method, 371
ultrasonic thermometers, 142 non-uniform cross-sectional temperature,
liquid-in-glass thermometers 370
axial capillary pyrometric methods
etched stem, 22 spectral ranges, 372
bulb volume radiation to tube wall, 362
small changes of, 19 radiative heat flux loss
SUBJECT INDEX 48 7
semiconductors ceramic-metals, 57
carrier mobility, 103 materials, 53
classification of devices, 103 correct choice of, 53
cryogenic freeze out, 103 influences, 53
doped, 103 properties of, 53
extrinsic, 103 metal, 53
intrinsic region, 103 different structures, 53
normal region, 103 uses, 53
n-type protecting, 53
carrier mobility, 104 signal transformation
resistivity, 104 initial signal, 13
temperature dependence signal transmitters
bulk material, 103 See also temperature signal transmission
junction, 103 analogue, 247
temperature measurement, 103 conditioning operations, 247
thermal properties of, 103 current loop, 247
semi-transparent solid bodies basic block diagram, 247
radiation mechanism, 381 digital, 247
sensor(s) four-wire
classification rail/wall mounted, 248
by conditioning circuits, 13 various signal transformations, 248
by energy form, 13 four-wire system
by function, 13 isolation from power supply, 247
by structure, 13 head mounted, 248
by thermal expansion, 15 infrared thermometry, 249
electrical output signal, 15 intelligent panel mounted, 248
key diagram, 13 microprocessor based, 248
non-electrical output signal, 15 multi-channel, 249
tree diagrams, 14 output signal formats, 250
collectivity of, 13 panel mounted
composition of, 13 block diagram, 249
contact, 15 standard 4-20 mA, 247
conductive heat transfer, 15 standardised process signals, 248
convective heat transfer, 15 two-wire system, 247
development of, 13 with RS-232 interface, 248
distributed parameter. silicon resistance thermometer detectors.
See continuous sensors See silicon resistance thermometers
electric silicon resistance thermometers
dynamic parameters of. acceptance testing, 115
See dynamic temperature measurement important parameters, 116
evolution of, 13 manufacture, 114
generality of, 13 measuring circuits, 115
groups of, 13 resistance/temperature equation, 114
modulators, 12 silicon-RTDs .
platinum resistance, I 1 See silicon resistance thermometers
resemblance of, 13 silistors.
self-supporting cross-converters, 12 See silicon resistance thermometers
structures for IPTS-68, 9 Si-RTDs.
various families of, 14 See silicon resistance thermometers
sheaths, 53 software, 261
ceramic specialised, 260
porous, 57 solders
uses, 57 properties of, 51 .
49 4 SUBJECT INDEX
6
Fibre Optic Thermometers
6.1 Properties of Optical Fibres
Dielectric opticalfibre, which is also referred to as a light guide, is composed of a rod core
surrounded by a sheath as shown in Figure 6.1 . The core, which conducts the
electromagnetic wave, has a refractive index, nj , while the sheath, which contains the wave
within the core, has a refractive index, n2 . To ensure that the wave is contained in the core
it is necessary that the condition nj > n2 is satisfied. The electromagnetic waves incident
on the front part of the optical fibre, within the angle cone, 2a, corresponding to the critical
angle, 9c,. , enter the fibre core. After multiple reflections from the core-sheath interface
these waves leave the other end of the fibre . The waves from outside the 2a-cone leave the
sheath to environment . Smolinski (1985) has shown that the value of critical angle, Bcr,, and
of aare given by:
cose cr = n2 / nj (6 .1)
sin a = ni - n2 (6 .2)
where n j is the refractive index of the core material and n2 is the refractive index of the
sheath material.
In addition to the condition n 1 / n2 > 0, optical fibre materials, whose core material has a
low absorption coefficient at the transmitted wavelength, should be chosen. Optical fibres
are used for wavelengths in the range from ultraviolet through visible up to infrared
radiation . The most commonly used optical fibres have a core and sheath made of quartz
glass with different chemical composition . Usually, sheath materials are made entirely of
plastics . High temperature optical fibres have cores made of quartz and sapphire . Some
optical fibres are covered by layers which reduce optical losses and provide good
mechanical strength for protective purposes . In Table 6 .1, which gives parameters of some
optical fibres, it can be seen that quartz optical fibres have the lowest absorption coefficient
and thus the lowest transmission losses at the wavelengths 0 .85 gm, 1 .3 lm and 1 .55 l.tm .
" Extrinsic sensing, also termed, indirect use thermometers, which are more popular, use
the optical fibre for transmission of the electromagnetic waves between the sensor and
the electronic temperature indicating system . In these sensing systems the light itself is
modulated by some process outside the optical transmission system .
" Intrinsic sensing, also referred to as direct use thermometers, where the optical fibre
itself is used as the temperature sensor, also exhibit the characteristics of modulating
sensors described in Chapter 1 . In these sensors a light transmitting property of the
optical fibre is modulated by the temperature . They indicate either the average
temperature of the fibre or the temperature distribution along its length .
Optical fibres are also applied in the construction of pyrometers as described in
Chapter 10 .
fluorescent
L optical coupling of two fibres
"Fabry-Perot" sensor
optical interference type
(b)
1,0
P2s,-_ _ ___
(a) LED GaAs SENSOR z 0'8 II
r ----- ~-~ TRANSMITTING OPTICAL FIBRE L __ i
NwA "' 0,6 P4u _ _-40 C
I L~ N I
(b!
(a) TRANSMITTING OPTICAL CHOPPER HALOGEN
75 °C
FIBRE LAMP
1_
FILTER 0,655pm
a 60°C
OPTICAL D
U o
COUPLER ~,
a
D SO°C
RECEIVING
FIBRE
MICROPROCESSOR
a
/
PHOTODIODES a ~~ 40°
'SENSOR FILTER O,BOOym ~5°
=5°C
0,4 0,5 0,6 0.7 O,8
WAVELENGTH a, jim
Figure 6.4 A tbermochromic optical fibre thermometer with the basic block diagram of (a) uses the
spectral absorption of cobalt chloride solution in water-alcohol at different temperatures in (b)
EXTRINSIC SENSING THERMOMETERS 129
e,~
- .f(T) (6 .4)
Ee,
where Ee, A and Ee,,;,2 are radiation intensities respectively at wavelength ~l and Xz and T
is temperature .
The operating principle of a fluorescent thermometer offered by ABB (Sweden) is
shown in Figure 6 .5 (Grattan, 1987) . The GaAs sensor, which is placed at the end of the
light guide, is excited by a LED modulated light when it emits fluorescent radiation . The
combined light from the visible fluorescent light emitted by the sensor and the exciting light
is transmitted by the same light guide to an optical bifurcator which splits the light into two
beams . Each beam then passes through a filter. The output signal of each filter, which is
proportional to the respective intensities, Ee, A and E, , ~2 , are applied to detecting
CHOPPER I
LED ---
I U I
I
I
I
II D
L ---- -
D
--_-- _J
I
I
OPTICAL FIBRE
photodiodes before being amplified . Taking the ratio gives a signal which is a function of
the measured temperature . The readings are independent of the exciting radiation intensity,
nevertheless they may be influenced by bending ofthe light guide (Grattan, 1987) .
Second generation fluorescent thermometers are based on the decay-time concept of a
periodically excited probe . Mei Sun (1992) and Samulski (1992) state that the emitted
radiation intensity as a function oftime Ee/t) is given by:
where Ee (0) is the radiation intensity at the instant the exciting impulse stops, z is a so
called decay time and t is time. The decay time is usually defined, as shown in Figure 6.6, as
the time difference t2 - t l such that Ee(t2) = E e (tt ) / e , where e is the base of the natural
logarithms. Grattan and Zhang (1995) provide a survey of other measurement methods of
fluorescent lifetime.
Figure 6.7(a) shows decay time, z, as a function of temperature, S, of magnesium fluoro-
germanate activated with tetravalent manganese. The wavelength bands of exciting and
j I EXCITING IMPULSE
E Q (O) - t
I
z
E e (t 1=E, (0) exp (-t 1e)
Eelt'1
I 1
z II I
a E . (t,)
0
- i -_--t._------_-----
1 I
0 t, tz
TIME t
Figure 6.6 Impulse excited radiation intensity of a fluorescent material as a function oftime
(6)
(a) EXCITATION- _ EMISSION
_ REGION ~ REGION
tr S z_ 0,9
W z
4 20,6- t
a
v
>0
3 1
~0"4 \ :1
02 ,
> i
1 0.2
w
0 0
-200 -100 0 100 200 300 400 200 300 400 S00 600 700
TEMPERATURE 4 . °C WAVELENGTH 7, , mm
Figure 6.7 Fluorescent properties of magnesium fluoro-germanate activated with tetravalent Mn.
(a) decay time, r as a function of temperature, S,. (b) relative intensity of exciting and emitted
radiation as a function of wavelength, A
EXTRINSIC SENSING THERMOMETERS 131
emitted radiation shown in Figure 6 .7(b) are quoted by Mei Sun (1992) and Ballico (1997) .
Properties of different materials used for fluorescent temperature sensors in the temperature
range from -190 °C to 1300 °C are given by Fernicola and Galleano (1997) and Grattan and
Zhang (1995) . Fernicola and Galleano (1997) and Zhang et al (1997) state that red and blue
laser light are used as exciting radiation.
An example of a second generation fluorescent thermometer is shown in Figure 6 .8 . In
this Model 3000 thermometer by Luxtron, the sensor is excited periodically by the
microsecond long pulses of a xenon flash lamp (Samulski, 1992) . The radiation emitted by
the sensor is conveyed by a light guide and optical system to the photodiode, whose output
signal corresponds to decaying radiation intensity . After the transformation, this signal is a
measure of decay time, z and thus also of measured temperature . Neither variations of
radiation intensity nor bending of the light guide influence the readings .
Figure 6 .9 illustrates an interesting construction of a fluorescent thermometer for use in
aviation as described by Phillips and Tilstra (1992) . When the sensor is excited by a LED
radiation of wavelength 0 .65 to 0 .69 lun it subsequently emits radiation in the wavelength
range 0 .7 to 0 .98 pm transmitted to the photodiode . The temperature measure is decay time,
r, of the photodiode signal . The thermometer is used in the temperature range from -75 °C
to 300 °C and is intended for temperature measurement of rapidly flowing gas with the
sensor structure shown in Figure 6 .9(b) . The sensor cavity, which slows down the gas flow,
is shaped so that the sensor temperature is as close as possible to that of the gas .
Further details of temperature measurement of rapidly flowing gas are discussed in
Chapter 17 . An interesting application of the phenomenon of fluorescence is an arrangement
TO OTHER CHANNELS
= 3PUMPFIBER
FLAS=A
(bl
la! LED FLUORESCENT CAVITY
MATERIAL E-. GAS
SENSOR
SHEATH
d=1, 6 mm
OPTICAL FIBRE OPTICAL
OPTICAL COUPLER FIBRE
SIGNAL PHOTODIODE
PROCESSOR
" in medicine and biology, which is considered in more depth in Chapter 21,
" in high voltage appliances (Wickersheim, 1991),
" of rotating bodies, which is discussed in Chapter 9,
" of microwave and dielectric heated bodies,
" in chemical and physical research .
Cl ~ -s
Wok - e c 2 /,,T _
1
Win2,
where cl =3 .7415xl0-16 C2 =14 388 pm K, A is the wavelength in pm and T is the
temperature in K .
The basic diagram of a fibre optic thermometer with black body sensor is shown in
Figure 6 .10 (Adams, 1992) . At the end of the high-temperature optical fibre, the cavity,
which is covered by a noble metal layer, makes a sensor exhibiting the properties of a black
body . Its radiation is sent by a high-temperature fibre optic light guide, with a low-
temperature extension to a photodiode . The measured temperature is obtained from the
photodiode output signal . The high-temperature light guide, which is made of mono-
crystalline sapphire operating up to 2000 °C (Grattan and Zhang, 1995), is resistant to the
majority of oxidising media . The low-temperature light guide is made of quartz with a
OPTICAL COUPLER
CAVITY CERAMIC PROTECTIVE FILM
LENS / PHOTODIODE
NARROW BAND FILTER
polymer sheath . Depending on the application range of the thermometer, the noble metals
platinum, rhodium or iridium are used for the black body sensor cavity . This thermometer
which is used in the range from 300 to 1900 °C, has an indication error below ±0 .2 % at a
level of 1000 °C and a resolution up to 0 .01 °C . The thermometer sensor follows
temperature variations up to the frequency of 10 kHz. Adams (1992) describes the
applications of this small diameter thermometer sensor, which is immune to the presence of
electromagnetic fields, has a large temperature range, high precision and resolution .
Application examples are quoted as :
} OPTICAL COUPLER
c LIGHT SHIELD
' a2 LENS
GLASS
Si MONOCRYSTAL
PHOTODETECTORS PEDESTAL
_ LIQUID
A special optical fibre construction for temperature measurement along the inside lining
of hot stove blast furnace, as given in Figure 6.15, was described by Iida et al. (1992) . The
a
optical fibre, protected by two special layers, is placed inside a steel tube in nitrogen
atmosphere. The measuring arrangement records the temperature distribution along the
20 m long optical fibre every one meter at temperatures up to 500 °C.
Figure 6.14 Thermometer based on Raman scattering for measurement of temperature distribution
136 FIBRE OPTIC THERMOMETERS
(a) (bl
STAINLESS TUBE CERAMICS COATING
Figure 6 .15 Optical fibre to measure the temperature in the range up to 500 °C . (a) optical fibre in a
steel tube, (b) optical fibre cross-section
lal Ihl
THE OBJECT OF MEASUREMENT
c-
OPTICAL
FIBRE
Figure 6 .16 Optical fibre with temperature dependent refractive index, (a) measurement of average
temperature, (b) measurement of temperature distribution
6 .5 Summary
Fibre optic thermometers present a rapidly developing branch of thermometry . The most
widespread applications of extrinsic optical fibre sensors are given in Table 6 .2
(Wickersheim, 1992) . Intrinsic types of fibre optic thermometers are mainly used to
measure the temperature distribution of large surfaces and long objects (Sandberg and
Haile, 1987) .
In many applications fibre optic thermometers supersede commonly applied
thermoelectric, resistance and semiconductor thermometers and open new applications of
measuring so far not measurable temperatures (Grattan and Zhang, 1995) .The main merits of
fibre optic thermometers are :
" immunity to electric and magnetic fields and at the same time not influencing them, thus
making possible temperature measurement in induction, dielectric and microwave
heating,
" small diameter (below 1 mm) and low thermal conductivity does not deform the existing
temperature fields,
" being made of isolating material may contact live metallic elements,
" small diameter and flexibility make them especially convenient for temperature
measurement of living organisms,
" immunity to chemical and mechanical influences,
" possibility of coupling several optical fibres with one measuring arrangement
(multichannel measurement),
" low thermal inertia,
" large measured temperature range from about -200°C to +2000°C,
" large fibre optic length ranging from a dozen or so metres in extrinsic sensing
thermometers to some kilometres in the intrinsic types.
REFERENCES 137
6.6 References
Accufiber, Canada (1987) Catalog. 2000E Columbia Way, Vancouver.
Adams, B.E . (1992) Optical fiber thermometry for use at high temperatures . Temperature : Its
Measurement and Control in Science and Industry. 6(2), American Institute of Physics, New York,
739-744.
Ballico, M.J . (1997) Thermoluminescence of Europium doped Yttria as a precision temperature
sensor in the range 600 °C-1100°C. Proc . TEMPMEKO'96, 6th International Symposium on
Temperature and Thermal Measurements in Industry and Science, Levrotto & Bella, Torino, 437-
442.
Brenci, M. (1984) Thermochromic transducer optical fibre temperature sensor . 2nd Optical Fibre
Sensors Conference, Stuttgart, 155-160.
Culshaw, B . (1982) Optical fibre transducers, Radio and Electronic Engineer, 52, 283-290.
Fernicola, V. and Galleano, R. (1997) Optical fibre thermometry by laser-induced fluorescence Proc .
TEMPMEKO 96, 6th International Symposium on Temperature and Thermal Measurements in
Industry and Science, Levrotto and Bella, Torino, 427-436
Gottlieb, M, and Brandt, G.B . (1979) Measurement of temperature with optical fibres . Fibre Optic
Conference, Chicago, 236-242.
Grattan, K.T .V . (1987) The use of fibre optic techniques for temperature measurement . Measurement
and Control, 20(6), 32-39.
Grattan, K.T .V . and Zhang, Z.Y . (1995) Fiber opticfluorescence thermometry, Chapman and Hall .
138 FIBRE OPTIC THERMOMETERS
Iida, O., Iwamura, T., Hashiba, K. and Kurosawa, Y. (1992) A fibre optic distributed temperature
sensor for high temperature measurements. Temperature : Its Measurement and Control in Science
and Industry, 6(2), American Institute of Physics, New York, 745-750.
Luxtron, USA (1992) Models 1000, 2000, 3000 Fluoroptic Thermometer, Catalog Information .
Mannik, L., and Brown, S .K. (1992) Electrical industry application of fibre optic thermometry
measurement of generator rotor temperature. Temperature: Its Measurement and Control in
Science and Industry, 6(2), American Institute of Physics.
McGhee, J. and Henderson, I.A. (1989) Holistic perception in measurement and control: Applying
keys adapted from classical taxonomy, IFAC Proc Series (1989) No .5 pp . 85-90.
Mei Sun (1992) Fiberoptic thermometry based on photoluminescent decay times, Temperature : Its
Measurement and Control in Science and Industry, 6(2), American Institute of Physics, New
York,. 715-720.
Medlock, R. (1986) Review of modulating techniques for fibre optic sensors, Measurement and
Control, 19(1), 6-13 .
Medlock, R. (1987) The present and future status of fibre optic sensors in industry, Measurement and
Control, 20(3), 14-17 .
Ning, Y.N ., Grattan, K.T .V ., Wang, W.M . and Palmer, A.W. (1991) A systematic classification and
identification of optical fibre sensors, Sensors and Actrs A-29, 21 .
Phillips, R.W . and Tilstra, S .D . (1992) Design of fiber optic temperature sensor for aerospace
application. Temperature: Its Measurement and Control in Science and Industry. 6(2), American
Institute of Physics, New York, 721-724.
Pitt, G.D ., Extance, P., Neat, R.C . and four others (1985) Optical-fibre transducers, Proc IEE, 132(J),
214-248.
Saaski, E.W . and Hard, J.C . (1992) Thin-film Fabry Perot temperature sensor . Temperature : Its
Measurement and Control in Science, and Industry, 6(2), American Institute of Physics New
York 711-714.
Samulski, T.V . (1992) Fiberoptic thermometry: medical and biomedical applications,
Temperature : Its Measurement and Control in Science and Industry, 6(2), American Institute of
Physics, New York, 1185-1190.
Sandberg, C., and Haile, L. (1987) Fiberoptic application in pipes and pipelines. IEEE Transactions
on Industry Applications, 1A-23(6) .
Smolinski, A. (1985) Light guide optoelectronics (in Polish) WKiL, Warsaw
Wickersheim, K.A . (1991) Application of fibre optic thermometry to the monitoring of winding
temperatures in medium and large power transformers SPIE Proceedings 1584, 3-14 .
Wickersheim, K.A . (1992) Fiberoptic thermometry : an overview. Temperature : Its Measurement and
Control in Science, and Industry, 6(2) . American Institute of Physics, New York, 711 - 714.
Zhang, Z.Y ., Grattan, K.T .V ., Hu, Y.L., Palmer, A.W ., and Meggitt, B.T . (1997) Use of blue LED
excitation source for Alexandrite fluorescence thermometry over region from -100 to 600 °C . Proc.
TEMPMEKO'96, 6th Intenational Symposium on Temperature and Thermal Measurement in
Industry and Science, Levrotto and Bella, Torino, 433-436.
Temperature Measurement Second Edition
L. Michalski, K. Eckersdorf, J. Kucharski, J. McGhee
Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
ISBNs: 0-471-86779-9 (Hardback); 0-470-84613-5 (Electronic)
8
Pyrometers Classification and
Radiation Laws
8.1 Classification of Pyrometers
The simplest and oldest non-contact way of estimating the temperature of a radiating body
is by observing its colour. Table 8 .1 summarises the relationship between temperature and
colour . Using this method, experienced practitioners can estimate temperatures over about
700 °C, with a precision sufficient for simpler heat-treatment processes . This is shown in a
witty way in Figure 8.1, which is taken from Forsythe's paper (Forsythe, 1941) . It was
presented at the historical Symposium on Temperature in November 1939, a symposium
that was a milestone in further development of thermometry .
Table 8.1 Temperature correlation with colours of radiating bodies
I one wavelength
AT photoelectric A
I wavelength band pyrometers + U
O ~E T
M
A
two wavelength i T
two wavelength bands
pyrometers 1
c
:multi-wavelength .
several wavelength bands pyrometers
OPTICAL OPERATOR'S
TARGET SYSTEM EYE
MEASURING
OPERATOR
v INSTRUMENT
REFERENCE
UNIT
radiation from the source with a signal from a reference unit whereupon the operator
activates the read-out instrument.
The following two types belong to the group of manually operated pyrometers :
" Disappearing filament pyrometers based upon matching the luminance of the object and
of the filament, by adjusting the lamp current . The observer's eye is the detector. Their
operating wavelength band is so narrow as to allow them to be regarded as
monochromatic pyrometers of A e = 0 .65 Vim .
" Two-colour pyrometers or ratio pyrometers deduce the temperature from the ratio of the
radiation intensity emitted by the object in two different spectral wavebands, which are
most commonly 0 .55 and 0 .65 pm .
" Total radiation pyrometers using thermal radiation detectors, which are heated by the
incident radiation . In reality the wavelength band used is about 0 .2 to 14 Pin resulting
from transmissivity of the optical system.
" Photoelectric pyrometers operate in chosen wavelength bands in which the signal is
generated by photons bombarding a photoelectric detector .
" Two-wavelength pyrometers, also called ratio pyrometers, in which the emitted radiation
intensity in two wavelength bands is compared by photoelectric detectors.
OPTICAL
TARGET SYSTEM
DETECTOR
SIGNAL MEASURING
CONVERTER INSTRUMENT
" Multi-wavelength pyrometers, where the source radiation, which is concentrated in some
wavelength bands, is incident upon photoelectric detectors . They are used for measuring
the temperature of bodies with low emissivity .
Applying the principle of energy conservation shows that for every solid :
a+p+r=1 (8 .2)
In the case of transparent bodies, as represented in Figure 8 .5, many internal reflections
cause additional absorption . For example, Harrison (1960) notes that the total reflected heat
flux, (D , is composed of the primary heat flux (DpI , and a secondary one `f p .
P
L. _
REFLECTED
FLUX TRANSMITTED
FLUX
OF~~Df1 P2 Owl
~T
m ms ABSORBED
INCIDENT / FLUX
`
HEAT FLUX ="
I . a =1, p = 0, ,r = 0 the body is a black body, which totally absorbs all incident radiation .
2. a = 0, p =1, r = 0 the body is a white body, which totally reflects all incident radiation .
3 . a = 0, p = 0, z =1 the body is a transparent body as all of the incident radiation is
completely transmitted .
The concept of a black body is very important in pyrometry . Figure 8 .6 presents some
configuration properties approaching those of a black body. Heinisch (1972) shows that in
the cavities presented in Figure 8 .6, total absorption of the incident radiation is reached by
its multiple internal reflection .
Similarly to the factors, a, p and z, which are valid for total radiation, the spectral
properties, ax , pX and z?, at the wavelength A, may also be introduced :
as = (DA, /)
zX = (DXt /(D
ak + pa + TX =1 (8 .4)
The values of a, p and z depend upon the material, its surface state and temperature while
ax , p) and z), additionally depend upon the wavelength, A.
The radiant intensity W or the radiant exitance is the heat flux per unit area expressed as
the ratio of the heat flux dD, emitted from the infinitesimal element of the surface dA, to the
surface area dA itself:
(8
W = ~ W/m 2 .5)
1 II, ~I
In the same units as the radiant intensity, the heat flux density, q, of the incident radiation is
given by:
q = ~ W/m2 (8 .5a)
This also takes account of the conduction and convection heat flux in addition to the
radiation heat flux .
The spectral radiant intensity, Wk, is defined as :
=
dW
W~ W/m2 pin (8 .6)
Planck's law gives the radiant flux distribution of a black body as a function of the
wavelength and of the body's temperature by the relation :
WOA (8 .7)
°~ - C C 2 IRT -1
where W°A is the spectral radiant intensity of a black body, W/m2 pm (the suffix `o' will be
used in future to indicate a black body), A is the wavelength, pin, T is the absolute
temperature of the thermal radiator, K, c, is the first radiation constant whose value is
elf-s
Az
Hackforth (1960) has shown that if AT << c2, Planck's law of equation (8 .7) can be
replaced, using the same notation, by a simpler Wien's law :
el V
eC2 11T
ay
AWo; _ W.X,w - W.R,P1 = _ /XT
e 8 .10
W W.,~,w
where Wo3,W is the spectral radiant intensity calculated from Wien's law and W X , p l is O
calculated as above from Planck's law .
The relative errors calculated from equation (8 .10) are presented in Table 8 .2 as a
function of the values of the product AT.
Table 8 .2 Relative errors resulting from replacing Planck's law in equation (8 .7) by
Wien's law in equation (8 .9) as a function of the value of the product AT
2x10
3x10
AT (m.K) 1 .25 x 10 -3 1 .5 x1 0 -3 -3
Figure 8 .7 shows that the maxima of the spectral radiant intensity are displaced towards
the shorter wavelengths with increasing temperature . At the given temperature, T, where the
maximum is reached, the wavelength Amax , may be easily calculated from Wien's
For any given temperature, the area under the corresponding curve is a measure of the total
power radiated at all wavelengths by a black body so that :
W o = fWa
,'-0 Ad1 (8 .12)
The ratio of the spectral radiant intensity, Wj, at the wavelength, A, of a non-black body to
the spectral radiant intensity of a black body, Wo j, at the same temperature is called the
spectral emissivity cA.
W;L
E~ = (8 .13)
Wo;
If the spectral emissivity el of a given body is constant for each wavelength (i.e.
al =constant) such a body is called a grey body . Similarly to equation (8 .13), if all
wavelengths from 0 to oc, are taken into consideration, the term total emissivity, s, is used:
W
W
e= (8 .14)
0
158 PYROMETERS CLASSIFICATION AND RADIATION LAWS
where W is the radiant intensity of any given body and Wo is the radiant intensity of a black
body at the same temperature .
Following Kirchhoff's law, the spectral absorptivity, ak, of all opaque bodies equals
their emissivity, cX, so that :
- band ii i band
11
10- V
' - -_
1
' , ., ,
-'.
.; . ,
140 K
0 1 2 3 4
WAVELENGTH 1. jim
When all wavelengths from .11 --> 0 to '12 --> oo are taken into consideration, the
corresponding form for equation (8 .15a), which is also valid, then becomes :
(8 .15b)
a
(8
W,, Wo,d;, = aO T .16)
= JA o
where W,,
; is the spectral radiant intensity of a black body as given by Forsythe (1941),
The radiation constant of a black body, a,, has a value a, = 5 .6697x10_ 8 W/m 2 K4 .
Equation (8 .16) can be expressed in a more readily usable form as :
4
Wo (8 .16a)
C°(100)
where Co is the technical radiation constant of a black body, with the value :
Co = 6 o x 10 8 = 5.6697 W/m 2 K4
4
( T
W = C°£ (8 .17)
100 )
samples, which should be polished and sufficiently thick. This last condition allows semi-
transparent bodies to be regarded as totally opaque . The values of E and E,~ are also
determined for the direction normal to the surface. Approximate values for the emissivity of
different materials are given in Tables XIX and XX.
It must be stressed that uneven, rough and grooved surfaces may have much higher
values of emissivity than are their specific emissivities.
Using the Maxwell theory of electromagnetism, Considine (1957), following Drude,
have proposed an approximate formula to calculate the specific spectral emissivity, E;1, of
metals as:
E;1 = K (8.18)
4nj
E,~ = (8.19)
+1)2
(nX
where nA which is the refractive index of the material, has a value in the range of 1 .5 to 4
for most inorganic compounds and in the range 2.0 to 3.0 for metallic oxides. For most
clean metals the emissivity is low, with a value of about 0.3 to 0 .4, falling sometimes to 0.1
for aluminium . Spectral emissivities of metals become lower at lower temperatures where
the wavelengths are longer. Non-metallic substances have emissivities of about 0 .6 to 0.96,
which do not vary greatly with temperature . It should be borne in mind, that the appearance
of non-metals in visible light cannot be a basis for predicting their emissivities. Most non-
metals, such as wood, brick, plastic and textiles at 20 °C have a value of total emissivity
nearly equal to unity.
2
CO
012 (8 .20)
(1/El )+(/ E2)-1 (100)4 -(100)4
If one of the bodies of area A I is placed inside another one of area A 2 and with A 1 < A2,
then equation (8 .20) becomes :
)4-(100)4
,
biz (8 .20a)
(1/s,)+(A~~A2 )[(1/EZ)-1] [( 100
In the very important practical case when A 2 > 3A 1, equation (8 .20a) becomes :
(101)4 00\4
X12 = A1E1Co -~ (8 .20b)
[
Lambert's directional law which describes the radiant intensity of a black body as a
function of the radiation direction, is given by :
where Wo,, is the radiant intensity of an element of area under the angle rP between the
radiation direction and the direction normal to the surface, and Woe is the radiant intensity
as before but in the direction normal to the surface .
Radiant intensity, W,1, in the direction normal to the surface is 7T times smaller than the
total radiant intensity .
W
Wo1 = . (8 .22)
Equation (8 .21) is only partially valid for non-black bodies . Large deviations from
Lambert's law, which can be observed especially for polished metals when rp > R/4, are
caused by the dependence of the emissivity upon the observation angle . Some definitions,
taken from illumination technique, are also used in optical pyrometry, in the case when the
thermal radiation takes place in the visible wavelength range . Luminosity, I,,, is the radiant
flux propagated in an element of solid angle . Radiance, L, also called luminance, which is a
density of luminosity of a surface in a given direction, is expressed as :
dig
L=- (8 .23)
cos (P dA
where dA is the area of an element of the radiating surface and T is the angle between the
radiant flux direction and the direction normal to the surface .
Radiance is a deciding factor in the subjective impression of the body's brightness .
162 PYROMETERS CLASSIFICATION AND RADIATION LAWS
Lambert's law of equation (8.21) which is also valid for the luminosity, is :
L _ d1 l cos tp = d-[1
.25)
dA cos (p dA (8
From equation (8 .25) it follows that the radiance of a black body is independent of the
viewing angle and is always the same as in the direction normal to the surface . For the
majority of non-black bodies, the radiance is nearly constant for ~0 in the range from 0 to
n/4 . A detailed description of radiant heat transfer is given by Jakob (1959) and Gr6ber et
al. (1963) .
8.3 References
Considine, D . (1957) Process Instruments and Controls Handbook . McGraw-Hill, New York .
Forsythe, W .E. (1941) Optical Pyrometry. Temperature : Its Measurement and Control in Science and
Industry, Reinhold Publishing Corporation, New York, 1115-1131 .
Gr6ber, H ., Erk, S . and Grigull, U . (1963) Die Grundgesktze der Wlirmeubertragung, Springer
Verlag, Berlin
Hackforth, H .L . (1960) Infrared Radiation, McGraw-Hill, New York .
Harrison, T .R . (1960) Radiation Pyrometry and its Underlying Principles of Radiant Heat Transfer,
John Wiley and Sons, New York.
Heinisch, R .P . (1972) The emittance of black body cavities . Temperature : Its Measurement and
Control in Science and Industry, 4(1) . Instrument Society of America, Pittsburgh, 435-448 .
Jakob, M . (1957) Heat Transfer, John Wiley and Sons, New York.
Worthing, A .G. (1941) Temperature radiation emissivities and emittances, Temperature: Its
Measurement and Control in Science and Industry, Reinhold Publ. Co ., New York, 1164-1187 .
Temperature Measurement Second Edition
L. Michalski, K. Eckersdorf, J. Kucharski, J. McGhee
Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
ISBNs: 0-471-86779-9 (Hardback); 0-470-84613-5 (Electronic)
14
Imaging of Temperature Fields
of Solids
14 .1 Introduction
Infrared thermal imaging of temperature fields has become an extremely versatile and
popular method of real time temperature measurement and thermal condition monitoring in
all industrial and research applications. In the near future, the rapid further development of
the method is more than guaranteed, as it will replace many existing temperature measuring
methods, offering exciting new opportunities with the added most important benefit of a
two-dimensional look at problems.
The first marketed infrared imagers were based on the use of an opto-mechanical
scanning system to sequentially scan the target surface . The resulting series of radiated
image signals is transformed into a series of electrical signals in an appropriate detector. In
the subsequent step in their development, the opto-mechanical scanning system was
replaced by a matrix of mainly photoelectric detectors. However, since the detectors had to
be cooled, the device was big and heavy . The majority ofcontemporary imagers is based on
an array of un-cooled micro-bolometers, which can operate at ambient room temperature .
Infrared thermal imaging systems can be divided into two main groups. In surfacial
systems two-dimensional imaging of temperature fields is produced using scanning and
matrix systems . In the second group, which may be referred to as linear systems, the aim is
to produce a temperature field image of continuously cooled or heated moving targets .
These linear systems present a certain simplification of two-dimensional systems .
IR-DETECTOR
w
I
LENS
a measuring range of 30 °C . The measurement ranges are between -20 and +1500 °C
having a sensitivity of 0 .07 to 0 .1 °C and accuracy of ±2% or ±2 °C . The resulting series of
signals was transformed in the detector into electrical signals, displayed on a monitor screen
as a visible image of the temperature field, with a reference colour scale . Chosen isotherms
could also be marked . Microprocessor based systems vastly extended the imaging
possibilities by making the whole assembly a really universal and precise measuring tool .
Although this whole family of Thermovision systems is no longer produced, it is still widely
used by their still numerous owners. In spite of their high price they were of a high quality
and commensurate robustness .
Matrix infrared systems . Surfacial systems, based on a Focal Plane Array (FPA) matrix,
are now the most popular since they do not need any moving parts in the scanning system .
There are two groups of FPA . In the first one photon detectors based on photovoltaic
(HgCdTe and InSb) or photo-conductive (PbSe, PbS) cells are mainly used . In the second
the detectors are either thermopiles or micro-bolometers whose operation is based on the
absorption of thermal energy . The signals from particular detectors, corresponding to
different target points, are scanned by a contactless commutator, amplified if needed before
forming a colour picture on a screen .
FPA systems formed by monolithic PtSi micro-bolometers are now the most popular,
since they allow the integration of many detectors in one integrated matrix of 256x256 or
even 320x240 pixels . Moreover, these micro-bolometer FPAs have a considerable benefit
since they do not require any cooling . Compensation for small ambient temperature
variations is achieved by temperature sensors inside the camera . The size of each FPA pixel
is about 30 ~tm square (Santa Barbara Research Center) .
The ThermaCAM PM 695 by FUR Systems (2001) shown in Figure 14 .2, is a good
technical example of a surfacial matrix system . This imager is equipped with an uncooled
MicroIR solid stated detector matrix, incorporating 320x240 pixel micro-bolometers,
connected by a contactless commutator . The coloured target picture on the view-finder or an
LCD screen, which is obtained from the matrix, is quite stationary due to the non-existent
inertia of the micro-bolometers and rapid commutation of the scanning electronics . At the
same time a colour-temperature scale is provided for use by the operator. The new
electronic techniques and processor speed provides rapid operation and operates in
SURFACIAL SYSTEMS 275
~ i
=
wavelength range 7.5 to 13 .0 pun, thus eliminating the influence of solar radiation on the
readings. The system is especially useful for detecting hot points in different technical
installations . Digital voice recording, which allows detailed annotations for each stored
image to be entered, is also included in the system.
The ThermaCAM PM 695 is the first infrared system having an integrated digital
camera. It also includes ThermaCAM Reporter software . This enables the production of
automatic reports, which include all field inspection data such as thermal, visual,
measurement analysis as well as voice and text. The operator can store at the touch of one
button both infrared and visible images .
The technical data of ThermaCAM PM 695 are as follows :
Light infrared cameras. Some producers offer these for applications, where they can replace
much more expensive thermal imaging systems. They are used for observing and recording
thermal images of stationary objects. An example of such a camera is digiCAM-IR by Ircon
Inc. (1999) . This camera is equipped with an array of uncooled thermopile detectors, giving
an image scan time below 1 .5 s. Image display is on 4 .0 inch active matrix colour LCD
276 IMAGING OF TEMPERATURE FIELDS OF SOLIDS
screen, with RS232 communication and an accuracy within 2 °lo of reading . A "Hot Spot
Mode", which is unique to this camera, allows automatic production of an image
concentrating on the hot spot of the image . Four buttons are used by the operator to
manoeuvre the cursor over the image displaying the corresponding temperature values . The
spectral range is 8 to 12 gm. Up to 140 images can be stored on smart card . The camera,
which has an overall weight of 2 .0 kg including the lens and battery, has a physical size of
240x 100x 130 mm.
14 .3 Linear Systems
Two-dimensional colour pictures of temperature fields of continuously heated moving
charges is easily possible using the FPA matrix systems described in Section 14 .2 . However
it is much simpler to apply what are called linear systems . There is no need for electronic
scanning of the second dimension since this is replaced by the charge movement as shown
in Figure 14 .3 .
The Landscan Infrared Linescan System by Land Infrared (1997) is a representative
example of this technique . The system consists of a sensor head, performing the temperature
measurement, and a dedicated Landscan software program for a PC or a dedicated LPU 1
microcomputer . Ethernet capabilities, which are provided using the LPU 2E model of this
system, can provide data over a network to a process control computer . The sensing head in
the six different models of the camera, has a Si or Ge detector, which is scanned by a
rotating mirror to produce the line scanned image . The scanning occurs along a line,
perpendicular to the charge movement .
For different models the technical data of the system are :
LINE SCANNER
SCANNING
ANGLE
MOVING
CHARGE
SCANNING
LINE
As in the Land Landscan and Ircon ScanlR II systems, a pixel line with an output signal
commutator could be used instead of one detector and a rotating mirror for scanning .
14.4 Applications
The range of applications of thermal imaging systems is extremely large including the
analysis of thermal problems, monitoring operation of industrial installations, investigation
and optimisation of different prototypes and all types of research .
Some typical applications of surfacial systems are :
" Monitoring and detection of hot points of moving or rotating equipment like bearings,
gears, clutches, shafts, chains, transporters, pumps and blowers among others .
" Detection of
- hot points in electrical installations such as in fuses, contactors, power
networks, transformers, motors, isolators and cables .
- overheated points in the thermal insulation of different furnaces, dryers,
pipelines and boilers .
- heat leaks in central heating installations and cold storage plants .
- insufficient thermal insulation and moisture in buildings .
- overheating in store houses, grain silos or dumps .
" Temperature imaging of electronic circuits .
" Tracing of steel reinforcements in concrete structures after their preliminary induction or
resistance heating .
" Checking the heating of car tyres while running .
" Medical and veterinary diagnostics .
" Surveying the temperature fields of land and waters from the air .
Linear System can be used for the following continuously heated charges :
14.5 References
FLIR Systems (1999) Catalog, ThermaCam PM 695 .
FUR News, (1999) Summer 1999.
IRCON Inc . (1999) Catalog, digiCam-IR .
Land Infrared (1997) Industrial Non-contact Temperature Measurement.
Temperature Measurement Second Edition
L. Michalski, K. Eckersdorf, J. Kucharski, J. McGhee
Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
ISBNs: 0-471-86779-9 (Hardback); 0-470-84613-5 (Electronic)
15
Dynamic Temperature
Measurement
15.1 General Information
The term dynamic temperature measurement covers all measurements during which thermal
transients occur in a sensor irrespective of whether the transient is caused by temperature
variations in the medium, whose temperature is to be measured, or in the temperature
sensor, itself. Thus, unavoidable dynamic errors occur during the measurement of any
temperatures, changing with time. Errors also arise during the temperature measurement of
a medium at a constant temperature using a temperature sensor immersed in the medium.
Determination of the dynamic errors of a thennometer, requires knowledge of its dynamic
properties. In many non-electric thermometers where the sensor and indicator form one
inseparable unit, the dynamic properties to be described must refer to the whole device .
Electric thermometers are mostly used when it is essential to know the dynamic error so
that it can be taken into consideration . Consequently, the dynamic parameters of electric
sensors will be the main topic for discussion in this chapter. It must be stressed that dynamic
errors in temperature measurement are principally caused by the sensor. For this reason, any
influence of the dynamic properties of indicating instruments may be neglected in most
cases.
Knowledge of the dynamic properties of a temperature sensor is necessary for the
following main cases:
" to determine the necessary immersion time, while measuring a constant medium
temperature,
" to determine the dynamic errors while measuring temperatures changing with time,
" to compare the dynamic properties of different temperature sensors, so that the one best
suited for a specific application, may be chosen,
" to determine the true temperature variations of temperatures changing in time by
correcting known indicated values,
" to describe the dynamics of a sensor when it is part of a closed loop temperature control
system as described by Michalski and Eckersdorf (1987),
" to choose the type and optimum settings of a corrector of dynamic errors .
280 DYNAMIC TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
Measuring the stepwise changing temperature, the relative dynamic error is defined as :
A6dy ( t) t9T(t)-6(t)
Sz9dyn(t)= - (15 .2)
A6 A6
The response time, tr, after which the relative dynamic error does not exceed a certain
value, is closely connected with the relative dynamic error . For instance at t >_ tr,5 % the
absolute value of the relative error is 60d,(t) <<-5% . The dynamic error can also be
defined for other, non-periodic temperature variations . Its value is then mostly related to the
maximum change of the measured temperature .
In dynamic temperature measurement Hofmann (1976) asserts that it is necessary to
determine the dynamic errors in two cases . The first occurs when the measured, indicated
temperature and the sensor's dynamic properties are known . Another occurs when the
medium temperature, the input, is known as a function of time as well as the dynamic
properties of the sensor . In both cases it is convenient to represent the dynamic error using
the Laplace transform to obtain :
When measuring a sinusoidally changing temperature 6(CV) = A6sin 0ot +tip the
dynamic errors consist of amplitude and phase errors . Amplitude error, AA(o)), is given by
the difference of the amplitudes of the sensor temperature 019T (c)) and its true value A6,
so that :
or the relative error, 8A(Co), related to the amplitude of the measured temperature may be
written as :
AOT(o))-019
SA(o))= AA ( co) = (15 .5)
AO A6
Phase error is defined as the phase shift between the sensor temperature, OT (t), and the
measured temperature 6(t) . The cut-off frequency, f, of a temperature sensor defines a
frequency below which the amplitude error does not exceed a given value (e.g . iff <fc,5
then 1,5AJ < 5 %) when a state of stationary oscillations exists .
. .. ...
F[Yn(t),Yn-1(t) Y(t) ;6m (t),6 m-1 (t) . . . . . .t9(t)] = 0 (15 .7)
where y(t) . . . . . . y" (t) are the sensor output signal and its time derivatives, and
13(t) . . . . . . 0 m (t) are the measured temperature and its time derivatives .
In the case when the dynamic behaviour is linear, equation (15 .7) becomes :
~ tg(t)
ja i
d l Y(t)
_ Ybj d (15 .8)
dt` dti
t-o j-o
y(s), to the Laplace transform of the measured temperature signal, 9(s), when the initial
conditions are zero so that:
Taking equation (15.8) into account the transfer function can then be given by:
Ebjsj
m
= J 0 = L(s) (15.10)
GT (s)
Eals i M(s)
n
i=0
The operational transfer function, GT(s), is thus presented as the ratio of the
polynomials L(s) and M(s). Poles of the transfer function are the roots of the
equation M(s) = 0 and the zeros of the transfer function are the roots of the
equation L(s) = 0. If the temperature input signal, 9(s), is known, a knowledge of the
transfer function, GT(s), of a temperature sensor, enables its output signal to be determined
as a function of time (Doetsch, 1961).
Each electric temperature sensor may be regarded as composed of a thermal conversion
stage and an electrical conversion stage as shown in Figure 15.2 . In the thermal conversion
stage, the temperature, 9(t), of the medium whose temperature is being measured is
converted into the sensor's temperature, t9T(t) . The sensor's temperature, OT (t), is
converted into the electrical output signal y(t) (e.g. thermal emf) in the electrical conversion
stage. This second conversion stage has a purely static character. Thus, the sensor transfer
function GT(s) of equation (15 .9) can be expressed as a product of the transfer function of
the thermal conversion stage, FT(s), and ofthe coefficient KT, representing the properties of
the electrical conversion stage, and called the sensor gain so that equation (15.11) is
obtained:
(a)
t-DOMAIN PRESENTATION
(b)
s-DOMAIN } PRESENTATION
where :
KT = (15 .11 a)
d~T
(s))
FT = (15 .11 b)
This approach to the presentation of sensor dynamics, makes it possible to limit further
discussions of the dynamics to those ofthe thermal conversion stage.
In the case of steady-state periodic variations of measured temperature, the frequency
response, GT (jco) , of the sensor may be considered instead of the sensor transfer function,
GT(s) . The sensor frequency response is the ratio of the phasor values of the output signal
y(jro) to the phasor value of the variable component of the sinusoidally changing
measured temperature 6(jo))
m
Y,bi(jo)) j
L(jo)) (15 .13)
GT(jco)= j=0 =
M(j~)
~)
nYai (jco)i
i=0
In a similar fashion, the transfer function of equation (15 .11) can be rewritten as the
frequency response function :
where KT is the sensor gain, and FT(Iw) is the frequency response of the thermal stage.
Another way of expressing the frequency response of the sensor is:
where
where JZe means "take the real part of and Dm means "take the imaginary part of'. Using
the polar form for the complex variable
AY((D) (15.16)
GT(j(O) = exp[j(VO)]
Ad
where Ay((o) is the amplitude of the output signal y(jw), AO is the amplitude of the first
harmonic of measured temperature O(jco) and (p(o)) is the phase shift between y(jO))
and 6(j))
.
Equations (15 .15) and (15 .16) are related as :
Ay ) 2
= JGT(jp)j = KT P2 (p)+Q (0 ) (15 .17)
A~
) PZ((0)+QZ((0) (15.19)
A = =IFT(j(o)I
0~CO
is called the amplitude characteristic of the thermal conversion stage of the temperature
sensor.
further assumed, that the thermal capacity, mc, of the sensor is negligibly small compared
with the total thermal capacity of the medium and that the heat transfer coefficient a ,
between the sensor and the medium is constant .
According to Newton's law, when the sensor is immersed in the medium, the heat
transferred to the sensor in the time interval dt will be:
where a is the heat transfer coefficient between sensor and medium and A is the heat
exchange area.
The heat stored in the sensor is :
dQ=mcdOT (15.21)
where m is the mass of the sensor, and c is the specific heat of the sensor material.
From equations (15.20) and (15 .21) it follows that
(15.22)
a4(0- OT)dt = mcdOT
or
nic deT
+OT =O (15.23)
a4 dt
me = NT
(15.24)
aA
d
NT T + OT = O (15.25)
d
where NT , which is called the sensor time constant at the given heat transfer conditions
(a = constant), is expressed in time units.
Taking the Laplace transform, equation (15 .25) becomes:
where s is the Laplace operator . Defining the transfer function of the thermal stage of the
sensor as:
(15.28)
FT (s) 1+sNT
or
Equation (15 .30) shows that the transfer function of an idealised temperature sensor is
that of a first order inertia.
The frequency response of the thermal stage of an idealised sensor may be written as :
OT(jCO) = 1
FT(j(o) = (15.31)
O(jco) 1 + j(oNT
fort Ob <_ 0
~9(t)
- {6 e ort>0
or
As it is necessary to obtain zero initial conditions for the Laplace transform, the excess
temperature O = Oe - 6b , will be used, to obtain:
Inserting FT (s) from equation (15.28) and O(s) from equation (15 .35) into
equation (15 .36) the Laplace transform of the sensor temperature will be:
O
(15 .37)
OT(s) s(1_ NT)
_tIAI T) +
OT (t) = (Ve - Ob)(I - e Ob (15 .40)
From equations (15 .38) and (15.40) it follows that the step input response of an
idealised temperature sensor is an exponential curve, having the time constant NT as shown
in Figure 15 .3 . From this curve, the time constant NT can be found in a graphical way from
the tangent to the curve OT(t)=f(t) at any point, or as the time after which
O T (t = N T ) = 0.6320, .
Also the half-value time, or 50 % rise time to .5, which is the time when O T = 0.50, can
be used to determine the time constant. From equation (15 .39) at t = to.5, it is clear that:
0.50, = 0,(I - e to 5 I NT )
1 I
(15 .41)
2 tO.5 = 0 .693
NT = tO.5
The nine-tenth value time, t o .9 , is also a characteristic value of the temperature step
response. From the exponential function it can be shown that:
to-5
= 3.32 (15 .42)
to.9
la) (b
TIME NT CONSTANT
'e Ae
e4d,"' (t) *T = f (t)
m 0 .99,
ej U, T =f(t)
a 0,6328,
0,59,
W
n
E
w
H
W N
H
- - - -- - _ - - -- W
F x 0
t
4' to s TIME
NT
to.s
0 TIME t
From equation (15.1) (15 .39) and (15 .40) the dynamic error will be:
or
From equation (15 .2) (15.39) and (15.40) the relative dynamic error will be:
T(t)1e =-e-t/NT
S6dyn (t) _ (15 .44)
e
or
The dependence of 829dyn upon the immersion time t is given in Table 15.1 . This
relative error as a function of time, tends to zero in an exponential manner.
Table 15.1 Dynamic error as a function of immersion time, t. (NT is the sensor time constant)
Time, t 0 .631VT NT 3 NT 3 .9 NT 4 .6 NT 6 .9 NT 9 .2 NT
The true and measured temperatures O(t) and pT(t) as well as the dynamic errors,
AOdyn , and relative dynamic errors, 8t9dyn , respectively described by equations (15 .45) to
(15.62) are given in Table 15 .2 for the following four cases:
' t
0
NT
At
(15
cp =-2tc-=-arctanCONT .58)
TO
1 I . e
.C O(t )-
-AOL sinax--sin 3ux- . . . .--smncot- .. . . (15 .59)
n2
I HARMONIC 9(t)
o 9 6(t) "~ m
a; a a
8
AE), = AO (15 .60) _.
n 0 -. t
a
8 (15 .61) HARMONIC9TIt)
IHARMONIC At
AOT,1((o)= A0 1
7t ( .NT ) Z
L
t
(15
cp i =-27c -=-arctancoNT .62)
TO
REAL SENSORS 291
Numerical example
The medium temperature, 9e = 220 °C, is to be measured by a temperature sensor with a time
constant, NT = 30 s and an initial ambient sensor temperature of 9b = 20 °C . How long should the
immersion time be, to ensure that the indication error is less than 2 °C?
Solution:
From Table 15 .1 for c59d, =- 0.01, the necessary immersion time is t= 4 .6NT , so that:
Numerical example
A sinusoidally varying medium temperature was measured by a temperature sensor with NT = 30 s.
The period of temperature oscillations was TO =100 s, while the amplitude of the sensor
temperature, AO T = 5 °C . Determine the true amplitude of the temperature oscillations of the
medium .
Solution:
From equation (15 .56) in Table (15.2), the amplitude of the medium temperature may be
calculated to obtain :
1-SENSOR SENSITIVE
PA RT
2-SHEATH
EATH
3-INSULATING
3 MATERIAL
a
\ 2
E ~' 1 1
1
(a) (b) (c)
0 TIME t
Each of the three general kinds of response is due to one of the following sensitive parts
of the sensor, relevant for the measurement :
Defining a sensor to be within one of the above three groups, depends on its step
response . From this reasoning, it can be seen that the step response of any real sensor
depends upon its design, its working temperature and the heat transfer conditions at this
temperature .
In the derivation of the differential equation (15 .25), which describes the dynamic
properties of an idealised sensor, it was assumed that both the sensor time constant and the
heat transfer coefficient between the sensor surface and the surrounding medium were
constant and temperature independent . In reality, the overall heat transfer coefficient, which
must include convection, conduction and radiation, is a function of the medium temperature
as well as of the instantaneous sensor temperature . Hence, time constant of the sensor will
vary with the varying heat transfer conditions .
These problems are especially apparent while measuring temperatures due to a
predominantly radiative heat exchange, as occurs inside chamber furnaces working above
600 °C (Hackforth, 1960; Michalski, 1966). The radiant heat flux between the chamber
walls at temperature, T2, and the temperature sensor at Ti , is given by equation (8.24a)) as:
T
T2
X21 Ale1Co 100)4-Co1\4
[( ]
where A 1 is the sensor heat exchange surface and E1 is the sensor emissivity.
This formula which is valid for walls with surface A2 > 3A 1, can be rewritten as :
)a )a
[( 00 - (100
a r -ciCo (15 .64)
(T2 -Ti)
)2
-z )3 T2 TI )2
e1 Co 10_
[(100 + 100 (100 + 100 (100 + (100 )3
If the sensor temperature, T1, does not differ from T2 by more than ±10 % of T2,
corresponding to :
T1
0.9 < < 1.1
T2
294 DYNAMIC TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
then equation (15 .64) can be replaced by the following approximate dependence of
accuracy to within 1% .
3
a r = e l Co x 0 .5 x 10-z (TI + T (15 .65)
100 100)
According to Eijkman (1955) and Lieneweg (1975) the coefficient, a r , increases as the
temperatures of the furnace walls and the sensor increase, as shown in Figure 15 .5,
achieving far higher values than the convective heat exchange coefficient, ak . The
temperature dependence of a r causes a considerable difference between the step responses
of bare thermocouples in an electric furnace and exponentially curved responses . On the
other hand high values of A means that they closely approach ideal sensors .
" The dynamic properties of the sensor are linearised within the given temperature range .
" A mean time constant is used as a value to describe the bi-directional heat flow between
the sensor and the surrounding medium as described by Skoczowski (1982) .
" The sensor is represented by a lumped parameter model .
The most commonly used sensor transfer functions are given in Table 15 .3 . These
models, which take the design of the sensor and the heat transfer conditions into account,
have been considered by Bliek and Fay (1979), Eckersdorf (1980), Hofmann (1965, 1966,
1967b), Rubin and Feldman (1968), Schwarze (1964) and Souksounov (1970) . The
600
T2 =1500K
z
W
vx Tj ~~T2
400
03 T2 =1200K
i 200
T2 = 900K
T2 =600K
0 -
300 600 900 1200 1500
SENSOR TEMPERATURE T, K
Figure 15 .5 Radiant heat transfer coefficient, %, versus sensor temperature, Ti , for a sensor of
a i = 0 .8, at given temperature, TZ , of the furnace walls
Table 15.3 Equivalent transfer function ofelectrical temperature sensors
0
SHEATH
1 THERMOCOUPLES
GT(s)=KT (15 .60
(1+SNTI)(1+SNT2)
SHEATHS
-SL
G T(S) - KT (15 .68)
1+sNT
e-SL Ps
GT(S)=KT (15 .69)
(1+SNTI)(1+SNT2) MI-THERMOCOUPLES
1 +SNT3 M1-THERMOCOUPLES
GT(s)=KT (1 (15 .70)
+SNTI)(1+SNT2)
w
d<4mm ~ d< 4mm
a-MEDIUM oC-MEDIUM
d' 4mm & BIG
d'-SMALL
d
296 DYNAMIC TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
where a, which is the thermal diffusivity of the cylinder material, is equal to A/pc.
For real temperature sensors of radius R, the solution of this equation follows that for the
boundary condition of the third kind which have the general form :
d O(R,t) -- a
-[O(R,t)-OJ (15 .71 a)
ar
a0(O,t) - 0
(15 .71b)
ar
This solution, considered by Hofmann (1976), gives the temperature any chosen point of
the cylinder at a distance, r, from the cylinder axis (0 < r < R) for a step change of the
ambient temperature from 0 to O e .
For some sensors it is also possible to use other simple models such as that of a sphere
or plate . The corresponding solutions of the Fourier equation for boundary conditions of the
third kind are given in Grober et al. (1963), Hofmann (1976) and Jakob (1957, 1958) . The
above theory, which is valid for a simple sensor, can also be extended to multi-layer sensors
as shown by Hofmann (1976), Lieneweg (1938a, 1938b, 1941, 1962) and Yarishev (1967) .
To determine the dynamic properties of real sensors, it is necessary to set up their
equivalent models first . As temperature sensors with tubular sheaths are widely used in
practice, most publications concern this type of sensors . The majority of authors, such as
REAL SENSORS 297
Caldwell et al. (1959), Eijkman (1955), Eijkman and Verhagen (1958), Meyer-Witting
(1959) and Yarishev (1967), use equivalent circuits based on a second order system, as
shown in Figure 15.6 . The thermal capacity, m1cl, of the sheath is represented by a
capacitor, C , and that of the sensitive part of the sensor, m2c2, by C . The thermal
l 2
resistances between the sheath and its environment, Ilk,, and between the sheath and the
temperature sensitive part, 1/k2, are similarly represented by the resistors R and R 2 1
respectively.
All these capacitances and resistances are given as relative values per unit of the sensor
length provided that the sensor is sufficiently long to neglect any heat exchange along its
length. The thermal resistance across the sheath wall has also been neglected . Element pairs
of the analogous quantities of the thermal and electric models are given in Table 15 .4
(Gr6ber et al., 1963). The input voltage, V, corresponds to the measured mean temperature,
O, the output voltage, VT, to the temperature, O , of the sensor's sensitive part, so that the
T
1/kj] I R, R2
t Cz I VT
U
e T e
6 mi ci
m ~z
Figure 15.6 Real temperature sensor and its electric analogue circuit
Temperature above ambient O,(°C) Voltage V, (V) of voltage K,, = VIO (V/°C)
Thermal resistance 1/k, (°C/W) Resistance R, (S2) of resistance K = Rk, (f2W/°C)
R
Denoting
RI C, = Nt (15 .72a)
R2 C2 = N2 (15 .72b)
and
Nt + N2 + RI C2 = 2~N
- 1 Nl + N2 + RIC2
(15 .72d)
2 NIN2
allows equation (15 .72) to be written in a standard second order form as follows :
Z-t
h(t) = sI G(s)
_t
e- N sin 1- 2 . t -0
N
=1+ (15 .74)
1-5 2
where
To obtain the transfer function of a sensor or its step response, the electric quantities in
equations (15 .73) and (15 .74) should be replaced by the analogous thermal quantities given
in Table 15 .4 .
As this rather complicated solution is of only limited practical use, a temperature sensor
can be modelled for simulation purposes by two, non-interacting RC-elements . Such a
model is normally used in the experimental determination of the step responses of a
temperature sensor. Since the analytical method is not very precise it is rarely used .
EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION OF THE DYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF SENSORS 299
EXTERNAL O
a m
INPUT N
METHODS air channel air channel air channel Glower
or or
AT LOWER water pipe-line water pipe-line
TEMPERATURES or or
(convective heat two pipe-lines double pipe-line
exchange) or
liquid bath
high values of a are usually so small that they do not exert a significant influence on the
sensor dynamics (Kondratiev, 1947 ; Yarishev, 1967).
To measure sensor dynamics with different values of a, some special channels and
pipe-lines are constructed, in which a gas, mostly air, or liquid, mostly water, flows at an
adjustable velocity. This velocity is measured in order to enable a comparison of the results
2 2
obtained. Hofmann (1976) describes an air channel in which the flow velocity may be
adjusted between 0 and 20 m/s. It is intended for sensors, having sheath diameter, D, up to
10 mm and an immersion length up to 100 mm . The highest achievable values of a were
150 W/m °C, for D = 10 mm, and 400 W/m °C, for D = 1 nun . Chohan and Natour
(1988) describe an air channel, which was designed for sensor testing at air velocities up to
2000 m/s .
In the water pipe-lines described by Hofmann (1976) and Huhnke (1973), the water
velocity is adjustable between 0 .1 and 2 m/s . The values of a at the lowest water flow
velocity are comparable with those at the highest air flow velocity, while the values of a for
wet air approach the values for liquid (Chohan and Natour, 1988) .
Measurements in air and water proceed in a similar way. The tested sensor is washed by
hot water coming from a pipe inside a shield, as shown in Figure 15 .8 . Protection of the
sensor from contact with the flowing medium is ensured by the shield . The hot-water
temperature is 10 °C above the medium temperature . At a given moment, the springy shield
is pushed in the direction of the flowing medium and simultaneously the flow of hot-water
stops . A deciding factor is the step input duration, which has to be shorter than 0 .1 of the
half-value time, to .5 , of the tested sensor. In this set-up a mechanical device ensures that the
95 % step response time, tO .95, is shorter than 20 to 100 ms .
A step change in temperature can also be realised using a low-inertia mesh heating
element . Such a mesh is mostly used for gas heating, because in liquid heating far greater
heating power would be needed . The air-channel shown in Figure 15 .9 (Huhnke, 1973) has
a main construction consisting of a thin wire mesh heating element placed parallel to the
tested temperature sensor and perpendicular to the direction of the air stream . A step change
in the temperature of the flowing medium is achieved by switching the heating power on
and off. In most cases temperature changes of about 10 °C, which are applied, should be
regarded as exponential approximations to step temperature changes characterised by a
time-constant, N (Huhnke, 1973) . For example, at an air velocity of v = 2 to 15 m/s, the
TESTED
SENSOR
FLOWING
300 TESTED 160
MEDIUM SHIELD
SENSOR
-'~ f I I
I C===- O
I I SHIELD ~------- ----
MESH
I
MOVEMENT f 1 1
HEATING
` ELEMENT t f } ,°oo
-D -
HOT WATER
SUPPLY
BLOWER
Figure 15.8 Pipe line with a movable shield Figure 15.9 Air channel with mesh heating element
302 DYNAMIC TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
O (t)
h(t) = (15 .79a)
Te
The relations in equations (I 5 .79a) and (15 .79b) are shown in Figure 15 .12(a) .
When t >> NT2 , h * (t) will be transformed into hi (t)
NTI _ t
lnhj (t) =1n (15 .81)
NT I -NT2 NT I
Table 15.5 Dynamic models oftemperature sensors
Equivalent block Equivalent transfer function, GT(s) Step response &f Q)
diagram of a sensor (Equation numbers from Table 15 .3) Graphical Mat
Volumetric response
(Figure 15 .4(a))
1-st order inertia element 1
G T(s) -KT (15 .66) Or(t)- O(I _ e-IINT
I+sNT
t 0 NT
Central response NT
(Figure 15 .4(c))
1-st order inertia element
+ pure lag _ e-%/.T Or(t) = fl in t LT
GT(s)-KT (15 .68)
1+sNT
Or(t) - O (1 _ e-(r-t
-z~ 4-r
t 0 LT
in
Central response
(Figure 15 .4(c)) Oe _ N
2-nd order inertia element Or(t) - ~[ 1 -
- 1 NTI _
GT(s) (15 .67)
KT(,+sNTt)(1 +sNTZ)
0 t
Surfacial response O
(Figure 15 .4(b)) Ob NT, -
2-nd order inertia element Or(t) ° Oe 1- -
+ derivative element _ I +SNT3 NTI -
GT(s)-KT (1+SNTt)(1+sNTZ) (15 .70)
0 t
304 DYNAMIC TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
Plots . In h*(t) are shown in Figure 15 .12(b) . Solving equation (15.80) for
the instants tj and t2, shown in Figure 15 .12(b) gives the value of the time constant, NTI, as :
t2 -4 (15 .82)
NTI -
O_rL_~_=
um-nnN
0,06
niri~~
0,008
11N11_III_111
, ..
__ ,
, ...
. . ., ......
, . . . .8 ., ..
i - . . response . D. . .--
temperature sensor with central response constants NTI and NT2 when LTINT is known and
has .--n found using the method of Figure 15 . 10
Kh N2
h(t)'' EXPERIMENTAL STEP-INPUT tr,(t) LOGARITHMIC DISPLAY
~(t)- - - ~
~(t , RESPONSE OF STEP-INPUT RESPONSE
e'*"'
--- - - - - - - - - - - -- - - -
1,0
.:
..
0,2 I
.
(t)
..
TIME t TIME t
Figure 15 .12 Logarithmic method of determining the time constants, NT t and NT2
EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION OF THE DYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF SENSORS 305
The time constant, NT2 , can be determined by reading the value of h*(O) from
Figure 15 .12(b) and inserting it into equation (15 .80) at t = 0, to obtain :
Since N TI has already been found it can be used in equation (15 .83) to obtain N T2 from :
hI (0) -1
NT2 = (0) NTI (15 .84)
hl
The time constant NT2 can also be found in a similar way as NTI by drawing the function
h2* (t) = hl (t) - h * (t) with a semi-logarithmic scale . This method is then specially useful
for checking if the second-order inertia system gives a sufficiently precise model of the
sensor. If the function h2 (t) is not a straight line, the sensor should be approximated by a
higher order system .
Sensors with surfacial response, where t0.9/t0 .5 > 3,32, are mostly approximated by first-
order inertia systems, as described by equation (15 .66) in Table 15 .3 . If a more precise
approximation is necessary, a transfer function as given in equation (15 .70) from Table 15 .5
is used :
(I+sNT3)
GT(s)=KT
(1 + SNT I )(1 + sNT2 )
The transfer function zero, at s = - 1/NT3, takes account of the thermal layer from the inside
of the sensitive sensor surface to the core of the sensor .
A method to find the time constants, NTI, NT2 and NT3, which is based on the recorded
step input response, is described in Hofmann (1976) and Yarishev (196/) . However, for
sensors with surfacial response it is usually precise enough to represent their dynamic
properties by an equivalent transfer function with a single inertia :
GT( s) =K
- T I
I+sNTI
Subsequently, the value of NTI is determined in the same way as for sensors with volumetric
response.
To determine the parameters from a step input response of sensors with volumetric
response under changing heat-transfer coefficient the Lieneweg method is used to find a
characteristic parameter, Y, from Figure 15 .13 . This method is based on experimentally
determined step input responses of the tested sensor in two different media . The values of
the surfacial heat transfer coefficients, a, must be known in each case . In most cases the
measurements are conducted in water and air to find either the half-value times, tO .5,w, in
"" .won . mom
.""
1 on
awO rm
ONE
MEN
Wasamm
aoffixo
level
w - i . 11
1 : 11
EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION OF THE DYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF SENSORS 307
step input response of the sensor and that of an infinite solid-cylinder. This method includes
an algorithm, which enables calculation of the transfer function of the sensor for any other
value of ax based on measured values of to .5 and to.9 and a known value of the coefficient,
a.
Rectangular, periodic input signals. Rectangular periodic input signals are easy to
generate in water pipe lines or air channels . More details of this method can be found in
Bliek and Fay (1979), Huhnke (1973) and Woschni (1980) . In the early use of this method
interpretation of the results was difficult . Nowadays, as described in Chapter 13, the power
of digital signal processing methods greatly simplifies this task. Square-waves are
practically very useful because they are easily generated and applied in industrial systems.
Sinusoidal input signals. Application of sinusoidal input signals for determining sensor
dynamics requires rather complicated instrumentation . Hence it is not very popular . Because
each experiment at each different frequency is conducted separately, taking the
measurements is extremely time consuming, even though the latter may be automated using
the methods described in Chapter 13 . The design of a special air channel with low-inertia
heating elements, described by Huhnke (1973) decisively simplifies the application of this
method . Recording the temperatures, 9, of the air and, 9r, of the tested sensor at different
frequencies of the sinusoidal temperature oscillations allows the determination of a non-
parametric frequency response of the sensor, which is usually drawn in the form of a Bode
diagram like that shown in Figure 15 .14 (Michalski et al., 1981) . If the sensor is
approximated by a first order inertia element, Figure 15 .14 shows an easy graphical method
of finding its time constant, NT , using the asymptotes of the frequency response to
determine the corner angular frequency co, as N T =1 / coy . Presentation of the frequency
response of a sensor by a Bode diagram is especially convenient in the synthesis of an
automatic temperature control system . (Michalski and Eckersdorf, 1987) . The frequency
response is very useful in selecting the best sensor model and its characteristic parameters
(Michalski et al., 1981) . The experimentally determined sensor frequency response under
known heat transfer conditions between the sensor and surrounding medium, can form the
basis for its conversion to a model for other operating conditions (Kocurov, 1963).
308 DYNAMIC TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
(a)
I \
o ~_IF, (jw)I
a
I
w 0,1
0
CORNER
=1
I FREQUENCY
a ~~=11NT
0,01
0,001 0,01 0,1 1,0
(b) ANGULAR FREQUENCY
0,00 0,01 1 0,1 1,0
0
o I
9- -1/2 __________
-?r 314
n
a
x
0-
Heating-up curve method The heating-up curve method of determining the dynamics of
a temperature sensor can be obtained by placing the sensor in a furnace chamber at the
temperature 9e . To give explicit and reproducible measuring conditions, the furnace should
be constructed so that the emissivity of the furnace chamber is as near to unity as possible,
its thermal capacity is far greater than that of the sensor with the furnace heated to a uniform
temperature over a zone much longer than the immersion depth of the sensor . In addition
the furnace temperature has to be controlled precisely in the range from 500 °C up to the
maximum temperature of application of the sensor. In that temperature range, the sensor
EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION OF THE DYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF SENSORS 309
la) (b)
N T, LT
W DETERMINATION OF LT
a
Q
w
. DETERMINATION OF Nr
W
1
E
W W
F-
H
~0 TIME t 0 TIME t
(c) 1
_NT, NT2 FOUND FROM NTZINT,RATIO
NT1
0,1
.
001
0 0,1 0,2 0,3 L T INT1
Figure 15 .15 Determination of the time constants, NTI and NT2, of a sensor by (a) the heating-up
curve method and (b) the cooling-down curve method
310 DYNAMIC TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
Figure 15 .15(c) . The diagram (NT2/NTI) =f(L T1NTd is based on the data from Figure 15 .11 .
The determined values of NTI and NT2 are referred to the temperature, 9e . It has been
proved by Eckersdorf and Michalski (1984) that the proposed method is sufficiently precise
for those industrial sensors typically applied in electric furnaces in the temperature range
from 600 °C to 1200 °C .
Step input response method To realise a step input precisely at a given temperature
level for use in the step input response method, the sensor should be transferred from
temperature (9e - 0 .5A9) to temperature (9e + 0 .50,9) as quickly as possible . After each
transition, the sensor should be immersed up to its normal immersion depth . To increase the
measurement precision the step increase and the step decrease of the temperature should be
repeated twice, taking the average values as the final result . The value of the temperature
step, A9, is of the utmost importance. To ensure that the sensor response remains mainly
linear, the step should not be too big, while a step which is too small may result in large
random errors. In practice, the value should be about 60 to 100 °C . Either two electric
furnaces standing side-by-side or one two-section furnace can be used . In the first case, in
transferring the sensor from one furnace to another, the temperature versus time is far from
a pure step-input, thus resulting in additional errors . In the second case, although generation
of a step input gives a much higher precision, its application range is restricted, depending
upon the complexity of furnace construction . In particular, the furnace, which should have
sufficiently long non-interacting heating zones, will be limited only to testing very long
sensors . The application range and precision of the step input response method of
(9e ± 0 .5A9) are similar to the heating-up and cooling-down curves method . Interpretation
of measured responses is performed in the same ways as given in Table 15 .5 .
Sinusoidal input response method The methods of determining the dynamics of sensors
given before do not assure sufficient precision in the case of low-inertia sensors, such as MI
thermocouples, in the temperature range above 500 °C . It is then advisable to measure their
frequency responses at given temperature levels using the sinusoidal input response method .
To achieve this aim Eckersdorf (1986) has constructed a special low-inertia furnace, shown
in Figure 15 .16, which enables the generation of sinusoidal temperature variations from
0 .001 to 0 .5 Hz in the range from 600 to 1000 °C .
The furnace chamber, 1, made of a temperature resistant steel tube with closed ends is
heated by halogen radiators, 2, whose radiation is concentrated by parabolic mirrors, 3 .
3 2 2 1 3
1
1-FURNACE CHAMBER
2-INFRARED HALOGEN RADIATORS
3-PARABOLIC MIRRORS
Figure 15.16 Special electric furnace for measuring the frequency response of low-inertia sensors in
conditions of radiant heat transfer
EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION OF THE DYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF SENSORS 311
Warshawski (1974) first described the internal input method of identifying the dynamic
properties of electric temperature sensors . The method is especially useful for in-situ
identification . This idea was further developed in USA (Kerlin et al., 1978, 1981, 1982 ;
Hashemian et al., 1990) . The method, which was initially applied to RTDs and later also to
thermocouple sensors, satisfied the need for continuous monitoring of changes in the
dynamics of temperature sensors operating in extremely difficult and dangerous conditions
such as occur in nuclear power stations . The internal input is realised by direct electric
current flow in the RTD winding or in the electrodes and measuring junction of a
thermocouple sensor . By measuring the sensor response to this input, it is possible to
determine the operational transfer function for the internal input GT (s) as :
(s)
GT (s) (15 .85)
P,, (S)
where, OT (s) , is the Laplace transform of the sensor temperature and Ph (s) is the Laplace
transform of the applied internal heating power both at the zero initial conditions .
Comparing the equations (15 .85) and (15 .11), it can be seen that the transfer function,
GT (s) , does not correspond to the transfer function GT(s) . Assuming a unidirectional heat
flow in the sensor and very small heat capacity of the sensitive part of the sensor, the
operational transfer function of the sensor is given by ;
rl(1+sNTi )
i=1
m
rl(1+sN Tj )
j
GT (s) = KT n 1 (15 .87)
~(1+sNTi )
i=1
Comparing equations (15 .86) and (15 .87) it is clear that the inertia time constants, NTi, are
identical in both cases . Thus it is possible to determine NTi by the internal input method and
312 DYNAMIC TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
eventually also the sensors transfer function GT(s) (Bernhard and Noack 1981, Kerlin et al .,
1978, 1981, 1982) .
In the measuring circuit for RTDs, which is shown in Figure 15 .17, the bridge supply
voltage is modulated by an additional signal, generating the internal temperature input
(Taylor and Navarro, 1987) . The resulting changes in sensor temperature are compared with
the internal input signal and enable the sensor dynamic properties to be determined . A step-
input signal as an additional signal is usually applied so that the time constants, NTt, and the
transfer function GT(s), in equation (15 .86), are determined from its output . Using MBS to
determine the frequency response of RTDs by the internal input method is now well
established approach (Jackowska-Strumillo et al., 1992, 1996, 1997 ; McGhee et al ., 1992,
1993) . After some signal processing and other calculations, the time constants, NTi, and
transfer function GT (s) can be obtained .
Application of internal input method for testing of thermocouple sensors, or simply
thermocouples, is more complicated . The heating current, circulating in the thermocouple,
has to be an alternating current to avoid any additional changes in thermocouple
temperature, caused by Peltier and Thomson effects, described in Section 3 .1 .1 . The heating
current is the source of a far greater voltage drop across the thermocouple than the
generated thermoelectric force . Thus the measurement of this emf during the internal input
test is impossible . The first attempts of applying this method were based on the cooling
down-curve, immediately after switching off the heating current (Kerlin et al . (1981) .
Michalski and Eckersdorf (1990) introduced the circuit, shown in Figure 15 .18 to measure
the sensor output signal, nearly continuously, using a switching device . The emf was
measured during the very short intervals when the heating current is interrupted . These
interruptions had no marked influence on the total heating power . The sinusoidal heating
power input, applied to the sensor, was then replaced by a computerised application of MBS
signals (Eckersdorf et al ., 1995 ; Kucharski and Sankowski, 1997 ; Kucharski, et al., 1997) .
The internal input method described above is especially useful for determining the
dynamics of those sensors, which can be regarded as first order inertia systems . It gives
4
O .C. VOLTAGE
SOURCE A . C . POWER
SOURCE
V=coast
Figure 15 .17 Block diagram of the system for Figure 15 .18 Block diagram of the system for
determining RTD dynamics by the internal determining thermocouple dynamics by the
input method internal input method
MUM
I X 11' I 1 1
MEN A . :
BOOM
v
_ KOAA= 1
Q~-
v v v v v ~ v v v v v
Table 15 .6 Characteristic dynamic parameters of temperature sensors determined from step respot
(VDE/VDI-Richtlinien 5522, 1979)
Temperature sensors
Air at v =1 mh
to.5 (s) to .9 (s) to.91
I Liquid-in-glass thermometers
Mercury, bulb d = 6 mm, 1= 12 mm 48 150 3
Mercury, bulb d = 6 mm, 1= 38 mm; steel sheath d = 10 mm 121 350 2
Alcohol, bulb d = 6 mm, 1= 38 mm; steel sheath d = 10 mm 200 500 2
II Manometric liquid-filled thermometers
Bulb d = 17 mm 180 600 3
Bulb d = 17 mm; steel sheath d = 22 mm 340 1090 3
Temperature sensors
Air at v = 1 m/s
to .5 (s) to .9 (s) NY
Table 15 .7 Half value time, tp . s, of MI thermocouples determined from the step input response
from 20 to 40 °C
Air 50 37 16 .0 11 .3 10 .2
100 20 14 .7 12 .7 140 49 42 38
200 25 .3 18 .8 16.2
Medium Temp. (°C) Flow velocity (m/s)
5 10 20 50
d= d= d= d=
4 10 20 1 4 10 20 4 10 20 1 4 10 20
Water 30
50 1100-11000
70
Air 50
100 80 70 64 300120 105 93 168 147 133 520 285 248 212
200
Overheated 300 (0 .5
104 156 261 162 226 360 226 320 500 360 505 800
Mpa) 290 383 630 383 545 860 560 780 1200 870 1230 1950
water 400 (2 Mpa) 755 1100 1800 1100 1570 2550 1570 2260 3600 2500 3550 4200
vapour 300 (5 Mpa) 930 1330 2030 1330 1850 2900 1850 2610 4070 2960 4100 6600
500 (10 Mpa)
Medium Temp . (°C) Flow velocity (m/s)
0 0 .01 0.1
d= d= d=
4 10 20 4 10 20 4 10 20
Oil 70 I 52 36 29 174 116 87 520 337 232
Condensed, saturated watervapour:- a= 5800 - 10 500; condensing overheated water vapour :- a= 400;
condensing liquids:- a= 1750 - 35 000
DYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF CHOSEN SENSORS 317
The dynamic properties of thermocouple sensors, intended for application over 600 °C
at atmospheric pressure, are displayed against temperature, in Figure 15 .21 . In this figure
two time constants, NTI and NT2 , or one equivalent time constant, NTe , versus temperature
are shown for two different industrial sensors . Determination of the equivalent time
constant, NT .' is based on the measured half-value time, tO .5, in accordance with Eckersdorf
and Michalski (1984) . Experimental frequency responses for the same sensors obtained by
the same authors are shown in Figure 15 .22 . Figures 15 .23 and 15 .24 show the frequency
responses of MI thermocouples and of bare, unprotected thermocouples, determined
experimentally as described in Section 15 .4 .
(al
250 -
200
z
150 FT Is)
z
r
z
0
100 N Te to,51 0,693
f
Nn
50
N rz
0 F (s)
500 600 700 800 900 1000 T
TEMPERATURE , °C
(b)
z 150 FT(s)
z
a
z 100 NT. = to.s/0,693
0
V
4, NTT
50
F
NT2 y FT (s)
D
300 600 700 800 900 1000
TEMPERATURE - °C
ME i=
w = '
w"%
II
11'~,\\ 11' " IW
~-~~ 11
11
DYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF CHOSEN SENSORS 319
N 10 ~- =0,35mm
6 d=4,6mm~ 1mm
3mm
2
- .- BARE THERMOCOUPLES
c 102
6 - MI-THERMOCOUPLES 3,2mm
WITH INSULATED 1,6 mm
a MEASURING JUNCTION 1mm
0,002
4 6 10-3 2 4 6 10 2 4 6 10, 2 4 8
FREQUENCY f , Hz
(a) Ibl
\\ z
z 30 30 /
r
z \~ / 7000C
a 20 \\ d=4,6mm
o / 7000C
Uj 900K
1mm~\ / /
10 3,2 mm 1O
w
1,6mm
0,35 mm tmm
D ____ I I I f-T I
500 700 900 0 1 2 3 4 5
TEMPERATURE 4, °C DIAMETER d , d mm
Figure 15.25 Time constants versus temperature in (a), and diameter in (b), of some thermocouples
320 DYNAMIC TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
0 _ ~
200 400 600 800
TEMPERATURE , °C
Figure 15 .26 Approximate values of time constants of Type-K thermocouples in an electric chamber
furnace in still air . The time constants were found from a step input response from ambient to
temperature, .4e
_ KTKC
GC(s) (15 .88a)
GT(s)
where Kc is the corrector gain. If the sensor is approximated by a first order inertia
element, with the transfer function given from equation (15 .66) in Table 15 .3, the transfer
function of the corrector should be:
where Nc= NT .
Since each practical corrector has some inertia, which has to be considered in the
transfer function of equation (15.89), the final corrector transfer function is:
CORRECTION OF DYNAMIC ERRORS 321
1 + sNC
GC (s) = KC (15 .90)
NC
l+s
k
1 1
= (15 .91)
GTC (s) KTKC = KTC
kC
l+s l+s
kT
From the above equation it follows, that a corrected system, like the sensor on its own, is
also a first order inertia element, but with a time constant k times smaller . In practice
corrector types described by equation (15.90) are also used to correct the dynamics of
sensors described as second order inertia elements, having a transfer function like
equation (15 .67) in Table 15 .3 . If NC = NTt, the sensor-corrector set approaches a double
inertia sensor, whose larger time constant, NTI, is reduced k times . The optimum corrector
parameters, NC and k, depend on the type of sensor transfer function, the range of
variations of sensor dynamics and the time dependence of the measured temperature .
Optimisation criteria are usually based on the comparison ofthe step input response and
the amplitude versus frequency characteristic of the sensor and of the sensor-corrector
assembly. Further consideration of this question appears in Bainbridge and Kaltner (1984),
Eckersdorf (1980), Hofmann (1967a, 1970, 1976), Kraus and Woschni (1979) and
Michalski and Eckersdorf (1978) . Performance indices, typically based upon the response
time tr,5%, and the cut-off frequency of f5%, are used to judge the correction efficiency.
Figure 15 .28 presents the dynamic errors of the step response of a sensor, having the
transfer function of equation (15 .66) connected to a corrector having the transfer function of
equation (15 .90) for different corrector parameters. For the same set, Figure 15 .29 also
presents the influence of corrector parameters on corrector performance indices, defined as
the ratio of response times of sensor-corrector, tr,si,TC to the response time of the sensor
alone tr,5%,T . It is apparent that the deciding influence on assembly performance is the
correct choice of the ratio of corrector time constant NC to that of sensor NT.
In practice, Souksounov (1970) asserts that passive correctors can be applied, when
NC <5sandk<30 .
0,5 r., \
N INT =1,5 1 1+SNC
c
\T_ OTI(s)
=KT1+SNTKCN
1.
N~ /N T=1
NC IN T =0,5
i
' k=100
CORRECTION
z -0' S
r
k=5 }COEFFICIENT
° ' TEMPERATURE SENSOR ALONE
NT -SENSOR TIME CONSTANT
NC -CORRECTOR TIME CONSTANT
-1
0 Q5 1,0 1,5 t1N 2,0
Figure 15.28 Dynamic errors of sensor-corrector set having a transfer function, GTC(s), with a step
input
tus%,TC k=5
tu5%,OT,B
OTC (s)=KTI+SNT KC k=10
i
1+5NC i
k k=20 ./
~k=100
0,6 ~~.
k=50
0,4-
k- CORRECTION
COEFFICIENT
0,2
0
0,5
L-1 ~
1,0
' I I I
1,5 NC /N T
Figure 15.29 Ratio of 5 % response times of sensor-corrector set to sensor alone, versus the ratio of
the corrector time constant, Nc , to the sensor time constant, NT
(a) (b)
Ri
C
NC R, C
_ II L
k R L NC-
Rz
Ri Rz k= R+ +R z
R R2
Rz KC= Rz
RI+Rz
K = R2
0- 0 C RI+Rz
Q1 = ~ KcI = .f(k)
NC
Q2 =
NCe
where NC is the time constant in the corrector transfer function and NC,, is the time constant
of the applied derivative or inertia element .
For sensors with large time constants, correctors should have large values of Q2 . The
value of the index, Q 1 , is of decisive importance if the sensor output signals are small, when
(a) Cz
Rz R, RZ < .L
Ri R NC = C 01
R1-R,
R R3 R'
k = R'7R2 0'=k
z
-0 -0 Kc = R3 (R,-Rz )
RT (R+R3 )
C K"
(C)
NC- KKK
CR 01»
k
R K' KTr~KK~ .
k= 02=k
Kc = K'
G T1 (s) G, (s)
T1
FINAL CONTROL
AUXILIARY SENSOR AUXILIARY CORRECTOR ELEMENT
G TZ (s) EGc,(s) E
T2 - _ .- I
It is also assumed, that the transfer functions of both sensors, GTI (s) and GT2(s), are as
in equation (15 .66)and that the transfer functions of the correctors, GCI(s) and GC2(s), are
as in equation (15 .90) . Assume further, that the correction coefficient k2 of the auxiliary
corrector is k2 = C and that the time constants of the correctors are such, that NU N I = C.
It may be easily proven, that the condition of optimum correction NCI = NTI is satisfied,
when the difference signal, s, equals zero . Assume a change of the time constant of the main
sensor from NTI to NT I and that of the auxiliary sensor from NT2 to NTZ . The difference
signal, s , driving the final control element results in a new setting of both correctors until a
new equilibrium state is reached . This state occurs when :
N'C
N' I = NT', (when = C)
NCI
As the adaptive correctors described above are rather complicated and expensive they
are rarely used in an industrial environment . However, they are easy to implement using
microprocessor systems, and are applied in research .
" Optimisation of correcting system parameters in given operation conditions due to easy
construction of numerical models of temperature sensors .
" Possibility of easy design of programming prototypes for correcting systems, coupled
with real temperature sensors, for experimental verification of the described methods .
" Mass production of easily tuned miniaturised correctors, mounted in the head of
industrial sensors .
" Realisation of self-contained correcting systems adapting their structure and settings to
actual operating conditions .
O.f
= f(t) - .f (t-0) (15 .93)
At A
Although several methods for the evaluation of differential quotients are known, only
the reverse difference can be used practically in real-time systems . Such a method is based
on the present reading of the signal and the sample read one step before (Takahasi et al .,
1976) . Moreover, the influence of measurement noise can be reduced by using a larger
number of samples for the calculations .
As the temperature sensor can be represented by a first order inertia transfer function
given by equation (15 .66), the relation of Laplace transforms of its input signal, 9(s), and
output signal, YT(s), is given by :
YT(t) = 1
KNT 1)(s) (15 .94)
After transformations, the time form of equation (15 .94) can be written as :
Transforming from derivative to differential quotient in equation (15 .95), the discrete time
form of the sensor output signal at instant, tn , has the form :
T
(15 .96)
Yn = A NT (KTO, + 4 Yn-1)
where 6, and yn are the n-th samples of the input and output signals respectively and
_ p x
_File iadit View simulation Format Tools
NOISE
Ks + (Kc*Nt)s+Kc
(Nt)s+t + (NUk)s+1
Sum
GENERATOR RECORDER
SENSOR CORRECTOR
. .__. ._. _. ._ ._ ._ ,
Ready -,,o de45- .
lal (b)
400 400
TRUE TEMPERATURE TRUE TEMPERATURE
SENSOR+CORRECTOR+FILTER SENSOR+CORRECTOR FILTER
380 380-
V V
O O
360 , 360-
340- 340
W
f- 320 320
SENSOR SENSOR
300 300
60 70 80 90 100 60 70 80 90 100
TIME s TIME s
(c)
400 TRUE TEMPERATURE
SENSOR+CORRECTOR+FILTER
FILTER
380
0
360-
340-
320-
- SENSOR
300
60 70 80 90 100
Figure 15 .35 Correction of periodic sensor signals : (a) sinusoidal, (b) square wave and (c) triangular
Figure 15 .36 shows how the MATLAB-SIMULINK package may be configured for the
rapid prototyping of correcting systems using Real-Time Workshop (Mathworks, 1995) as
an interface between real temperature sensors and the software .
Microprocessor based systems are of paramount importance for the development of
adaptive correction (Michalski et al ., 1996), whose idea is presented in Figure 15 .37 .
Adaptive correcting systems, which are mostly realised by computer software, consist of
the corrector and adaptation mechanism. They comprise the combination of an in-situ
identification procedure and the calculation and setting of the corrector parameters . When
SENSOR IN REAL
OPERATING CONDITIONS
Figure 15 .36 Prototype correction system using PC based MATLAB-SIMULINK package and a
Real-Time-Workshop
CORRECTION OF DYNAMIC ERRORS 329
-
,F-SOFTWARE - - - - - - - -
I SENSOR DYNAMICS DATA I
I I
IN SITU SETTING OF
I IDENTIFICATION CORRECTOR I
I PROCEDURE PARAMETERS I
ACTIVATION I
OF ADAPTATION -f ------ --- I
PROCEDURE L- --
INTERNAL I
HEAT I I
GENERATION I I
I
SENSOR YT CORRECTOR
I I
the adaptation is activated by the operator, the in-situ identification procedure is performed
by internal heating of the sensor as described in Section 15 .4 .5 . After the identification is
completed, newly calculated corrector parameters are used to obtain a properly tuned
correcting system for use in real measurements .
15 .7 References
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330 DYNAMIC TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
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33 2 DYNAMIC TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
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Temperature Measurement Second Edition
L. Michalski, K. Eckersdorf, J. Kucharski, J. McGhee
Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
ISBNs: 0-471-86779-9 (Hardback); 0-470-84613-5 (Electronic)
16
Temperature Measurement of
Solid Bodies by Contact Method
16.1 Introduction
One of the most frequently encountered problems in temperature measurement is measuring
the temperature of solid bodies on their surfaces in contact with a surrounding gas or liquid .
This may be solved by either contact or non-contact methods. Semi-contact or quasi-contact
methods may also be used. Roeser and Mueller (1930) have previously discussed the
problem .
The non-contact, or pyrometric, methods are described in detail in Chapters 8 to 11 . For
a rough estimation of surface temperatures, temperature indicators, described in Section 2.5
are also used. The problem of measuring the internal temperatures of solid bodies,
considered in Section 16.6, is also similar to surface temperature measurement .
A.
SENSOR
.S, > .S 4r
'9 'T
"o A.
t ~ l
Figure 16.1 Surface temperature measurement ofa solid body by a contact sensor. The isotherms and
heat flux density lines, q, for the undisturbed conditions without the sensor are given in (a) with the
corresponding temperature distribution in the direction normal to the surface shown in (c) . When the
sensor is introduced the isotherms and heat flux density become distorted as in (b) and the
temperature distribution becomes that in (d)
junction of the thermocouple and the investigated surface there is always a thermal contact
resistance, Wc , caused by a non-ideal contact. The temperature drop across this contact
resistance, A62 = 6" - 0' , is called the second partial error.
It is further assumed, as in all sensors, that there is also a sensitive point in a contact
sensor determining the thermometer readings, OT . From Figure 16.1(b) this point, S, in a
contact thermocouple is placed at the distance, l' , from the investigated surface. The
temperature, OT, at the point S differs from 0" by a value A03 = OT - 0", called the
third partial error, which depends on the sensor design. All of the differences A?),, A02
and A63 are systematic errors of the contact method of surface temperature measurement
of a solid body in the thermal steady-state . To determine their values the temperature field
of a solid body in contact with a sensor and the heat flux entering the sensor will be
analysed. In Sections 16.2.1 and 16.2.2, the temperature excess, O, over ambient will be
used.
The investigated temperature field of a solid body in contact with a sensor, according to
Kulakov and Makarov (1969), can be regarded as a superposition of two fields. Firstly,
there is the original temperature field in the body without the sensor, described by
THEORY OF CONTACT METHOD 335
Ob = f(x, r)and secondly, the disturbing temperature field Od = f(x, r) . The disturbing
temperature field is caused by the disturbing heat flux density, resulting from the difference
between the density, qT, of the heat flux conducted along the sensor and the density, q b, of
the heat flux transferred from the body to its ambient surrounding . This density, q d, of
disturbing heat flux is given by
qd = qT - qb =f(x,r) (16.1)
the contact surface between sensor and body permits determination of the first partial error,
061 .
The differential equation of heat conduction, describing the disturbing temperature field
in a semi-infinite cylindrical body, is
2 -y-~ 2
zd + ~d
+
°d
=o (16 .2)
r a
jdE)d
L ax - ~ Od]x- _- ~ (16 .3a)
-0 r<<-RT
2R
SENSOR
GAS ZRT
a -
qT qo qT qb a
XIl
qb _
//Tl 1' I'
X'b
-ql
I
SOLID
x BODY x
I I
r
(c) DISTURBING
TEMPERATURE I l
FIELD ON SURFACE I B d.m
OF SOLID BODY
Ba(x=O)
Figure 16 .2 Disturbing temperature field on the surface of a semi-infinite body, resulting from the
application of a contact temperature sensor
336 TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT OF SOLID BODIES BY CONTACT METHOD
where A'b is the thermal conductivity of the body, and ab is the heat transfer coefficient at
the surface of the body.
Solving equation (16 .2) with the boundary conditions of equation (16 .3) gives:
x aRT
where v is the variable of integration, k,, = ; kr = r ; B = and ID (v) and
RT RT kb
I, (krv) are Bessel functions ofthe first kind and of order zero and first, respectively .
From equation (16 .4), let the value of the integral, a function of k,,, kr and B, be
described by F(kX ,kr ,B), so that equation (16 .4) becomes :
od =-gT (16.5)
~ F(kXkr,B)
To help with the practical use of equation(16 .5) Kulakov and Makarov (1969)
graphically display the values of the function F versus kX in Figure 16.3 and versus kr in
Figure 16 .4 as well as the mean value Fm of the function F, at the contact surface between
the sensor and the body, versus parameter B as in Figure 16.5.
F(r=O, B=0)
1,0 B= a RT
p,8 ~n
0,6
0,4
kx=
R T
Q2- II
01 1 ,.
I ~0 1 2 3 4 5 ~ kx
i I
11 5 6 7 8 9 10
Figure 16.3 Function, F, from equation (16 .5) versus parameter, kX, for r = 0, B = 0
1 -~0~ 1 2 3 4 5 ~k,
11 5 6 7 8 9 10
1,0 a'RT
B=
~b
0,8
0.6
.4-
0
0,2-I
Figure 16 .5 Mean value, Fm, from equation (16 .5) versus parameter, B, for x = 0, 0<r<_
_ RT
Figure 16.6 presents a case in which the disturbing heat flux density, q d, diffuses into an
infinitely large plate of limited thickness, through a surface limited by a circle of radius R T
The differential equation of heat conduction, characterising the disturbing temperature field,
is the same as that given in equation (16 .2) for the semi-infinite body with the boundary
conditions :
d9d __ _ _
9d
C od
~x-!b
The solution ofequation (16 .2) for the boundary conditions (16 .6) is:
r j
i ,Zy / Ab
` PLATE
qd -DISTURBING HEAT
x FLUX x
x r
where k,, = , kr = , kl = lb , B1 = atRT and B2 = azRT .
RT RT RT 4 Ab
To calculate the value of the first partial error, At9 1 , which equals the medium value of
the disturbing temperature, O d,m , at the contact surface between the body and sensor, the
function H from equation (16 .7) must be known for k, varying in the range
0<kr <_1(0<_rSRT) and for kx =0.
As the function H depends upon several parameters it is difficult to display it graphically
in an universal way . Figure 16 .7 presents values of H, for kr = 0 and k, = 0, as a function of
relative plate thickness k l for some chosen values of B 1 = Bz = B. This corresponds to a case
when the heat transfer coefficients on both sides of the plate are the same (a1 = a2 = a) .
Figure 16 .7 permits the maximum value of disturbing temperature in the centre of the
contact surface to be found . From the curves of H = f(kv, it follows that the disturbing
temperature values decrease with increasing plate thickness . If the plate is sufficiently thick
it can be regarded as a semi-infinite body and equation (16 .5) can be applied . Kulakov and
Makarov (1969) discuss some bodies with finite dimensions and other shapes .
k= b
7 B=10 R
6
'B=10, BI =82 =B
5
(Cci=oc2=a)
B=103
4
Y -2 .
0 3 B=10 B= a Rr
,. ~n
2
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
ki -
Figure 16 .7 Function, H, from equation (16 .7) versus relative plate thickness, kj, for different B
values
THEORY OF CONTACT METHOD 339
x 2R,
(a) DISK x~ GAS (b) ROD
JT
2RP 1%
2
a,
P
7-
XP
r r
`qT qT OT 4T
~ SOLID BODY
x
OT ~Pi
x x
2R,i
2R
2R, 12 , 2Rc2
oc c am ac2
' as X,2 '% P2
Y
'~C1 Xc2 a:
77/71=/
~'l 1-777
, r r
qci q,2 0,2 ' qT 2RP ~P1
l J
0T = 0 c1 +0,2
T
Figure 16.8 Sensor models for evaluating the heat flux, (DT, entering the sensor with the associated
heat flux density, qT
For each model, both the heat flux, (DT, entering the sensor, as well as the heat flux
density, qT , at the sensor surface, AT, in contact with the investigated body, will be
determined. These two are related by:
qT = AT (16 .8)
T
WT = (16 .9)
~T
T
Disk sensor: To simplify the problem of the disk, shown in Figure 16.8(a), it is
assumed that the disk (plate) only transfers heat to the environment from its upper
340 TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT OF SOLID BODIES BY CONTACT METHOD
surface (1p << 2Rp ), and that Op I = Opt = 6T . This corresponds to a thin disk, with a
large value of thermal conductivity Xp. The heat flux (DT is:
9T = -apOT (16.11)
icR2
P
WT = 1 (16.12)
7rR2ap
Rod sensor: The differential equation describing the temperature distribution along the
rod (conductor) of the sensor in Figure 16.8(b) is:
d 2 O c (x) - 2ac
O c (x)=0 (16.13)
dx 2 AC R,
The solution of equation (16.13) for the boundary conditions in equation (16 .14) is:
F27,
Oc(x)=0T exp - x (16.15)
( Ac Rc )
The heat flux, (DT, entering the sensor equals the total heat flux transferred to the
environment from the side surface of the rod in accordance with:
Substituting the expression for Oc(x) from equation (16 .15) into equation (16 .16),
yields:
THEORY OF CONTACT METHOD 341
qT = z (16.18a)
IrRc
and finally :
2a° A°
qT - OT (16.18b)
RC
Following the definition of equation(16 .9), the thermal resistance, WT, of the rod is
given by:
WT (16 .19)
7rR c 2acX~Rc
Double conductor thermocouple sensor : Figure 16.8(c) shows that this sensor may be
regarded as two independent rods from the model in Figure 16.8(b) . In most cases it can
be assumed that:
and then the total heat flux, (DT, entering the sensor, is
and the thermal resistance of the sensor, following equation (16 .9) will be:
WT = I (16.21)
R c ir 2a c Rc ( jci + jc2 )
The heat flux density of each conductor is given by equation (16 .18).
Disk thermocouple sensor : The simplifications for Figure 16.8(d), are the same as for
the models of Figure 16.8(a) and 16 .8(b) but with the assumption that Rc << RP . The
total heat flux, (D,,,, entering the sensor then equals the sum of the heat fluxes of both
conductors and of the disk (plate) :
342 TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT OF SOLID BODIES BY CONTACT METHOD
(PT = [irR2a,
P +xR, 2a~R, + Jz ) JOT (16.22)
gT =
7rRzP
= aP + Ri 2a~R, ( ~~, + ~~ z) OT (16 .23)
P
and the thermal resistance, WT, conforming with equation (16 .9) is :
WT = 1 (16 .24)
it[Reap +Rc 2a~R, (X,, + A2
This error equals the medium value of the disturbing temperature Od,m, at the contact
surface between the sensor and the body . For a semi-infinite body, from equation (16 .5), the
error, A6 1 , is described by
The density, q d , of the disturbing heat flux in equation (16 .26), is calculated from
equation (16 .1) as :
qd = qT - qb (16 .27)
where Ab is the thermal conductivity of the investigated body, WT is the thermal resistance
for each sensor described in Section 16 .2 .2, W, is the thermal contact resistance between the
sensor and the investigated body and Wa is the thermal resistance of heat transfer from the
surface of the body to the environment, before applying the sensor, given by the relation :
Wa = 1 (16.29)
aRTtc
In a similar way, based on the theory of disturbing heat flux for an infinitely large plate,
the error, A6 1 , can be found with the calculations based on equation (16 .7) . The appli-
cation range of this method is limited to the case, when the heat transfer coefficients on both
plate surfaces are the same (al = a2 ) and the plate itself is composed of only one layer .
There are different ways to reduce the first partial error A6 1
1. Error A01 can be reduced by increasing the contact surface area between the sensor
and the investigated body. In this way the heat flux density is diminished at the contact
area and thus the deformation of the original temperature field is also reduced . One of
the ways to achieve this is to apply an additional metal disk of high thermal
conductivity as shown in Figure 16 .9(a) .
2. Reduction of the value of A0 1 can be obtained by decreasing the heat flux conducted
from the measuring point along the sensor or its conductors . For this purpose the
thermocouple conductors should be as thin as possible and should initially be led for a
short distance, parallel to the investigated surface which is along the isotherms . Any
influence of the conductor radius, R C , on the heat flux entering the sensor is seen from
the relation of equation (16 .17) .
3. Total elimination of the error, A61 , can be achieved by applying a thin disk sensor,
made from a high conductivity material with the same emissivity as the investigated
surface and fastened permanently to it . In such a solution the heat flux densities qb and
q T are equal (qb = q T) as well as thermal resistances Wa = WT , (ab = ap ) . For a disk
fastened permanently to the surface the thermal contact resistance, between the sensor
and the surface, is nearly zero (Wc ~L, 0) . From equations (16 .26) and (16 .28) it follows
that A61 = 0 in the case described above .
4:z ni t
a
I SENSOR
4
4>4t>
t a
This error results from the existence of a thermal contact resistance, Wc, at the interface
between the sensor and the body. It can be regarded as a temperature drop across the
resistance, Wc, under the influence of heat flux, (DT, entering the sensor . Thus, At9 2 is
given by:
P
Cu
20 8 .$c
°, 1 BRASS
20
3
w
09 =89°C
a 15
N O
N
w
=110°C
r c
v x
a li
z 10
° 4=136°C
J
a
f
.,y =163°C
5 O O p
0 10 20 30 40 50
CONTACT FORCE , NIm'
Figure 16.10 Thermal contact resistance, Wc , of copper-brass contact versus contact force, P, at
different temperatures
The temperature distribution along the sensor must be known for it to be calculated .
However, for really small distances between the sensor sensitive point and its front surface,
the heat flux from the side surface of the sensor along the length, P, can be neglected . Thus
the third partial error is given by:
Numerical example
Calculate the method error of contact temperature measurement of a chromium-nickel steel
surface, using a disk thermocouple. It is assumed that the thermal contact resistance, Wc, between
the sensor and investigated surface is null .
Data : original surface temperature, Ot = 120 °C ; ambient temperature, Oa = 20 °C,
body thermal conductivity, fb =10 W/m °C,
heat transfer coefficient at body's surface, ab = = 10 W/m2 °C .
Sensor : type K thermocouple, with copper disk of:
Ip - 1 .5 mm; Rp - 7.5 mm, Ab = 372 W/m °C,
positive conductor: R cl = 1 .5 mm, Ac , = 13 W/m °C,
negative conductor: R c2 = 1 .5 mm, Act = 58 W/m °C,
heat transfer coefficient on disk surface, ap = 10 W/m2 °C,
heat transfer coefficient on side surfaces of conductors, ac = 50 W/m 2 °C .
Solution :
1. Calculation of q T =f(Ar41) conforming to equation (16.23) :
1.5 x10 -3
qT= 10+ 2x50Xl.5X10-3 ( 13+ 58) OT
z
(7 .5 x 10-3
u -1 4,9
a -2-
o " 04S .
0,4S.7 .a
),
o
_4
w AA, -_I,,g .C
_6 A'$1 Iq09
T -12730) 1
127,3
having dimensions x and r more than five times greater than the radius of the contacting
area (x > 5R T ; r > 5R T), can be regarded as a semi-infinite body . For any other bodies, or
characteristic dimensions below those given above, the deformation of the original
temperature field and so the errors, A6 1 , will be far greater .
The surface state of the investigated body influences the thermal contact resistance, W.,
between sensor and body and thus also the precision of the readings . Errors, resulting from
the presence of thermal contact resistance, often exceed all other partial errors .
\CERAMIC
INSULATION
CONDUCTORS
II CERAMIC
INSULATION
II II
II III THERMOCOUPLE
WIRES
II II
II II
SOLDER Cu-or Ag-DISK
MEASURING
!UNCTION
do 'C F- d -3,Omm
~ 94
a ~I
I w X/ TYPE K THERMOCOUPLE
r-
^ft =100-C 92 /
90
0 0,5 1,0 2,0 3,0 4,0
COPPER
CONTACT FORCE P , N
type T thermocouples are used as they are the only types hard enough to remain sharp for
long. Typical dependence ofthe indicated temperature, OT , from a type K thermocouple, as
a function of the contact force, P, with conductor diameter as parameter is shown in
Figure 16 .14(b) . The necessary pressing force is secured by springs in the conductors
mounting. In the case of conductors with d. = 3 mm, the to .9g response time is about 1 s.
For temperature measurement of ferromagnetic surfaces, contact sensors with a magnet,
pressing it to the surface are used (Omega Eng . Inc ., 1999).
For cylindrical surfaces bow-band thermocouples stretched across elastic yokes as in
Figure 16.15, are used. In this way, a perfect contact with the cylindrical surface is ensured .
Due to the tangential position of the band, no deformation of the original temperature field
occurs so that A19 2 = 0 . This thermocouple can be used for metallic and non-metallic
surfaces . For example, when measuring the temperature of a copper tube of 30 mm
diameter, the overall error was about 2 °C at 100 °C and the response time was about 3 s.
350 TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT OF SOLID BODIES BY CONTACT METHOD
THERMOCOUPLE WIRES
CERAMIC INSULATION
m
II '
II II
ELASTIC YOKE
CL
THERMOCOUPLE BAND
MEASURING JUNCTION
For flat non-metallic surfaces flat band thermocouples, like that shown in Figure 16 .16,
are used . With a similar construction as for the bow band type, the band with the measuring
junction is pressed to the surface by a non-metallic bar with a coil-spring .
Measuring errors may be negative or positive . They are positive in the case when the
band emissivity is smaller than the surface emissivity .
For temperature measurement of small metallic or non-metallic bodies of flat, concave
or convex surfaces convex-band thermocouples, shown in Figure 16 .17, are used . The
elastic, type E or type K, convex band thermocouple, is flattened, while touching the
investigated surface, thus ensuring good thermal contact . This flattening is limited by a
buffer, to prevent damage . The longitudinal incisions permit the shape of the thermocouple
to adjust to any surface irregularities . Band thickness has a deciding influence on measuring
errors . The different sizes of convex-band thermocouples produced, are typically applied in
the temperature measurement of foundry forms, metal plates, walls, glass-ware, ball-
bearings and so on, up to about 500°C . The smallest sensors are used in temperature
measurements of electronic components . The to .9 response time of such a sensor on metallic
surfaces is 0 .2-0 .5 s and on non-metals is 3-10 s .
Thermistors which are also used for surface contact measurements, are mounted in a
small silver plate to intensify the heat transfer between the thermistor and the investigated
surface . They are used mainly for metallic surfaces up to 250 °C and have short response
times .
THERMOCOUPLE WIRES
CERAMIC INSULATION
li I I ~ CERAMIC
I I ELASTIC YOKE INSULATION
[~ o
THERMOCOUPLE BAND
MEASURING JUNCTION O MEASURING
JUNCTION
THERMOMETER
METALLIC FOIL
OR OIL
,
METAL
; ~76 __ M_
LAMINATE
PLATE
MEASURING
JUNCTION
v
THERMCOUPLE LEADS
1962 ; Kinzie, 1973 ; Bransier, 1975) . A typical application is the case of fixed contact
temperature measurement of electrical machinery . Although this technology can be applied
for all thermocouple materials, best results are obtained with pure metals . It should be taken
into consideration that the thermoelectric characteristics of thermocouples of film thickness
below 0 .25 pm can essentially deviate from those of the standardised ones (Bransier, 1975) .
Film-thermocouples, thin as they are, give very small measurement errors . They also have a
very low thermal inertia, with low time constants of some milliseconds.
The temperature of tubes and cylindrical surfaces is easily measured by thin-wire sensor
or thin-band thermocouples strung by springs as shown in Figure 16 .22 . Thin-wire sensors
are more commonly constructed with the form of Figure 16 .23 using Pt or Ni wire of
diameter 0 .03 to 0 .1 mm . After the wire is wound round a surface insulated tube it is then
fixed by an encapsulation of epoxy or silicon resin .
TUBE
Figure 16 .22 Thin wire thermocouple for Figure 16.23 Thin-wire resistance detector
tubes and cylindrical surfaces wound round a tube
_10 e _10
a -20
a -30
-20 oO
(Fig, 16 .13)
IFig .16 .14) o -30
w (Fig .16 .121
(Fig . *12)
(Fig 16 .13) ~+
Figure 16 .24 Errors, A&, of the temperature Figure 16.25 Errors, A6, of the temperature
measurement of an aluminium surface vs object measurement of a clean steel surface vs object
temperature, r~t temperature, 6,
` 200
-10
AFTER 2min.
~z -20
(Fig . 16 .13)
a -30
a \ ` 1mi0.
0
-40 \
W
-50 A TER
\ _F Zmln .
-60 ~l (Fig .16 .12)
1min.
Figure 16.26 Errors, A6, of the temperature measurement of a ceramic surface versus object
temperature, 81, after 1 and 2 min .
Table 16 .1 Errors, AO, of the temperature measurement of a copper surface at zgt = 100 °C
Thermocouple
Type K, non-soldered, pointed with d o = 3 mm . 16 .14 -7
Thermistor -7
Mercury-in-glass thermometer in copper stand 16 .18(b) -10
354 TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT OF SOLID BODIES BY CONTACT METHOD
TEMPERATURE 4, , °C
0 100 200 300 400 500
-20
STEEL 9, e ~law/ m'C
dZ -30-
a
_40-
0
-50-
w CERAMICS Xy ~Q2W/m-°C
-60
Figure 16 .27 Errors, AO, of the temperature measurement of the surface of different materials, by a
disk thermocouple, vs object temperature, t9t
Figure 16 .28 Errors, Ad, of the temperature measurement of a semi-infinite body by a disk
thermocouple vs body thermal conductivity, 1b , at object temperature, ~1 = 250 °C
16 .4 Quasi-Contact Method
The quasi-contact method comprises the properties of both the pyrometric and the contact
methods . A cup is the main part of a quasi-contact sensor as shown in Figure 16 .29 . The
inside of the cup is a polished gold mirror, which is placed at a distance smaller than 1 mm
from the investigated surface . Thermal radiation emitted from the surface irradiates a
thermopile radiation detector through a fluorite window. Although oxidised metal surfaces
have an emissivity factor well below unity, the presence of the hemispherical golden mirror
means that the whole system approaches black-body conditions . In this manner, the readings
which are emissivity independent, are not influenced by any outside radiation due to the
presence of the protecting hemisphere .
One of the drawbacks of the semi-contact method is the changed heat-transfer conditions
from the estimated surface to the environment after applying the mirror . To eliminate this
influence, the mirror is sometimes made with a reflectivity which is a bit lower, or readings
are taken during a short time of application of the sphere (Drury et al ., 1951 ; Burton, 1953) .
A measuring device by Land Infrared Ltd operates in the temperature ranges from 200
to 900 °C, 500 to 1300 °C and 100 to 400 °C . The sphere diameter is 50 mm and the
EXTRAPOLATION METHOD 355
CONDUCTORS
THERMOPILE-_ FLUORITE
WINDOW
CUP MIRROR
F
INVESTIGATED
SURFACE I
Figure 16.29 Simplified diagram of a sensor for surface temperature measurement by the "quasi-
contact" method
response time ofthe device is about 5 to 6 s. The overall error for oxidised metals and non-
metals is about ±5 °C This instrument, which can also be used for concave surfaces with a
radius of curvature over 50 mm, is typically applied for short-time temperature
measurements of ingots, cylinders, foundry forms, furnace surfaces and so on. The same
instrument can be used to measure surface emissivities . For this purpose, the mirror is
temporarily covered by a black insert and comparative readings are taken . From the
readings with and without the black insert, a set of diagrams permits the surface emissivity
to be found.
A further development of the idea, which is proposed by Land Infrared Ltd . and called
the Emissivity Enhancer, is designed for joint use with photoelectric pyrometers of the types
described in Section 11 .2.
Convective methods also belong to the class of semi-contact methods . The forced
convection intensifies the heat transfer between the surface and the sensor . Although
convectioe compensating methods help in attaining more precise readings, they need
additional heating of the sensor . In both these methods, the sensor itself does not touch the
investigated surface. These two methods are mainly applied in the temperature measurement
of moving bodies . They will be described in Section 19 .6 .
The extrapolation method, which is one of the most precise ways to determine the surface
temperature of solids, is based upon the principles shown in Figure 16.30. Usually, thin bare
or MI thermocouples are placed along the isotherms inside a solid body, although only MI
thermocouples with insulated measuring junctions are used in metals and semiconductors .
Based on the indications of particular thermocouples, the surface temperature, Ot , can
be determined, without any deformation of the original surface temperature distribution.
Because of the necessity of introducing n thermocouples and drilling the holes, Wilcox and
Rohsenow (1970) assert that the extrapolation method can only be used in some chosen
cases, most commonly in some specialised measuring instruments . This is also the case in
devices for the standardisation of the contact sensor, or in devices for measuring the thermal
contact resistance, as pointed out by Michalski (1978) . Whereas the simple graphical
extrapolation of Figure 16.30(b) is applied in sporadic measurements, microcomputers are
used in continuous measurements. Michalski and Borowik (1985) show that the most
356 TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT OF SOLID BODIES BY CONTACT METHOD
THERMOCOUPLES
T1 T2 T3 T4 T5
fat
` ARRANGEMENT
OF SENSORS
t
GAS
(b)
I'fII
i
A's
'fc GRAPHICAL
.9.t EXTRAPOLATION
EXTRAPOLATED
^fn VALUE -4t
Figure 16 .30 Extrapolation method for surface temperature measurement : (a) sensor arrangement and
(b) graphical extrapolation
suitable method then uses polynomial extrapolation following the algorithm of Neville and
Aitken (Stoer, 1972) . In most technical problems the application of thermocouples is
normally adequate .
In determining the temperature of rather thick bodies, which may be regarded as semi-
infinite bodies, the two-sensor method of Yarishev and Minin (1969) is sufficiently precise.
In this method, based on the indications 6 1 and 732 of two sensors, at the respective
distances x 1 and x2 from the investigated surface, the surface temperature is calculated from
the relation :
3
dt (t) = 61(t)C - x2x2 3 (16 .35)
X2 -XI
- XI xl 01(t)
With a small range of temperature variations and small temperature differences within a
solid body, such as plates of finite thickness, the thermal conductivity, Xb, can be assumed
constant so that the temperature drop in the body is also nearly linear. In this case, the
simplest possible linear extrapolation, based on two measured values, has the form :
01(1)x2 -02(1)x1
Ot(t)= (16 .36)
x2 - x1
Extrapolation methods which are used in principle for steady-state surface temperature
determination, can only rarely be used for transients . Emelyanenko (1960) and Hollander
(1959) illustrate their use to determine temperature transients of the edges of cutting tools .
Thomas (1975) points out that the main error sources of extrapolation methods are due
to thermal non-homogeneity and anisotropy of the solid body material and the deformation
MEASUREMENT OF INTERNAL TEMPERATURE OF SOLID BODIES 357
of the existing temperature field by the introduction of sensors inside the solid body . To
avoid this last source of errors it is advisable to use thermocouples, which are as thin as
possible, introduced along the isotherms .
Bodies
T-SENSOR
nA ~A
i 4> ° s~2nf~ ,g. >,g
(c) (d) I t'
I i~
I
4%~ SENSOROPINTITI~E
)
'S'
tt
4, I 1 I
4T
,ya
x x
Figure 16 .31 Internal temperature measurement in a solid body by a rod sensor, T. The isotherms and
heat flux density, g, are shown before the sensor is inserted in (a) and after the sensor is inserted in
(b) . The temperature distribution before and after is shown in (c) and (d) respectively . The original
true object temperature at the depth, l, from the surface is Ot, the temperature at the bottom of the
hole after inserting the sensor is 0' and the temperature at the end of the sensor is 0 "
358 TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT OF SOLID BODIES BY CONTACT METHOD
Figure 16 .31 (b) also shows the isotherms and heat-flux lines after inserting the sensor, T,
assuming that its thermal conductivity is ?,r, which is greater than that of the body, fb .
The overall measurement error is composed of three partial errors :
The following comments are appropriate for the above partial errors :
-60
d, =0,6mm
#2000
d, =0,6mm
~, -40
0
SA ~At 120-C
T
-30 A4-A41 _ - 4,
4T
h«1, A-$Z CO, At=0
w
-2 0 $120 0
-10
~r x1200C, l=3cm
Figure 16 .32 Errors of internal temperature measurement in a solid body by a bare type T sensor
versus thermal conductivity of the body, Xb ' for different insertion depths
MEASUREMENT OF INTERNAL TEMPERATURE OF SOLID BODIES 359
used . The measured temperature was Ot = 120 °C each time . At91 errors are negligibly
small when measuring metal temperatures (X'b > 40 W/m °C) at insertion depth
1 > 3 cm. According to Hunsinger (1966) it is advisable to ensure 1/dT > 5 for metals
and 1/dT > 15 for non-metals .
2. To reduce A1) 2 , the shape of the end of the sensor should match the shape of the
bottom of the hole with the sensor pressed fully to the bottom .
3. Reduction of A0 3 can be achieved by choosing the appropriate sensor design .
Although all three partial errors can be avoided by inserting the sensor along isotherms,
as shown in Figure 16 .33, this is not always easy to realise for technical reasons . However,
skewed insertion of the sensor frequently helps to reduce the errors . Only thin MI
thermocouples and preferably, especially in non-metals, those with non-insulated measuring
junction are presently used for internal temperature measurements . More details concerning
the measurement of the internal temperature of solids can be found in Baker et al. (1953)
and Chyu and Bergles (1989),
Determination of the internal temperature of solids, without introducing a sensor inside
the body is possible by using ultrasonic thermometers described in Section 7 .2 or by
models .
PLATE CYL(NDER
(a) _%(b) ,g.
a b-2 a b-1
a-1 a-2
qJ'
I' I'll
~q
~~q
q~~~q
q q
Figure 16.33 Internal temperature measurement in a solid body . a - 1 and b - 1, sensor normal to
surface ; a - 2 and b - 2 sensor along isotherms
16.7 References
Baker, H .D ., Ryder, B .A . and Baker, N .H . (1953) Temperature Measurement in Engineering, 1, John
Wiley and Sons, New York .
Bransier, J . (1975) Les temperature superficielles . Quelques methods de m6sure par contact direct .
Mesures, 40(10), 54-61 .
Browning, W .E . and Hemphill, R.L . (1962) Thermocouples for measurement of the surface
temperature of nuclear fuel elements . Temperature: Its Measurement and Control in Science and
Industry, 3(2), Reinhold Publ . Co ., New York, .723-733 .
Burton, E .J . (1953) Recent advances in radiation and immersion pyrometry . Instruments, 26(10),
1524-1525 .
Chyu, M.C . and Bergles, A.E . (1989) Locating method for temperature sensing elements in solid
bodies . Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, 2(2), 247-249.
360 TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT OF SOLID BODIES BY CONTACT METHOD
Drury, M.D ., Perry, K.P . and Land, T. (1951) Pyrometers for surface measurements . J. Iron Steel
Inst., No . 11, 245-250.
Emelyanenko, W.O . (1960) Surface temperature measurement of solids by heated thermocouples .
Inz.-Fiz. Journal, 3(10), 54-56 (in Russian) .
Gatowski, J.A ., Smith, M.K . and Alkidas, A.C . (1989) An experimental investigation of surface
thermometry and heat flux . Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, 2(3), 280-292.
Hollander, M. (1959) An experimental measurement of the temperature distribution in the workpiece
during metal-cutting . Ph .D . thesis, Columbia University, New York .
Hunsinger, W. (1966) Temperaturmessung. Handbuch der Physik. Springer-Verlag, Berlin .
Kinzie, P.A . (1973) Thermocouple Temperature Measurement . John Wiley and Sons, New York .
Kulakov, M .W . and Makarov, B .I . (1969) Surface Temperature Measurement of Solid Bodies. -
Energiya, Moscow (in Russian) .
Mackiewicz, E. (1976a) Dynamic compensating method of surface temperature measurement of
solids . Archiwum Budowy Maszyn, 23(3), 443-451 (in Polish).
Mackiewicz, E. (1976b) Static compensating method of surface temperature measurement of solids .
Archiwum Budowy Maszyn, 23(5), 549-557 (in Polish).
Michalski, L. (1978) Experimental determination of thermal contact resistance of metallic surfaces .
Archiwum Termodynamiki i Spalania, 9(1), 109-122.
Michalski, L. and Borowik, L. (1985) Continuous determination of the temperature at the inaccessible
parts of electroheat plants . Elektrow&rme International, 43, B4, 189-193.
Michalski, L., Eckersdorf, K. and McGhee, J., (1991) Temperature Measurement (1st Edition), John
Wiley and Sons Ltd., Chichester .
Moeller, C.E. (1963a) Special surface thermocouples . Instr. Contr. Syst., 36(5), 97-98 .
Moeller, C .E . (1963b) Thermocouples for the measurement of transient surface temperatures .
Temperature: Its Measurement and Control in Science and Industry, 3(2), Reinhold Publ . Co .,
New York, 617-623.
Omega Engineering Inc . (1999) The Temperature Handbook, Omega Engineering Incorporation,
USA.
Roeser, W.F . and Mueller, E.F . (1930) Measurement of surface temperatures . J. Res. Nat. Bur.
Stand., 9(4), 793-802.
Stoer, J. (1972) Einfuhrung in die numerische Mathematik., Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg.
Thomas, R.T . (1975) Extrapolation errors in thermal contact resistance measurements. J. Heat
Transfer, 97(5), 305-307.
Tye, R.P. (1969) Thermal Conductivity, Academic Press, London .
Wilcox, S.J . and Rohsenow, W.M . (1970) Film condensation of potassium using copper block for
precise wall temperature measurement . J. Heat Transfer, 92(8), 359-371 .
Yarishev, N.A . and Minin, O.W . (1969) Extrapolation method of measurement of temperature and
heat-flux. Prihorostroyenye, 8(1), 19-24 (in Russian).
Znichenko, W.M . (1963) Dynamic characteristics of thermocouples in surface temperature
measurement. Prihorostroyenye, 2(9), 112-115 (in Russian) .
Temperature Measurement Second Edition
L. Michalski, K. Eckersdorf, J. Kucharski, J. McGhee
Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
ISBNs: 0-471-86779-9 (Hardback); 0-470-84613-5 (Electronic)
17
Temperature Measurement of
Fluids
17 .1 Low Velocity Gas
17.1.1 Contact sensors
Assume that a gas, with a temperature, T., flows in a tube with a flow-velocity below about
20 m/s, as shown in Figure 17.1(a) . In the tube there is a sheathed sensor, whose sensitive
part, at temperature, TT , is placed in the sheath bottom. This case corresponds to a
thermocouple with the measuring junction welded into the sheath bottom . Also let the
temperature ofthe internal surface ofthe tube wall be TW , while the length to diameter ratio
of the sensor sheath is assumed to be so large that heat transfer through the sheath bottom
can be neglected . It is further assumed that the gas temperature, Tg , is higher than the
temperature of the tube wall, T, Consider a cylindrical sheath element of length dx, placed
at a distance, x, from the sheath end as represented in Figure 17.1(b) . In the thermal steady-
EJ"
state it is apparent that the heat balance must take account of all conduction, convection and
radiation effects .
T= '` T'
v 0~ +d0,
GAS
T9 d Op c d0~
-~ ' `SENSOR
TT SHEATH
where ak is the convective heat transfer coefficient, Tg is the gas temperature, and Tx is
the sheath temperature at a distance x from its end .
Assuming that the gas transmissivity equals unity, the heat flux dissipated from this
element by radiation to the tube wall is given by:
where ET is the emissivity of the sheath surface, Co is the radiation constant of a black
body and T,, is the temperature of the tube wall and the other symbols are as in
equation (17 .1) . Equation (17 .2) is valid under the assumption that the sheath surface is
many times smaller than that of the tube as considered in equation (8.21a), while
equation (17 .1) is valid for ak =constant.
The conductive heatflux along the sensor is described by the relation:
A = )rD 2 nd 2
4 4
(17.4)
d(Dk = d0c + d(D r
Substituting the corresponding values from (17 .1), (17 .2) and (17 .3) into (17.4) yields :
)4 )4
d2Tx
~1A+ak~cD(Tg-Tx)-ETC070 Tx ( Tw (17 .5)
_(
dx2 100 100 =d
This nonlinear differential equation, which cannot be solved by direct integration, can be
solved in some cases by a graphical method or by introducing some application specific
simplifications . In most cases, similarly to the convective heat transfer coefficient, ak , an
LOW VELOCITY GAS 363
(ak + ar )7rD
Making the substitution n = this equation has the solution :
AA
Tg -Tw _ ak +a r cosh nl
(17 .7)
cosh
TX - Tw ak nl-1
Considering that the sensitive point of the sensor is mostly located at its end, where
x = 0, equation (17 .7) is simplified to:
Tg - Tw _ ak + ar cosh nl
(17 .8)
cosh
aTT -Tw k nl -cosh nx
_ _ _ ak (cosh nl -1)
ATc,r = TT Tg - (Tw Tg )Cl - (ak (17 .9)
+ar )coshnl
where AT,,,r is the overall error resulting from heat conduction along the sensor and from
radiant heat exchange .
Ifradiant heat transfer can be neglected, so that ar = 0 , equation (17 .9) becomes:
T
OTC =TT -Tg = w-Tg
(17.10)
cosh ml
where ATE is the error resulting from heat conduction along the sensor and
a k~D
m=
N AA
If the sensor is sufficiently long so that any error resulting from heat conduction along
the sensor could be neglected, or if the product, .l.A, is sufficiently small and substituting
Tx = TT , equation (17 .5) is simplified to:
From equation (17.11), the measuring error, AT, resulting from radiant heat transfer, is
expressed by:
4 4
ETC°
AT,r = TT - Tg =
ak T"' TT (17 .12)
(100) - (100)
The simplest way of solving this equation is a graphical one, as shown in Figure 17.2,
where the curves q k =fl(TT) and qr = f2(TT) are drawn. The convective heat flux density
from the gas to the sensor surface is q k = ak(Tg - TT) while the radiant heat flux density, q r,
from the sensor surface to the tube wall is:
00)4
-~
qr = ETCo
0J4
qk = 9r (17.13)
The point where both curves intersect in Figure 17.2, indicates the sensor temperature,
TT , and the radiant measuring error, ATr . Equations (17 .9), (17 .10) and (17 .12) enable
calculation of the measuring errors and the introduction of any necessary corrections in
particular cases. This latter possibility is rarely used. Mostly based on these equations,
conclusions may be drawn for the design of sensors, so that indication errors can be kept as
small as possible.
Sometimes more complex models of a temperature sensor in a tube, through which gas
flows, are also applied . In these models described by Blumroder (1981), Haas (1969) and
Rudolphi (1969), the heat exchange between the part of the sensor sheath and sensor head,
protruding from the wall into the environment, is considered.
o
l
aw
Y
T9
0 T Ti ATr
TEMPERATURE
Figure 17.2 Graphical method of determining the error, ATr, of equation (17 .2)
LOW VELOCITY GAS 365
Error analysis of gas temperature measurement permits the practical establishment of the
dependence of errors upon the sensor insertion depth into the medium or to establish the
dependence of errors upon the values of the heat transfer coefficients between the sensor
sheath and the gas .
1 . Increase of the surface of the convective heat transfer by using afinned sensor as shown
in Figure 17 .3 . This means that the fins should be made of a material with a high thermal
conductivity and low emissivity, to reduce the radiant heat losses .
2 . Increase of the convective heat transfer coefficient by applying high gas velocity in the
tube using a sensor sheath with as small a diameter as possible and by placing the sensor
at an angle of about n/2 relative to the direction of the gas flow.
3 . Applying suction thermometers, in which the gas velocity is increased only in the
surrounding of the sensor . This method is especially appropriate in those cases where an
increase ofthe gas velocity in the tube is not possible . A suction thermometer, also called
aspiration thermometer, was first proposed by R. Assmann (1892) . Its operating
principle, shown in Figure 17.4 (Wenzel and Schulze, 1926), has the end of a suction
tube with a thermocouple inserted into a pipe-line or gas-filled enclosure, in which the
gas temperature is to be measured. The compressed air produces suction of the gas in the
nozzle . In this way, the gas, whose temperature is to be measured, streams past the
thermocouple at high velocity. Thermocouple readings, which are a function of gas
velocity, have the dependence on rate of gas flow shown in Figure 17.5 for a gas
temperature of 100 °C . These thermometer readings are practically independent of the
position of the measuring junction in the suction tube. Industrial suction thermometers
are often equipped with one or a number of concentric radiation shields to reduce the
radiant heat exchange . Suction thermometers, which can be used up to about 1600 °C,
are often water or air cooled, using MI thermocouples as temperature sensors. More
t
COMPRESSED AIR
MEASURING 1'
"1
"
NOZZLE
OV
. 1
v
1
THERMOCOUPLE
JUNCTION
1
1 1 0 1 40 50
Ei
SUCKED GAS
Z RATE 1 1
2. Laying the sensor from the measuring point, along isotherms, as shown in
Figure 17 .6(a). Similar results can be obtained in arrangements like those in
Figures
IbI (CI
I
3. Thermally insulating or heating of the sensor head to increase its temperature in the
manner shown in Figure 17.7.
1 . Covering the sensor surface with materials such as gold, silver or platinum which have a
low emissivity, ET .
2 . Application of radiation shields . This is the most popular method of reducing radiant
heat exchange between sensor and surrounding walls . A shield of low emissivity, E,, is
placed between the sensor and tube wall as shown in Figure 17.8. Assuming that the
shield is sufficiently long, to be able to neglect the influence of its open ends on the
sensor heat balance, and that the shield inner surface is many times larger than that ofthe
sensor, the measurement error due to radiant heat exchange can be calculated from
equation (17 .12). In that relation the shield temperature TS is substituted instead of the
wall temperature, TW . The relevant error, ATr,s , is given by:
.
ETC
AT"s = TT -T9 = (17 .14)
k (lOiO)4 -(100)4
The shield temperature, Ts, is determined from the shield heat balance :
where (Dk,s is the heat flux gained by convection and (Dr,s is the heat flux lost by radiation .
where ak,s is the convectioe heat transfer coefficient of the shield and the other symbols
are as in Figure 17.8 .
T Ts s
PIPELINE SENSOR
IT Tw
E
EE
0 0
Ty
Tr s Es SHIELD
In equation (17 .16) double, internal and external shield surfaces, have been considered .
The heat flux, (Dr,S, is described by:
where es is the shield surface emissivity, and the other symbols are as in Figure 17.8.
Equation (17 .17), which is based on equation (8.21 a), is valid under the assumption that
the external shield surface is many times smaller than that of the surrounding surface of
the tube wall.
After some simplifications, the heat balance equation in steady-state, becomes :
2aks(Tg-Ts)=EsCO (17.18)
(100)4- ( 00)4
The value of shield temperature, Ts, can be found graphically as in Figure 17.2 .
Assuming that Tg > Tw the shield temperature, Ts, is always higher than that of the wall,
TW. Comparing equations (17 .12) and (17 .14) it is clearly seen that error due to the
radiant heat exchange between the sensor and its surroundings decreases due to the
application of the shield . Analogous reasoning can be made for two, three and more
shields . Each consecutive shield decreases the error resulting from the radiant heat
exchange with a progressively smaller and smaller influence. According to King (1943)
this error, OTr, ns , for n shields is given by the approximate relation :
A more detailed analysis of the influence of shields on the readings of a gas measuring
thermometer is presented by Moffat (1952) . The distances between the shields should be
large enough to enable a free gas flow.
3 . Application of heated radiation shields (Mullikin, 1941) . In this method a thermocouple
is placed on the axis of a shield which is heated by an additional low-power heating
LOW VELOCITY GAS 369
The simultaneous fulfilment of all three conditionsfor reducing measuring errors may be
realised with the use of a bare thermocouple of very small wire diameter. The diameter of
the thermocouple wire and its surface area are prime influences which determine radiation
heat exchange . As a thin gas film always exists around a wire, the convective heat exchange
depends upon the wire diameter plus double film thickness . With wire diameter approaching
zero the convective heat exchange is mainly determined by the double film thickness while
the radiant heat exchange disappears. Thus, as only convective heat exchange remains, any
radiant measuring errors, AT, disappear . At the same time, with wire diameter approaching
zero any conductive measuring errors, AT, also disappear . In practice it is advisable to use
bare or MI thermocouples which are as thin as possible. The lower diameter limit is
imposed by the mechanical strength and the corrosion resistance of the wires . This method
is suitable for both laboratory and industrial applications.
The extrapolation method is another very precise method of gas temperature
measurement . Gas temperature is simultaneously measured by a number of bare or MI
thermocouples of different diameters . The results, which are displayed graphically as a
function of the thermocouple diameters are extrapolated to the zero diameter. This value is
then the true gas temperature . As an example, Figure 17.9 presents results obtained while
using bare Type K thermocouples to measure the temperature of hot air with velocity 8 m/s
flowing through a tube having a wall temperature of 15 °C. The extrapolated value was
175 °C. Before the measurements it is very important to check the identity of the
thermoelectric characteristics ofthe thermocouples used. MI thermocouples, as described in
Section 3.3 .3, which are produced with a diameter as thin as 0.2 mm, are very convenient in
the extrapolation method .
-GAS TEMPERATURE
EXTRAPOLATED VALUE
190
TYPE K THERMOCOUPLE
0
170
4T
150
~w --15°C
a
E 130 -
w
r
110 ' -
n r r ~ r
WIRE DIAMETER d , mm
Figure 17.9 Temperature indicated, 9T, by bare thermocouples in flowing air of velocity, v = 1 .8 m/s,
versus wire diameter, d
370 TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT OF FLUIDS
T2
9
T1 T3
T1 , T2, T3 -THERMOCOUPLES + -
TO MEASURING
INSTRUMENT
Figure 17.10 Series thermocouple connection for measuring the average temperature of a flowing gas
LOW VELOCITY GAS 371
PYROMETER
r
CHANNEL
__ w4All
CERAMIC
ELEMENT
A
Figure 17.11 Indirect pyrometric measurement of a flowing gas with a radial temperature
distribution, 9(r)
372 TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT OF FLUIDS
Some producers offer pyrometers with a spectral operating range, designed especially
for temperature measurement of some specified gases . For example Heitronics (1999)
advises the application ofthe following wavelengths :
As such measurements are rather complicated they are outside the scope of this book.
Interested readers will find further details in Baker et al. (1953) and Green (1987) .
mv2 =
MCP(Vtot - z9g) (17 .20)
2
v2
Otot - Og = (17 .21)
2c P
where m is the mass ofthe gas, v is the velocity of the gas, cP is the specific heat of the gas
at constant pressure, 09 is the temperature of gas flowing at a velocity, v, and Otot is the
gas temperature at the adiabatic point where the velocity is reduced to zero.
Figure 17.12 presents the difference (Otot - Og ) versus flow velocity v in which 0,()t is
called the total gas temperature and 6 9 the true or static gas temperature . The
temperature, z9g , can also be defined as the gas temperature, which would be indicated by a
minute, point-like thermometer moving along in the same direction as the gas flow and with
the same velocity .
HIGH VELOCITY GAS 373
80
o 70
60
~a
~` 50
W
Z
w 40--
w
0
w
30 --
w
E,
20-
!a
W
lo-
Figure 17.12 Difference oftotal, 9tot, and gas, L1g, temperatures, versus flow velocity, v
At the surface of a real sensor the gas velocity does not fall to zero and there are also
heat losses . For these two reasons the sensor temperature, OT, is lower than Otot given by
equation (17 .21). Using the symbols in equation (17 .21) the average sensor temperature,
OT , indicated by a measuring instrument connected to it is given by:
2
OT = 299 + r
2cp (17 .22)
The factor, r, in (17 .22), which is called the recovery factor of a given sensor, depends upon
the sensor design and the gas parameters. If the indicated sensor temperature, OT, and
factor, r, are known, it is possible to calculate the true gas temperature, 299 .
Gas temperature is often measured by thin, bare thermocouples . The r-values for
different wire diameters and thermocouple designs, which are given in many publications
such as Baker et al. (1961), Jakob (1957) and Hottel and Kalitinsky (1945), unfortunately
differ from one author to another. Figure 17 .13 gives the experimental data by Hottel and
Kalitinsky (1945), for bare thermocouples . Data for MI thermocouples can be found in
Breitkopf et al. (1980). As there is uncertainty in determining the value of the recovery
factor, r, due to its dependence on the measuring conditions, some special sensors having
high values for r are constructed . The principal idea of their design is based on the
application of a protecting shield, which serves to slow down the gas and at the same time
also as a shield to prevent any radiant heat exchange with the environment . It is not possible
to achieve a value of r= 1, as this would correspond to a velocity of zero around the
measuring junction and consequently also to a value of zero for convective heat transfer
coefficient, ak, on the junction surface. Practically, values of the recovery factor, r, lie
mostly between 0.95 and 0.98 .
374 TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT OF FLUIDS
( b)
0 .9
1
la) ~ 13 mm
_ 0,9
d=0,25=0,50 -y
Q8 d-
Q25 -
d=0,25 --~ `- `
0,8
JUNCTION d=1,8 -' o o
0,7-
d=0,08+015 ~
y - 0,7 } AIR .-20"C
d=0,25
}w
JUNCTION d'--1,8 -` o W 0.6 d=0,25
"13mm
0,6 w
d=0,1=0,5 y ~ AIR-20°C
0,5 0,5 I
0,1 0,2 0,3 01 0,2 Q3 0,4
MACH NUMBER MACH NUMBER
Figure 17 .13 Recovery factor, r, of bare Type J thermocouples versus Mach number in air, at 20 °C
(Hottel and Kalitinsky, 1945)
. .
r
4
TYPE J O6 STAINLESS STEEL TUBE
THERMOCOUPLE
(b)
0,98
0
V Q94
Q
0,90
W
w 0,86
0 150 300
AIR VELOCITY V, m/s
Figure 17 .14 Sensor for the temperature measurement of high velocity gas (Baker et al., 1961)
A very special case of the temperature measurement of slowly moving gas is that of gas
moving under the influence of natural convection. This happens among other occasions,
while measuring the temperature of air in rooms. Considering only normal room
temperature it is noted that the intensity of heat transfer between the sensor and air is very
LIQUIDS 375
low . At the same time, as the sensor and its surrounding are at nearly the same temperature,
errors owing to conductive and radiant heat exchange are very small . Increase in the sensor
time constant resulting from this low intensity of heat transfer may cause dynamic errors .
Correct sensor design involves the following considerations :
" small sensor mass, large surface of convective heat exchange and if needed an
arrangement to force local air circulation,
" radiation shield of vertical axis to enhance free air circulation,
" low emissivity of the sensor surface,
" placing the sensor at a distance from room walls and insulating it from them.
Correct location of the sensor in the room is extremely important for measuring average
room temperature, which is needed in the majority of cases . Placing the sensor near
windows, doors, heaters and lamps should be avoided .
When measuring the temperature of out-of-door air, sensors should be protected from
direct solar exposure . Strictly prescribed measuring conditions which are described by
Jakob (1958), are defined for meteorological purposes. Often special suction thermometers
are used . Liquid-in-glass thermometers, resistance temperature detectors and thermistors
may all be used for still-air temperature measurements .
17.4 Liquids
In this book, considerations of the temperature measurement of liquids is limited to
problems related to either slowly flowing or still liquids which may be water, oil or other
well known types. The temperature range is also limited below about 200 °C, where the
conditions for only convective heat transfer occur so that equation (17 .10) is relevant. In
liquids, the convective heat transfer coefficient is many times higher than in gases . As a
result, the necessary immersion depths for a given error are much smaller. An example of
this dependence for a Pt-100 0 sensor in a steel sheath is given in Figure 17 .15 . The
permissible errors, AT, are below 0.1 % or 2 %. Typical ranges of convective heat transfer
coefficients are also indicated.
T
1 .
0,2
AT= 2%
01
1
1 1 11 11 11 111 111 111
1 LIQUID
1
"1 "
ii~
q.ii
Figure 17 .16 Junction temperature, *, of a pulsed thermocouple versus time, t, at sampling time, r,
and two different immersion time, ti, values
In those , . . withdrawn . .
temperature medium, it cools down . The mean sensor temperature, 6 Tm , corresponds to a
thermal steady-state, in which the thermal energy, or heat, taken up during the time, ti,
-" _ _ " " , corresponding equation
.. " .. ,
HIGH TEMPERATURE GAS AND PLASMA 377
where t; is the time duration of the immersion, r is the sampling period, g is the heat
(D -T
flux taken up from the medium during the time, ti, and (DT-a is the heat flux given up to the
ambient during the withdrawal time, to.
Assuming that both heat fluxes, (D g -T , and, (DT-a, are linear functions at the relevant
temperature difference, equation (17 .23) becomes:
where kg-T is the equivalent heat transfer coefficient between the gas and the sensor, kT- a
is the equivalent heat transfer coefficient between the sensor and ambient of withdrawal, 6.
is the gas temperature which is to be determined, 6Tm is the mean sensor temperature, 6a
is the ambient temperature, r is the sampling period and t; is the immersion time.
Assume, for simplicity that a linear variation of sensor temperature with time occurs
during heating and cooling . From equation (17 .24) the gas temperature can be expressed as:
Holding the sampling time, r, the gas temperature, Og , and the ambient temperature, Oa ,
all constant, the experiments are conducted for two different immersion times, t; = til , and,
ti = tie, with the corresponding mean temperature readings, 6Tm1 and OTm2 . From
equations (17 .25) and (17 .26) two different formulae for gas temperature are derived, as
follows :
The gas temperature, which can be determined by eliminating k' from equations (17.27) and
(17.28), is given by:
1
til(OTml - Oa) 1- til(OTml -6a) (17.29)
g _ ~Tml -~Tmz
ti2 (OTm2 - 6a) 1[ tit (OTm2 - 601 _
378 TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT OF FLUIDS
Thus, the gas temperature, 0. , may be determined from equation (17 .30) from the two
mean sensor temperatures, OTml and OTm2, corresponding to the two respective values of
relative time, t il and tie . To ensure that the amplitudes of the sensor temperature variations
are small compared with the mean sensor temperature, oTm , the sampling time, r, has to be
short enough . When the sampling frequency is too low the amplitudes of the sensor
temperature are so high that they cause a decrease in the precision of the measurement of
the mean sensor temperature, I)Tm , and hence of the gas temperature, 09' On the other
hand, if the immersion frequency is too high, the resulting mechanical accelerations
required may cause some structural damage to the sensor. According to Roeser and Olsen
(1962), the sampling frequency should be about 0.5 to 5 Hz.
The unsheathed end thermocouples with bare measuring junction, which have a water-
jacket as in Figure 17 .17, should protrude by a length of about 6 to 10 wire diameters . As
thermocouples containing platinum are too brittle for the mechanical stresses they have to
stand, it is advisable to use Type K thermocouples . The junction movement should be very
rapid, so that the time needed for transfer from the gas to the water jacket is negligibly small
compared with the immersion time, t i . One of the proven solutions is the application of an
electromagnetic drive by two coils and a ferromagnetic core as shown in Figure 17.17 .
Choice of the ratio (z- t i )/ti should be so that the mean sensor temperature, t9Tm , does
not exceed about 700 °C. This corresponds to the value from which the cooling down curve
of the sensor may still be approximated by a straight line.
000
0 T TO RECORDER
17.6 References
Ash, R.L. and Grossmann, G.R . (1972) Catalytic considerations in temperature measurement.
Temperature : Its Measurement and Control in Science and Industry, 4(3), Instrument Society of
America, Pittsburgh, 1663-1670 .
Assmann, R. (1892) Das Aspirationsthermometer. Abhandl. kgl. preuss . Meteorolog. Inst., 5, 117 .
REFERENCES 379
Baas, P.B . and Mai, K (1972) Trends of design in gas turbine temperature sensing equipment.
Temperature : Its Measurement and Control in Science and Industry, 4(3), Instrument Society of
America, Pittsburgh, 1811-1822.
Baker, H.D ., Ryder, E.A . and Baker, N.H. (1953) Temperature Measurement in Engineering, 1, John
Wiley and Sons, New York .
Baker, H.D ., Ryder, E.A . and Baker, N.H . (1961) Temperature Measurement in Engineering, 2, John
Wiley and Sons, New York .
Benson, R.S. and Brundrett, G.W. (1962) Development of resistance wire thermometer for measuring
transient temperatures in exhaust system of internal combustion engines. Temperature: Its
Measurement and Control in Science and Industry, 3(2), Reinhold Publ . Co ., New York, 631-654 .
Blumr6der, G. (1981) Beitrag zur Beschreibung and Ermittlung des statischen thermischen
Fehlerverhaltens industrieller Beriihrungsthermometer, PhD Thesis, T. H. Ilmenau.
Breitkopf, G., Witting, S. and Kim, S. (1980) Recovery factor des frontal angestr6mten zylindrischen
Mantelthermoelementes mit ebener Stirnflache. Warme and Stoffubertragung, 13(4), 287.
Green, S.F . (1987) Temperature in flames and gases. Measurement and Control, 20(6), 19-22.
Haas, A. (1969) Einfluss des Thermometerkopfes auf die statischen and dynamischen Eigenschaften
industrieller Thermometern, m.s .r, 12(12), 141 - 142.
Heitronics Infrarot Messtechnik GmbH (1999) Infrared Radiation Pyrometer.
Hottel, H.C . and Kalitinsky, A. (1945) Temperature measurement in high velocity air streams. J.
Appl. Mechanics, 12(3), A25-A32.
Jakob, M. (1957) Heat Transfer, Vol. 2, John Wiley and Sons, New York .
Jakob, M. (1958) Heat Transfer, Vol. 1, John Wiley and Sons, New York .
King, W.J . (1943) Measurement of high temperatures in high velocity gas streams. Trans. ASME, 65,
421-425 .
Kinzie, P .A. (1973) Thermocouple Temperature Measurement, John Wiley and Sons, New York .
Kretschmer, D., Odgers, J. and Schlader, A.F . (1977) The pulsed thermocouple for gas turbine
applications . Trans. ASME, 99 .
Moffat, E.M . (1952) Multiple shielded high temperature probes, comparison of experimental and
calculated errors . SAE, T-13, No I.
Mullikin, H.F . (1941) Gas temperature measurement and the high velocity thermocouple .
Temperature : Its Measurement and Control in Science and Industry, Reinhold Publ . Co ., New
York, . 775-805 .
Mullikin, H.F . and Osborn, W.J . (1941) Accuracy tests of the high velocity thermocouple .
Temperature : Its Measurement and Control in Science and Industry, Reinhold Publ . Co ., New
York, 805-830.
Ribaud, G. (Editor) (1959) Etudes de pyrometrie pratique, Editions Eyrolles, Paris.
Roeser, S.D. and Olsen, H.L . (1962) The intermittent thermometer a new technique for the
measurement of extreme temperatures . Temperature : Its Measurement and Control in Science and
Industry, 3(2), Reinhold Publ . Co ., New York, 901-906.
Rudolphi, H. (1969) Einfluss der Warmedbergangsbedingungen auf die Messgenauigkeit eines
Temperaturfiihlers in Luftkanalen. ATM, Blatt V2165-5/6.
Thomas, D.B . and Freeze, P.D . (1972) The effects of catalysis in measuring the temperature of
incompletely-burned gases with noble-metal thermocouples. Temperature: Its Measurement and
Control in Science and Industry, 4(3), Instrument Society of America, Pittsburgh, . 1671-1676.
Torkelsson, S.A . (1980) A new type of resistance thermometer for accurate temperature measurement
in high gradient thermal boundary layers. J. Sci. Instrum., 57(5), 549-552.
380 TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT OF FLUIDS
22
Calibration and Testing of
Temperature Measuring
Instruments
22.1 Definitions and Terminology
The following main terms are used in the calibration and testing of temperature measuring
instruments, necessary for the maintenance and dissemination of ITS-90 .
" Calibration of a thermometer is the sum of activities concerned with the determination
of its thermometric characteristics. These characteristics define the function correlating
the chosen property of the thermometer with the temperature. If a thermometer directly
indicates the measured temperature, its calibration depends on correlating certain
numerical values with the scale graduation . For example, this concerns liquid-in-glass
thermometers .
" Testing a thermometer is the sum of activities concerned with verifying that the
thermometer complies with the relevant regulations.
" Primary standards are thermometers used for reproduction of ITS-90, as well as for
international comparisons .
" Transfer standards are thermometers used for the transfer of temperature units to other
thermometers, which thus have lower accuracy than these standards . They comprise
secondary, tertiary and other standards, which occupy important transfer levels in what
is called the chain of traceability of standards .
" Working standards are thermometers destined for the calibration of other working
standards, situated lower in the traceability hierarchy . They are also used in the
calibration of industrial thermometers .
" Industrial thermometers are thermometers used in the day-to-day practice of temperature
measurement .
" Laboratory thermometers are thermometers used in laboratories .
Calibration and testing procedures for thermometers comprise a general scheme which
defines the hierarchy of thermometers. They also determine the methods for and accuracy
420 CALIBRATION AND TESTING
of, transferring the temperature unit from primary standards to industrial thermometers
(Richardson, 1962; Gray and Chandon, 1972; Gray and Finch, 1972) .
Most industrialised countries have established national standard laboratories which are
equipped for reproducing ITS-90 through the calibration and testing of standard
thermometers.
The following are among the more well known Laboratories :
LONG-STEM PLATINUM
HELIUM GAS INLET RESISTANCE SENSOR
^/ VALVE
MANOMETER \
FILLING TUBE FOR
LIQUID NITROGEN
SENSOR TUBE
POLYURE-
THANE
FOAM -
STAINLESS STEEL
VESSEL
-- LIQUID NITROGEN
- - SOLID -LIQUID
-- ARGON
- CRYOSTAT
77 7 -
SENSOR TUBE
ETHYL ALCOHOL
INDIUM SEAL
PAPER INSULATION
STAINLESS STEEL
JACKET
CONNECTION FOR
CLEANING AND FILLING
PAPER INSULATION
Cu FOIL CYLINDER
BOROSILICATE
GLASS CELL
MERCURY
QUARTZ WOOL
STAND
AL-SILICATE
INSULATION
50mm
nitrogen, is then introduced in place of the sensor . This creates a layer of solidified mercury
in the ampule . In the final stage of this procedure, the calibrated sensor, which has been
cooled down beforehand in a mixture of solidified C0 2 and ethyl alcohol, is then introduced
in place of the rod. The triple point of mercury in solidification is reproduced with a
precision better than f0 .1 mK . Different ways of realising the Hg triple point as well as
their precision are given by Hermier and Bonnier (1992) and by Furukawa(1992) .
The triple point of water, 273 .16 K (0 .01 °C) , which is shown in Figure 22 .3, is
realised in a sealed glass cell filled with distilled water under vacuum. After cooling the
water down to about 0 °C a layer of some millimetres of ice is formed around the inside of
the tube by means of the powdered solid C02 . With the solid C02 removed, the inner tube
is filled with water at about +20 °C for a short time, until a thin layer of ice is melted and
replaced by a thin layer of water . The inner tube is then filled by water at 0 °C to enhance
the heat transfer to the calibrated thermometer. Keeping the cell in the ice-water mixture
maintains the triple point temperature with an accuracy better than t0 .1 mK to f0 .3 mK for
FIXED POINTS OF ITS-90 423
at least 24 hours. A more detailed description is given by Stimson (1956), Hall and Barber
(1964) and Furukawa and Bigge (1982) .
The melting point of gallium 29.7646 °C, is realised in the apparatus built in NPL
(Chattle and Pokhodun, 1987) shown in Figure 22.4. Owing to an increase in the volume of
Ga on solidification, it is placed in an elastic teflon container. Standardised thermometers
are introduced into a nylon tube with a lining of Al . The sealed cell which is immersed in
melting Ga, is filled with an atmosphere of pure argon . Each cell is supplied with
recommendations from the manufacturer specifying the necessary immersion depth in the
bath. An accuracy in the reproduction of the melting point of gallium of about f0.4 mK can
be attained (Chattle and Pokhodun, 1987). A commercially produced gallium melting point
cell, which can be removed for freezing and then returned to the apparatus, holds the
melting temperature for many hours, ensuring a precision of about fl mK.
The freezing point of indiuM 156 .5985 °C, consists of high purity indium (better than
99 .999 %) in either a graphite crucible (Chattle and Pokhodun, 1987) or in a teflon cell
(Mangum, 1989). The indium container is placed in a special furnace . After the ingot is
melted, the furnace temperature is stabilised about a degree below the freezing point . When
the temperature indicated by a resistance sensor in a protecting sheath, placed in the cell,
has fallen close to the freezing point, the sensor is withdrawn and allowed to cool for up to
1 min before being put into the cell again . The loss of heat is sufficient to form a thin layer
of solid indium around the sensor well. The plateau corresponding to the freezing point
temperature is then quickly reached . The freezing point of 99.999 % pure indium is
reproducible to about f0.1 mK (Mangum, 1989; Hanafy et al., 1982) .
The freezing point of tiny 231 .928 °C, when based on tin of very high, 99 .9999 %,
purity, is reproducible to about 0.1 mK (Preston-Thomas, 1990). In realising this point, the
phenomenon of large supercooling at the beginning of freezing, should be taken into
PUMPING TUBE
NYLON CAP
- - TEFLON CONTAINER
OUTER NYLON
CASE
GALLIUM
- - NYLON TUBE
GLASS CELL
WATER VAPOUR -
WATER
Al SENSOR TUBE
ICE LAYER
,~ WATER
1\ ICE-WATER - -
MIXTURE _
U_
Figure 22.3 Triple point of water Figure 22.4 Melting point of gallium (Chattle
and Pokhodun, 1987)
424 CALIBRATION AND TESTING
consideration (McLaren and Murdock, 1960). The construction of this freezing point, which
is described by Marcarino (1992), is similar to the freezing point of zinc, shown in Figure
22.5 . It is important to achieve a high degree of supercooling (over 4 K) to attain the plateau
temperatures by means at outside slow freezing. To attain this supercooling the ingot should
be kept in an inert atmosphere and not topped with graphite powder.
The freezing point of zing 419 .527 °C, is realised with a reproducibility of about 2 mK
if zinc of very high purity (99 .9999 %) is used (Preston-Thomas et al., 1990; McLaren,
1958, Ma and Lawlor, 1992; Furukawa et al., 1981 ; Marcarino, 1992) . The apparatus used
to produce the fixed point should ensure the necessary zinc purity as well as a uniform
temperature distribution during its solidification, with equality of the temperatures of the
sensor and the metal. A tubular furnace with a copper block, which is shown in Figure 22.5,
can ensure this uniformity of temperature . Inside the block there is a graphite crucible with a
lid, through which a sheath for carrying calibrated sensors is inserted . At the beginning of
metal solidification, the observable under-cooling by some hundredths of a degree may be
eliminated by withdrawing the calibrated sensor for a short time. After reaching ambient
temperature the sensor is reinserted. The temperature which then quickly rises to the
freezing point, stays constant at the freezing point temperature for a long period of time.
Zinc purity should be periodically tested.
The freezing point of aluminiuiA 660 .323 °C, is produces in a similar way as for zinc.
Graphite fibre insulation and a graphite crucible are used combined with an atmosphere of
argon gas to prevent oxidation . The reproducibility of this point is about 1 mK with the
temperature stability at the beginning of freezing of 0 .2 mK (Ancsin,1992 ; McAllan and
Ammar,1972 ; Furukawa, 1974). No contact of molten aluminium with moisture, oxygen
and silicon ceramic can exist .
The freezing point of silver, 961 .78 °C, is realised in a similar apparatus to that shown
in Figure 22.5, but with a higher temperature furnace . To get high temperature uniformity in
the middle part of furnace, where the crucible with the silver is placed, it is advisable to
install a heat pipe screen around the crucible. Even though silver does not oxidise easily, it
should still be protected from air contact, since it absorbs oxygen in the molten condition,
SENSOR TUBE
A12 03 -POWDER
ELECTRIC FURNACE
LID
GRAPHITE CRUCIBLE
MOLTEN ZINC
COPPER BLOCK
CERAMICS
THERMAL INSULATION
r r r r ~ ~ r
r
r ~ ^ r r z
r r
r ~ ^ t
_ _
r
r
r 2 ~r 1-*ARGON
r
r 1 r
Z t 1 J r r
^.
1 t r rr I t QUARTZ
WOOL
Figure 22.6 Metal freezing points for calibration ofpyrometers (Ohtsuka and Bedford, 1982)
dry, neutral gas with an addition of oxygen. At the lower temperature range, up to 13 K, it
should be helium filled. The resistor should be annealed at a temperature higher than the
highest expected working temperature, but in any case never below 450 °C (except for
cryosensors) . The quality of a sensor, its design and annealing are verified during
calibration, determining the constants from interpolation equations and checking the
stability of the resistance (Curtis, 1972; Foster, 1972).
Depending on the working temperature range, there are three types of resistance
temperature sensors:
Capsule-type resistance sensors, which are beyond the scope ofthis book, are described by
Curtis (1972), Hust (1970) and Sparks and Powell (1972) .
High temperature resistance sensors, operating from 600 °C to 960 °C replace the
S-type thermocouple as a primary standard ofITS-90 . Design ofhigh temperature resistance
sensors is the subject of many publications (Arai, 1997 ; Anderson, 1972, Evans and Burns,
1962; Chattle, 1972; Curtis, 1972; Evans, 1972; Furukawa et al., 1981; Strouse et al.,
1992) . One of the designs proposed by Nubbemeyer (1992) is shown in Figure 22.8.
The resistor is composed of a bipolar spiral winding of 0.4 mm diameter platinum wire,
supported by a notched quartz blade. Two Pt wires of the same diameter, which are welded
to both ends of the spiral, are extended by two 75 cm long, 0.35 mm diameter Pt wires .
These wires are insulated by quartz tubes passing through 9 quartz disks placed along the
sensor. After the sensor has been annealed at 700 °C, the external 7 mm diameter quartz
sheath is hermetically sealed and the tube filled with a gas mixture of 90 % Ar and 10 % Oz.
The sensor resistance is 0.25 SZ at 0 °C.
Standard pyrometers and tungsten strip lampsare used for reproducing ITS-90 above
the freezing point of silver, 961 .78 °C. They are calibrated at the three fixed points of Ag,
Au and Cu, simulating black body radiation
Pt 0, 35 mm
QUARTZ TUBE
QUARTZ
4-HOLE DISK QUARTZ
SHEATH d=7mm
WINDING
Pt 0,4mm
QUARTZ DISK
JUNCTION OF
TWO PARTS
OF WINDING
Standard pyrometers and their calibration methods have undergone many modifications in
recent years . The photoelectric spectropyrometer, which was the early type, is based on the
principle of the disappearing filament pyrometer, where a photoelectric detector replaces
the human eye, as described by Hahn et al. (1992), Kandyba and Kowalewski (1956), Lee
(1966), Lee et al. (1972) and Nutter (1972) . This early type has now been replaced by a
narrow-band photoelectric pyrometer with either a photomultiplier detector or by the
increasingly popular Si detector, which is characterised by high sensitivity, high stability
and good linearity (Coslovi and Righini, 1980 ; Jung 1979) .
Standard photoelectric pyrometers, which have an optical system like that shown in
Figure 22 .9 (Rosso and Righini, 1985), also have an accuracy better than 0 .1 K in the
temperature range of 800 to 1400 K and about 1 K at a level of 2000 K similar to others
(Zhao et al., 1990, 1992) . The silicon detector of the pyrometer, which is placed in a
thermally stabilised housing, gives an equivalent stability of 0 .1 K per month and some
tenths of kelvin per year. Methods of pyrometer calibration at the fixed points are
considered by Bussolino et al. (1987) .
Although pyrometers are mainly calibrated for measuring temperature, some pyrometers
may also be used as instruments for comparing heat fluxes (Preston-Thomas et al., 1990 ;
Zhao et al., 1992) .
Standard tungsten strip lamps are used for interpolation in the temperature range from 1337
to 2600 K. Vacuum lamps can be used up to about 2000 K, whereas above this temperature
the use of gas-filled lamps, shown in Figure 22 .10, is advised . The strip length must be big
enough to prevent any substantial influence of ambient temperature on the strip temperature .
A `place' is also marked on the strip where the measurements should be made . The sighting
angle of the pyrometer is given by two points . One point is on the sighting window and
another is on the strip. These two points should coincide during measurements . To prevent
any reflection of the radiation, which might be a source of errors, both lamp windows are
situated at an angle of 5° to the lamp axis . The dependence of the temperature of the lamp's
strip upon the lamp current is called the thermometric characteristic of the lamp . To achieve
high stability of this characteristic the lamps are degassed many times during the production
process before being finally glued and annealed (Quinn and Lee, 1972) . Calibration of
tungsten strip lamps is made by a comparison method based on the readings of a
photoelectric spectropyrometer and simultaneous measurement of the lamp current at
different strip temperatures .
INTERFERENCE
EYE PIECE MIRROR
Ir
MIRROR LL------------- -
Figure 22 .9 Standard photoelectric pyrometer - optical arrangement (Rosso and Righini, 1985)
WORKING STANDARDS 429
PYREX WINDOW
PYREX BULB
TUNGSTEN
( STRIP
Ni-CONDUCTORS
LAMP HOLDER
Tungsten strip lamps must be fed by a direct current, maintaining the correct polarity
during the measurements, because the temperature distribution along the strip depends upon
the current direction through the Thomson effect:.
Type B working standard thermocouples can be used in the temperature range from
650 °C to 1770 °C.
Working standard thermocouples which are calibrated at fixed points or by the
comparison method have their reference junction usually kept at 0 °C, the ice-point
(Roberts, 1980) .
Tungsten strip lamps are used in the temperature range from about 850 to 2800 °C for
the calibration and testing of similar lamps of lower accuracy as well as for calibration and
testing of pyrometers. These working standard lamps which are constructed in a similar way
to standard tungsten strip lamps, are calibrated by standard photoelectric pyrometers .
Disappearing fllament pyrometers are used in the temperature range from about 800
to 2600 °C for the calibration of working standard tungsten strip lamps and for testing of
similar pyrometers of lower accuracy. Grey filters are used for expanding their measuring
range. These pyrometers are calibrated against standard tungsten strip lamps, based on their
thermometric characteristics . Now they have been almost entirely replaced by the Si
detector pyrometer.
Fixed points testing uses some fixed points of ITS-90, described in Section 22 .2 .1, but
realised with lower accuracy. These are combined with some additional fixed points listed
in Auxiliary Table XXI, as well as freezing points of some chemical compounds . The most
popular instruments used in this method are described in Section 22 .6 .1 . Testing at fixed
points, especially at the freezing points of metals, is precise and free from the subjective
judgement of operators . However, because of the expensive equipment required and time
consuming nature of the measurements, it is not so popular for industrial thermometers .
Industrial pyrometer testing by the comparison method requires that both the standard and
testing pyrometers are directed at the same radiation source . In Section 22 .6 .4 some black
body radiation sources are described.
Visual examination covers control of the scale and of its position relative to the capillary . In
mercury-in-glass thermometers the mercury column should neither be broken nor contain
observable impurities . If dirt is observed or if moisture traces exist in the capillary of any
thermometer it must be rejected . Before testing, breaks in the mercury column must be
rejoined.
Thermometer accuracy is tested by the comparison method using a stirred-liquid bath and
two standard liquid-in-glass thermometers described in Section 22 .6 .2 . Readings are taken
while the temperature is slowly rising, completing two measuring cycles. During each cycle
432 CALIBRATION AND TESTING
Testing of the self-heating error (only for new sensor construction) is described in detail
in standard EN 60751 .
Testing of break-down strength and of resistance of the sensor insulation has to be done
to ensure conformity with relevant national standards .
To measure the resistance of thermometer detector calibrators (Section 22 .7), bridge or
voltage comparison systems equipped with digital read-out instruments as well as
computerised data acquisition and processing systems, as described in Chapter 13, are
increasingly popular .
22.5.4 Thermocouples
Testing of thermocouples (Roeser and Wensel, 1941 ; Standard EN 60584) involves visual
examination, testing of emf versus temperature characteristics and testing of sensor
insulation resistance
Visual examination is carried out after removing the thermocouple from its sheath and
removing the ceramic wire insulators . Thermocouples exhibiting stains and scale are
rej ected .
Before testing the emf versus temperature characteristic, rare metal thermocouples are
chemically cleaned by 50 % hydrochloric acid, carefully washed in distilled water and
annealed by direct current flow . Type S and R thermocouples are annealed at 1150±50 °C,
which corresponds to a current of about 1 l. A for a diameter of 0 .3 mm . Type B
thermocouples B are annealed at 1400±50 °C, which corresponds to about 13 .5 A for
0 .5 mm diameter wires .
The emf versus temperature characteristic, has to be compared with the standard
EN 60584 . Testing methods used are the comparison method, the differential comparison
method, the measurement of emf at fixed points and the measurement of emf at fixed points
by the wire method.
The comparison method is used for all of the following standardised industrial
thermocouples in the manner described below .
Type S, R and B thermocouples in ceramic insulators are placed, together with the standard
thermocouple in a tubular electrical furnace, having a normal working temperature of at
least 1200 °C . The measuring junction of the thermocouples to be tested, should be placed
simultaneously in the middle of the furnace length described in Section 22 .6 .3 and should
not exceed five in number. To ensure that the temperature of the measuring junctions of
standard and tested thermocouples is equal, they should be bound by platinum wire or
welded together .
Type K thermocouples are put in ceramic insulators, together with the standard Type K
thermocouples, and placed in a metal block in a tubular furnace described in Section 22 .6 .3,
so that the measuring junctions are in direct contact with the metal block . The working
temperature of the furnace should be at least 1000 °C . If a Type S thermocouple is used as a
standard thermocouple, it is also placed in one of the block holes . In that case the
thermocouple is not bare but is placed in a gas-tight glass or ceramic sheath .
To ensure better equalisation of the temperature of tested and standard thermocouples,
in more precise measurements, the measuring junction of the standard thermocouple is
placed in a hole, drilled in the junction of the tested thermocouple, which is always larger .
434 CALIBRATION AND TESTING
" Measured differential emfs are small relative to the relevant thermocouple emf at the
given temperature and thus do not need to be measured very precisely.
" During testing, much higher rates of temperature increase can be applied, because the
differences of the thermoelectric characteristics of the tested and the standard
thermocouples vary insignificantly as a function of temperature . Also, the furnace
temperature does not need to be precisely measured
STANDARD THERMOCOUPLE DOUBLE-POLE SWITCH
90%Pt10%Rh = const.
b
MEASURING
INSTRUMENT
V/-
TESTED THERMOCOUPLES
Emf measurement at fixed points by the wire method (Hall and Barber, 1964 ;
Roberts, 1980 ; Trabold, 1962) is mainly used for rare-metal thermocouples . The measuring
junction of the tested thermocouple is cut in two with a short pure metal wire then soldered
to both thermocouple conductors as in Figure 22 .12(a) . After being prepared in this way,
the thermocouple is slowly heated up in a tubular furnace, till the inserted wire melts . The
recorded emf versus time value clearly indicates the constant temperature part of the curve,
till the circuit is broken . Instead of wire an Au, Pd or Pt plate can also be used as shown in
Figure 22 .12(b) and (c) .
The possibility of precise emf measurement ofa thermocouple at one fixed point, can be
done using a so-called self-calibrated thermocouple . Such a thermocouple has a "miniature
crucible" with a pure metal such as Ag, at its end (Lehmann and Bernhard, 1997; Ronsin
and Elgourdou, 1997). At the moment when this metal is just at the freezing state, the
measured emf should correspond to its freezing point.
RADIANT
SOURCE
STANDARD
\ PYROMETER
TESTED
PYROMETER
DIGITAL T
VOLTMETER DECADE RESISTOR
The ice point (0 °C), shown in Figure 22 .14, is of great practical importance. It is used for
testing variable volume liquid thermometers and resistance thermometers. It also serves as a
reference temperature source in testing thermoelectric thermometers. Thermometers or
sensors to be tested are immersed in a mixture of finely shaved pure ice and instilled water
contained in a Dewar vessel. The water which should be air-saturated, should also be well
shaken with air at a temperature near 0 °C. If needed, some ice should be added and surplus
water removed (Hall and Barber, 1964). The constant temperature bath, Model ISOCAL6-
VENUS, offered by Isothermal Technology Ltd (1999b), ensures an accuracy of 0.001 °C.
In this apparatus the magnetic stirrer lets the water flow past the ice mantel, so it is brought
to 0 °C before coming in contact with the thermometers being tested . The calibration zone is
25 mm in diameter and 160 mm deep.
The boiling point of water (100 °C) shown. in Figure 22 .15 as an apparatus which is
open to the atmosphere, is simple in operation . Water in the boiler is kept boiling by an
electric heater . Saturated vapour flowing along the radiation shield, washes the calibrated
438 CALIBRATION AND TESTING
CONTAINER
COOLING
SENSOR ~WATER
SHEATS
RADIATION
SHIELD
WATER
DEWAR VESSEL
MANOMETER
CONDENSER
ICE-WATER
MIXTURE
WATER
HEATING
= ELEMENT
Figure 22 .14 Ice point Figure 22 .15 Boiling point of water in an open
system
sensors before eventually condensing in the water-cooled condenser and returning to the
boiler. A water manometer indicates the internal pressure . The open system used, which is
sufficient for an accuracy below 0 .005 °C, (Hall and Barber, 1964), is also suitable for
testing several thermometers simultaneously . This point is now only interesting from the
historical viewpoint .
The most commonly used fixed points are the melting and freezing points of metals and
salts such as those of Ga, In, Sri, Pb, Zn, Al, Ag and Sodium Chloride (801 °C) . They are
built in a similar way to that described in Section 22 .2 .2 . Different purity of metals is
needed, depending on the required accuracy . When testing industrial thermocouples a purity
of 99 .9 % is sufficient. Easily oxidising metals are melted in graphite crucibles while the
other kinds are melted in steel crucibles . Crucibles are covered by graphite or steel lids . The
tested thermocouple, which is placed in a protecting sheath, is immersed ata depth sufficient
to prevent any temperature gradients in the neighbourhood of its measuring junction .
Placing the crucible in a vertical tubular furnace, which can be used for many different
crucibles, ensures they all have a uniform temperature distribution .
For short and thin thermocouples and resistance sensors (d< 7 mm, 1 < 130 mm)
Isothermal Technology Ltd (1997a) offers Slim Cells shown in Figure 22 .16, which are
slimmer, shorter and lower in price than the standard fixed points cells . The same producer
also offers a range of furnaces and heat sources to allow Slim Cells to be utilised .
Figure 22 .16 Miniature fixed point cells Slim Cells (courtesy of Isothermal Technology Ltd)
AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT 439
Perhaps the most useful fixed point cell for most industrial laboratories is a slim gallium
cell realising the fixed point ofgallium (29 .7646 °C) . It is more robust, easier to use, less
expensive in running costs and can be used as a portable device, compared with the
neighbouring water triple point. Simply placing it into warm water gives a melting plateau
of several hours.
Miniature cells with the freezing points ofAg, Au and Pd are described in Edler (1997),
Ronsin and Elgourdou (1997) and Ronsin (1992) .
Table 22.1 Media applied in testing baths and fluidised bed thermostats
A water bath, which is used from 0 to 100 °C shown in Figure 22.17 consists of two
cylindrical containers, connected at top and bottom by horizontal channels. The tested and
standard thermometers are placed in the larger of two containers, while the smaller one
contains the heating elements and a propeller stirrer . Water is continuously fed from above.
The whole assembly is thermally insulated .
Liquid testing baths for higher temperature range are similar in construction. For example,
the Model 915 liquid testing bath from Isothermal Technology Ltd (1997a) operates in the
range +40 to +300 °C (with silicon oil) and with an additional cooling system from -65 to
+40 °C. The bath is equipped with a precise temperature controls system, which can be set
440 CALIBRATION AND TESTING
WATER STIRRER
TESTED THERMAL
THERMOMETERS INSULATION
- SSti v
1
SIDE TUBE _ _ )S1~` S CALIBRATION
S~~ ti CHAMBER
C i~1
HEATING ti2 - \ i.,SS HOUSING
ELEMENTS
AIR
INLET
TESTED THERMOMETERS
AIR FLUIDISED
POWDER
HEATING
-~ A-INNER TUBE
ELEMENT
B-SIDE TUBE
_ THERMAL
_ INSULATION
MUSHROOM
- VALVES
2
AIR GRID
C-OUTER TUBE
Figure 22.18 Liquid bath for temperatures Figure 22.19 Fluidised bed thermostat
over 100 °C
v II c "
Figure 22.20 Fluidised bed thermostat FB-08LT (courtesy ofTechne Cambridge Ltd)
zone of the insert is of order 0.02 to 0.2 °C, while the temperature accuracy is ±0.2 to
±0.5 °C. Various models of these furnaces, which are called "Metal Block Baths"," Block
Calibrators" or "Dry Block Baths", cover the range from -30 to 1200'C (Automatic
Systems Laboratories Ltd, 1999; Isothermal Technology Ltd, 1999a; Techne (Cambridge)
Ltd, 1999a; TMS Europe Ltd, 1997). For example, the block calibrator TECAL 650 H from
Techne (Cambridge) Ltd (I999a), shown in Figure 22 .21, has the technical data:
Available inserts have various holes for inserting of sensors such as, for example, 5
holes of d = 6 mm or holes of d = 10, 8, 6, 4.5, and 3 nun or other combinations . All holes
are 152 mm deep. One hole in the insert is usually used for the standard sensor.
In many furnaces the whole testing instrumentation is centred around a computer, which
includes metal block temperature measurement and control as well as automatic logging and
progress monitoring of the testing and calibration of all of the sensors . (Isothermal
Technology Ltd, 1999a ; Jones and Egan, 1975; Techne (Cambridge) Ltd, 1999b).
Jones and Egan (1975) constructed a furnace, represented in Figure 22.22, with several
heating zones, which gave a uniform longitudinal temperature distribution. Testing of the
thermocouples is performed during a continuous increase of temperature using a computer
system for temperature control and data recording. Testing or calibration is made in the
=
-2
.w+
00
Figure 22.21 Block calibrator TECAL 650 H (courtesy of Techne (Cambridge) Ltd)
AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT 443
STANDARD THERMOCOUPLE
TESTED THERMOCOUPLES
, . . ,. , ,.
\FJ
N
30
1
DIGITAL VOLTMETER
H
COMPUTER
EF1
; DATA
HEATING V, RECORDER
ZONES
VOLTAGE
,
falling temperature . Programme temperature control and sampling of tested thermocouples
is fully automatic . The particular points of the emf versus temperature characteristic are
recorded after being computed by the least squares method . By these means the total testing
time is significantly shortened. In addition, measuring errors are smaller than ±3 ~LV, which
- order
The spherical furnace (Isothermal Technology Ltd, 1999a), which is a new design for
. .,-
Eight to sixteen thermocouples to be tested at a time, are tightly inserted through ceramic
tubes to a depth of 180 mm into an equalising chamber. The equalising chamber, which is
?4
concentrically located inside a spherically shaped ceramic outer chamber, ensures excellent
temperature uniformity . This furnace has the technical data :
Furnaces based upon the heatpipe principle (Busse et al., 1975 ; Coville and Laurencier,
1975 ; Neuer and Brost, 1975) allow excellent temperature uniformity to be achieved . The
heat-pipe systems, shown in Figure 22 .24, with sheath tubes containing the standard and
tested thermocouples are confined in the chamber of an electric furnace . A layer of capillary
structures covers the internal wall of the heat-pipe . The constructional materials and liquids
used, which are compiled in Table 22 .2, are chosen on the basis of the necessary
A-A
w
\
\
1
SHEATHS
e e HEATING ELEMENT
e
e
o -Al HEAT PIPE
° CAPILLARY STRUCTURE
u LAYER
0
THERMAL INSULATION
eosoe eeeeeo
Flat plate radiation sources, as for example, offered by Omega Engineering Inc. (1999)
have a flat square heating plate of dimension 160x160 mm, working in the temperature
range of 65 to 400 °C. The plate surface is grooved and covered by special matte black
varnish, exhibiting an equivalent emissivity of E = 0.99 . The arrangement is equipped with
an automatic temperature measuring and control system.
Cylindrical cavity radiation sources consist of a metal block, with cylindrical cavity, placed
in a furnace or a thermostat . The high emissivity, reaching even E = 0.994, is obtained due
to the correct length to diameter ratio and to the uniform wall temperature (Bedford, 1972) .
Low temperature cylindrical cavity sources of Isothermal Technology Ltd (1997a), which
have a cavity of dimensions 50(d)x 150(1) mm, are constructed for use in the range -10 to
+80 °C. A series of Peltier modules is used either to heat or to cool a metal block. A
specially programmed microprocessor based controller ensures a temperature accuracy of
±2 °C with a stability of±0.1 °C and temperature uniformity of±0.5 °C.
Middle and high temperature sources, shown in Figure 22 .25 of the same producer have the
following technical data:
The high temperature furnace from Land Infrared Ltd (Land Infrared Ltd, 1999), which
uses silicon carbide heating elements to attain a maximum temperature of 1600 °C, also has
a silicon carbide cavity with dimensions 50(d)x300(1) mm and an emissivity e = 0 .998 .
The spherical cavity furnace described in Section 22 .6 .3 can also be used as a high
temperature black body radiator for pyrometer calibration . In this case the ceramic sphere
with tubes is replaced with a hollow black sphere . The tested pyrometer, which is aimed at
the interior of the cavity of the Cyclops furnace shown in Figure 22.26, is calibrated by the
comparison method based on the readings of either a thermometer installed in the chamber
or on the readings from a standard pyrometer.
Pyrometer calibration at fixed points can be achieved using middle and high temperature
cylindrical cavity furnaces . A crucible with pure metal is placed inside the cavity where the
freezing points of Ga (29 .76 °C), In (156 .60 °C), Sn (231 .93 °C), Zn (419 .53 °C), Al
(662 .32 °C), Ag (961 .8 °C) provide the calibration points . Radiators with fixed points,
produced by Isothermal Technology Ltd (1997a), have the following technical data:
Heat pipes are also used in the construction of black body radiators for the calibration of
radiation pyrometers (Aa and Gelok, 1987 ; Fischer and Gutschwager, 1997 ; Hahn et al.,
1992 ; McEvoy et al., 1997 ; Neuer and Brost, 1975 ; Zhao et al., 1992) . A heat pipe radiator
used as the freezing point of gold is referred to in Section 22 .2 and shown in Figure 22.6 .
Figure 22 .25 Model 970 black body radiation Figure 22 .26 The Cyclops spherical furnace
source for the range 150 to 1200 °C with a (courtesy of Isothermal Technology Ltd)
tested pyrometer shown (courtesy of Isothermal
Technology Ltd)
CALIBRATORS 447
22 .7 Calibrators
Portable and laboratory calibrators are commonly used in either industry or laboratories
for checking or calibrating temperature sensors as well as all associated instrumentation
including measuring devices, transmitters, amplifiers, recorders, signal plotters, conditioners
and microprocessor systems .
Typical calibrator applications in temperature measurement are :
Laboratory calibrators, which usually cover the wide range of do and low-frequency
electrical calibration workloads, are used to give higher precision. The Fluke Corp 5500A
Calibrator (Fluke Corp ., 1999b) is equipped with optional Microsoft Windows based
5500A/CAL software for documentation simplification . It also offers traceability in
conformance with ISO 9000 quality requirements . Applications cover source simulation and
measurement of 11 different types of thermocouples, with an accuracy of ±0 .14 °C and 8
types of RTD sources, including Pt, Cu and Ni, with a precision of ±0 .03 °C . Inclusion of
an RS-232 serial port allows its connection to other instruments for more sophisticated
instrumentation configurations .
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