Temperature Basics

Bill Bergquist, Sr. Applications Engineer

Jeff Wigen, National Sales Manager

Bill Jeff

© Burns Engineering Temperature Basics

Agenda 2

Temperature Defined
Temperature Scales
Types of Temperature Sensors
Thermocouple
ƒ Types
ƒ Temperature ranges
ƒ Lead wire colors
ƒ Standards

RTD
ƒ Temperature coefficient
ƒ Construction
ƒ Calibration
ƒ Interchangeability
ƒ Standards

Identification of Sensor Types

Sensor Selection - The Four Ps
Calibration
Preventive Maintenance

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Temperature 3

What is temperature?
ƒ Measure of the average kinetic energy
of particles in a substance.

ƒ Temperature is the result of the motion

of particles. Temperature increases as
the energy of this motion increases.

ƒ Physical quantity that is a measure of

hotness and coldness on a numerical
scale.

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 Temperature 4

Temperature of some things:

¾ Ice 32°F

¾ Dry ice −78.5°C (−109.3°F) at atmospheric pressure

¾ Liquid nitrogen -196°C

¾ “Fahrenheit 451” (Ray Bradbury) approximate auto-ignition point of some paper

¾ Sun 5700K (5430°C)

¾ Earth’s core 5700K (5430°C) (cooling at 100°C per billion years).

The core may contain enough gold, platinum, and other siderophile elements that if extracted and poured onto the Earth's
surface, would cover the entire Earth with a coating 0.45 m (1.5 feet) deep.

¾ Lightning bolt 50,000K

¾ Earth’s average surface temperature – good luck trying to figure out that one!
¾ In photography K (Kelvin) is used to denote color temperature. Match flame is
about 1700K, sunshine is about 5400K.

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Temperature Scales 5

Celsius
The Celsius scale is widely used in industry
ƒ Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius (1701–1744)
ƒ By international agreement the unit "degree Celsius" and the Celsius scale
with the Fahrenheit scale a close second.
are currently defined by two different temperatures: absolute zero, and the Kelvin is almost exclusively used for scientific
triple point of VSMOW (Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water).
and laboratory measurements.
ƒ Triple point of water is defined as 273.16K or 0.01°C, the point at which
water exists as a vapor, solid, and liquid.

ƒ A degree Celsius (or a Kelvin) is what you get when divide the
thermodynamic range between absolute zero and the triple point of water
into 273.16 equal parts.

ƒ In 1948, it was renamed Celsius because centigrade had other meanings in

Spanish and French.

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Temperature Scales 6

Kelvin A Kelvin or K does not have a degree symbol.

ƒ One of the seven base units in the SI system of units named after the
Belfast-born, Glasgow University engineer and physicist William Thomson,
It is used by itself such as 273K. On
1st Baron Kelvin (1824–1907) calibration reports you will see the calibration
ƒ Based on absolute zero which is 0K, or −273.15°C or −459.67°F. uncertainty expressed in millikelvin or mK so
Theoretical point at which all thermal motion stops.
1mK is 0.001K.
Fahrenheit
ƒ Temperature scale based on one proposed in 1724 by the physicist Daniel
Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736) freezing of water into ice is defined at 32
degrees, while the boiling point of water is defined to be 212 degrees — on
Fahrenheit's original scale the freezing point of brine was zero degrees.

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 Various Temperature Sensors 7

• Liquid displacement thermometers There are other types of sensors that have
• Dial thermometers
little practical use or are still in development
• Thermistors
• Optical (DTS, IR)
such as the Johnson Noise Thermometer,
• Thermocouples and a device that uses a laser as a measure.
• RTD’s
RTDs and Thermocouples Infrared

Dial Thermistors Bimetal coil

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Thermometers 8

Liquid Displacement
Dial
Mercury-in-glass is probably the most well
Both have . . . known liquid displacement type of
ƒ Limited temperature ranges thermometer. Other types of fluid are used
ƒ Limited accuracy with some used to deflect a needle that
ƒ Industrial integrity
ƒ Introduce human error
indicates temperature.

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Thermistors 9

• Very precise
• Ceramic, silicon, or polymer resistor As temperature increases the resistance
• High resistance values increases and can be correlated to a
• Very limited temperature range temperature.
• Often have drift error
• Self-heating errors
• Low price

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 Thermocouples 10

Made by connecting two different metals to form a closed circuit. As temperature increases, the measured
ƒ High durability
voltage increases and does so in a
ƒ Low initial cost
ƒ Voltage change with temperature predictable manner. The thermocouple
standards define the voltage vs. temperature
+
relationship for several types of thermocouple
junctions.
-

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Thermocouples 11

2500

2156
2000

1500 1600
1400
1200
Temp 1000
700
F
500

32
32 32
-328 -328 -328
-450
Type T Type E Industrial
RTD
Thermocouples

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Thermocouples 12

Types
ƒ Most common
• Type T: Copper-Constantan Red/Blue
• Type J: Iron-Constantan Red/White
• Type E: Chromel-Constantan Red/Purple
• Type K: Chromel-Alumel Red/Yellow

ƒ High temperature types

• R, S, B Platinum/Platinum-Rhodium 2640°F
• W3, W5 Tungsten/Tungsten-Rhenium 4200°F
ƒ Each type has a different temperature range and Voltage vs.
Temperature relationship
ƒ ASTM Standard E230 , ANSI MC 96.1, and IEC 584-3

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 Thermocouples 13

Junctions can be grounded, ungrounded or exposed.

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Thermocouples
Advantages Disadvantages
ƒ Very wide temperature ƒ Decreased accuracy vs.
Thermocouples are typically used in an
Range [1.2K to 2300°C] RTDs application where high temperature or high
ƒ Fast Response Time ƒ More susceptible to vibration is present. Their durability is
ƒ Available in small sheath RFI/EMI
sizes ƒ Recalibration is difficult probably their best asset.
ƒ Low initial cost ƒ Requires expensive TC wire
ƒ Durable from sensor to recording
device
ƒ Difficult to verify
ƒ Not as stable as RTDs

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Resistance Temperature Detector 15

RTDs
3 common element styles
The platinum resistance thermometer (PRT)
ƒ Coil in the hole is the most widely used sensor type in
ƒ Wire wound applications where highly accurate,
ƒ Thin film repeatable and stable measurements are
Resistor made from platinum, nickel, copper, or other metals
required. Other metals are used but none
have the wide temperature capability of
platinum.

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 RTD 16

Basic Operation
ƒ Resistance changes with temperature. As temperature
increases, resistance increases in response.
ƒ Small current is sent through the resistor element and electrical
resistance is measured
ƒ Performance defined by IEC 60751 and ASTM E1137

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RTD 17

Basic Operation When specifying an RTD it is necessary to

ƒ Temperature coefficient
select the correct temperature coefficient to
• Also called the Temperature Coefficient of Resistance or
alpha match the readout instrument or controller.
• Units are ohms/ohm/°C Failure to do so will result in an inaccurate
• The average change in resistance per unit change in
temperature between 0 and 100°C
measurement.
• α = R100 - R0 / 100°C*R0
» R0 = resistance at 0°C
» R100 = resistance at 100°C
For the current industry standard 100 ohm RTD the alpha is .00385
which means at 100°C the nominal sensor resistance is 138.5 ohms

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RTD 18

Most common coefficients

• 0.00385 – ASTM E1137 or IEC 60751
• 0.003902 – American
• 0.003916 – JIS
• 0.003925 - SPRT, Secondary SPRT
ƒ Must match your instrument to the proper temperature coefficient
of your sensor

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 RTD 19

Coefficient example
ƒ A temperature is being measured with a sensor having a
temperature coefficient of .003916 (JIS) but due to a sensor
failure it was replaced with a sensor having a temperature
coefficient of .00385.
ƒ If the transmitter/controller is not recalibrated, at 100°C it will
read 1.7°C low.

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Interchangeability 20

‰ RTDs are manufactured to have 100 ohms at 0°C. The two main standards in use today are the
IEC 60751 and the ASTM E1137. Both have
‰ Interchangeability refers to the “closeness of agreement” between
an actual PRT R vs. T relationship and a predefined R vs. T the same nominal R vs. T values but differ in
relationship. defining some performance characteristics
‰ Defined by ASTM E1137 and IEC 60751
and the tolerances associated with the
grades or classes of sensors. The
‰ Nominal R vs. T of ASTM and IEC standards are equivalent but interchangeability tolerances are the target
tolerances are different. that manufacturers shoot for when building
the sensing elements.

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Interchangeability 21

Note that the ASTM standard has slightly

4

IEC Class B

tighter tolerances for the two grades of

ASTM Grade B
3

IEC Class A
sensors. All RTDs are built with the tightest
1
ASTM Grade A
tolerance at 0°C and as the temperature
Tolerance (±°C)

0
diverges from 0°C the tolerance increases.
The vertical line on the graph represents 0°C
-300 -200 -100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800

-1 ASTM Grade A

IEC Class A and the tolerance on the y axis is expressed

in ± °C from nominal.
-2

ASTM Grade B
-3
IEC Class B

-4

Temperature (°C)

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 Interchangeability 22

Standard Tolerance Defining Equation¹

These equations can be used to calculate the
ASTM E1137 Grade A ± [ .13 + 0.0017 | t | ]
ASTM E1137 Grade B ± [ .25 + 0.0042 | t | ] interchangeability at any temperature. Note
IEC 607512 Class AA2 ± [ .1 + 0.0017 | t | ] that the temperature t is an absolute value in
IEC 60751 Class A ± [ .15 + 0.002 | t | ] °C. The resultant is the interchangeability in
IEC 60751 Class B ± [ .3 + 0.005 | t | ]
± °C.
IEC 607512 Class C2 ± [ .6 + 0.01 | t | ]

Note 1: | t | = absolute value of temperature of interest in °C

Note 2: These tolerance classes are included in a pending change to
the IEC 60751 standard.

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RTDs

Advantages Disadvantages
ƒ Very stable output ƒ More limited temperature
ƒ Linear and predictable range [-200°C to 500°C]
ƒ Easy to verify and ƒ High initial price
recalibrate ƒ Slower response time than
ƒ High accuracy a thermocouple
ƒ No special wires required ƒ Less durable than a
for installation thermocouple

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Identification 24

RTD or Thermocouple?
Lead wires
• RTD has two, three, or four leads per sensing element
• TC has two leads per junction
• RTDs typically have red, white, green or black leads (not defined by
the standards)
• TC colors match thermocouple type – red (common), yellow, purple,
blue, white
Resistance check
• RTD will have about 109 ohms between leads
• TC typically less than 1 ohm
Continuity check
• TC grounded junction has path from leads to case
Magnet test
• RTD leads are not magnetic – usually copper
• TC type J has one iron lead which is highly magnetic
© Burns Engineering Temperature Basics
 Selection and Application 25

How do we decide which technology to use?

Accuracy and stability are almost always
Thermocouple
ƒ Exhaust gas preferable characteristics to have in a
ƒ Injection molding temperature sensor and for that reason I
ƒ Bearings recommend that an RTD be selected unless
ƒ Refinery
the environment or process characteristics
RTD
ƒ Pharmaceuticals
dictate another technology. Those factors are
ƒ Fuel custody transfer discussed on the following slides.
ƒ Chemical
ƒ Tire /rubber

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Selection 26

Factors to consider
There are other factors to consider other than
ƒ Placement
ƒ Protection these but for most applications these will get
ƒ Performance you the measurement and service life from
ƒ Price the sensor that you desire.
ƒ Service life

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Placement 27

Two options
ƒ Surface mount
For a pipe there are two options, surface
ƒ Immersion mounted or immersion. The two parts on the
left are just two of a wide variety of surface
mount sensors available and the two on the
right are examples of the two most common
styles of immersion sensors.

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 Placement 28

Surface mount
Installation of a surface mount sensor can be
accomplished with a hose clamp, tape, or an
adhesive.

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Placement 29

A few additional styles of surface mount

sensors. Whether RTD or thermocouple they
almost all look alike but are very different
inside.

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Placement 30

Surface mount - positives

Installation is very easy to do and is low cost.
ƒ Easy installation
ƒ No flow obstruction Accuracy suffers though and measurement
ƒ Low cost accuracy requirements may not be achieved.
Surface mount - negatives
ƒ Requires insulation for best accuracy
ƒ Minimal protection from ambient conditions
ƒ Difficult to calibrate
ƒ Measures pipe surface

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 Placement 31

Immersion
An immersion sensor overcomes the
negatives of the surface mount and in most
cases dramatically improves the
measurement accuracy.

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Placement 32

Immersion (no thermowell)

ƒ Fast response
Direct immersion of a small diameter sensor
ƒ Low cost gives an accurate measurement at low cost.
ƒ Short immersion It is not always possible or desirable though
because of maintenance or durability
Limitations
considerations.
ƒ Durability
ƒ Maintenance
ƒ Strength

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Protection 33

Process connection

These are just a few of the several styles

available. Any piping connection either has
been or could be adapted to a thermowell
process connection.

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 Protection 34

Connection heads
ƒ Attach extension wires
A connection head is the best method and
ƒ Protect sensor from ambient provides a convenient place to attach lead
conditions wires or to house a local transmitter.

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Protection 35

Numerous styles and materials from plastic to

aluminum are available. Some carry ratings
for use in hazardous atmospheres.

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Protection 36

Transmitters
Heads provide protection for transmitters and
local indicators.

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 Protection 37

Hazardous atmosphere
Hazardous atmospheres require an RTD and
connection head assembly that carry an
appropriate rating. A word of caution -- just
the addition of a rated head to any sensor
does not make the whole assembly rated.
The entire assembly must be tagged and
identified as having the desired rating.

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Protection 38

Options
ƒ Nipple
Head is attached to the thermowell and
ƒ Nipple - coupling sensor typically with a pipe nipple. The most
ƒ Union versatile is the union connection. It allows
• Calibration easy removal of the sensor from a
• Replacement
thermowell.

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Performance 39

Consideration Thermocouple RTD

Here are some general performance
Accuracy at 32°F Standard limits: ± 4°F* Grade B: ± 0.54°F (± .3°C)
Special limits: ± 2°F* Grade A: ± 0.27°F (± .15°C) specifications for RTDs and thermocouples.
Limited to in-situ calibration - Easily recalibrated for longer
As you can see the RTD has quite a large
Calibration
service life and traceability accuracy advantage over the thermocouple.
- Matching transmitter
improves performance
Stability Dependent on wire Average drift is ± 0.06°C after
homogeneity and process 1000 hours at 400°C.
conditions

Repeatability Highly dependent on process Less than ± 0.04% change in

characteristics ice point resistance after 10
cycles -200 to 500°C.

*Types J and K. Types T and E special limits are ± 0.9°F

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 Performance 40

Cost of inaccuracy High accuracy insures product quality and

• Process Fluid: Water efficient use of your energy dollar.
• Flow Rate: 25 GPM
• Control Temperature: 100 °F
• Energy Cost: 2.9¢ / KW-hour

Annual Cost of Energy Per °F Error

$923 / year

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Performance 41

Time response
A tapered thermowell will have a 3 to 4 times
TIME RESPONSE Direct Immersion RTDs DIAMETERS slower response than the ¼” diameter direct
2.5 seconds 1/4” - 1/8” immersion sensor. This can be a big factor in
4 to 6 seconds 1/4” accuracy for processes that are changing
6 to 8 seconds
temperature rapidly. The sensor needs to be
1/2” - 1/4”
fast enough to keep up with the process.
Thermowells

22 seconds Stepped

26 seconds Tapered

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Performance 42

Time response – surface mount more dependent on housing style and

mounting surface than immersion types Surface mount sensors will have a slower
Surface Mount RTDs time response that an immersion style. They
Ranges from are affected more by the surface they are
8 to 67 seconds
mounted to rather than by the sensor design.

Thermowells
Surface Mount TCs

8 to 67 seconds depending
on junction type

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 Performance 43

Transmitters
Converts resistance or voltage to a
Adding a transmitter can improve accuracy
variable current of 4 to 20 ma when a long run of lead wire is required.
Lead wire > 250 feet (+0.16°F/100 ft) They also provide a more robust signal that is
Accuracy
ƒ Matching
less susceptible to interference from electro-
ƒ Lead wire magnetic or radio frequency interference.
Robust signal
RFI/EMI
Local display

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Selection Guide 44

Situation
Thermocouple Wire Wound RTD Thin Film RTD

Accuracy/Stability X
Mod. Temp (-50 to 200°C) X X
High Temp (-200 to 500°C) X
Higher Temp (over 500°C) X
Time Response (< 6 sec.) X X
Long-term Stability X
High Vibration (g level) X X
Extra High Vibration, Shock X X
Critical Temp. Application X

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What is Calibration? 45

• Calibration is performed to verify

sensor/instrument performance.

• Calibration is the process used to

insure that a sensor/instrument
maintains specification over time
and changing ambient conditions.

• Calibration is the process used to

maintain traceability of parameters
with reference to
national/international standards.

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 Why 46

Initial Calibration
ƒ New plant or equipment commissioning
ƒ Verify vendor data – shipping and installation damage
Calibration should be performed when
• Insure accuracy of measurements starting up a new facility or if a new piece of
ƒ Recording data
equipment is added. This insures that the
Ongoing Calibration
ƒ Minimize and control random and systematic errors
instruments have not been damaged during
ƒ Compare and complement the quality and reliability of measurements by
comparison to international standards
shipping or installation and provides a
• Provide traceability to national standards, (e.g. NIST) baseline for comparison to subsequent
• Meet Regulatory Requirements (FDA, NRC)
ƒ Quality System requirements calibrations.
• Ensure consistent product quality
• Safety
ƒ Cost
• Poor accuracy = wasted $$

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When 47 When? Is one of the most frequently asked

questions about calibration. There is no
RTD has drifted
ƒ How do you know?
generic answer for when; it all depends on
Frequency the process and comfort level of the invested
ƒ Process dictates the calibration cycle parties. Process conditions that affect the
ƒ Probe drift probe drift rate and the product value are the
• Vibration
• Shock
two main considerations. Consult with the
• Temperature manufacturer(s) of your system and they
• Cycling should be able to help you estimate the long
ƒ Product value term accuracy of their equipment based on
Complete 5 cycles w/o shift then double the interval
your process conditions. After that it’s up to
you to pick a frequency that meets your
comfort level and that of any 3rd party watch-
© Burns Engineering Temperature Basics dogs that oversee your production facility.
You may decide because of product value
that a calibration is performed before and
after each batch. Then if you desire, after 5
cycles are completed without a significant
shift, the calibration cycle could be doubled.
 Terminology 48

• ITS-90 = International Temperature Scale of 1990

• IPTS-68 = International Practical Temperature Scale
• TPW – triple point of water 0.01°C or 273.16 K
• R0 = resistance at 0°C
• SPRT = standard platinum resistance thermometer
• Dewar = insulated container
• IR = insulation resistance
• K – Kelvin temperature scale (used for ITS-90)
• mK or milliK = .001 K
• NIST – National Institute of Standards and Technology
• NVLAP – National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program
• A2LA – American Association for Laboratory Accreditation

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How - Temperature Scales 49

Evolution of standard temperature scales

ƒ IPTS-27 IPTS-48 IPTS-68 ITS-90 Beginning in 1927 the International Bureau of
ITS-90 (International Temperature Scale) Weights and Measures decided that a better
ƒ Released in 1990
ƒ The official international scale
standard was required for temperature and
ƒ In better agreement with thermodynamic values than the IPTS-68 the International Practical Temperature Scale
ITS-90 vs. IPTS-68 was born. Since then about every 20 years
ƒ ITS-90
• Uses TPW
the scale has been refined to improve
• Most accurate
• Complex equations
accuracy. In 1990 the name changed to
ƒ IPTS-68 International Temperature Scale and the
• Simpler equations
• Less accurate equations defining the R vs. T relationship
• Callendar-Van Dusen equation
became more accurate.

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How - Calibration Options 50

Factory Calibration Options

Calibrating an RTD and adjusting the readout
ƒ Matched Calibration
• Matched with other probes or transmitter accordingly is a cost effective
• Matched to a transmitter method to improve measurement system
ƒ Multiple Point Calibration accuracy. This eliminates most of the RTD
• -196, -38, 0, 100, 200, 300, and 420 °C interchangeability tolerance and can also
ƒ Matched to a Temperature Readout (meters)
minimize other instrument errors inherent in
the system.

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 Calibration 51

Ice Bath
• Easy to Produce
The ice bath is the easiest and most accurate
• Uncertainty ±.002°C method of checking an RTD. Addition of a
stirring motor insures even temperature
throughout the insulated Dewar.
Ice is made from pure water, crushed, and
packed into the Dewar. Purified water is
added to fill in the gaps. Too much water and
the ice will float which is not desirable.

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Calibration 52

Triple-Point-of-Water Cell
The triple point of water (TPW) cell may be
the most commonly used type of fixed point
and is used in ITS-90 calibrations. Water can
exist as a solid, liquid, and vapor at 0.01°C
and this device creates this temperature.

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Comparison Calibration 53

Most common method

Comparison of unknown to known sensors
Multiple sensors can be calibrated at the same time
Equipment
ƒ Meter, Standard PRT, Recorder, etc. (system)
• All add to uncertainty level
ƒ The standard PRT should have an accuracy at least four times
greater than the unit under test

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 Comparison Calibration 54

More practical and less expensive than fixed point temperature

calibration
Comparison calibrations can be performed in
a laboratory or in the field. High accuracy
Laboratory can be obtained with careful selection of
ƒ Typical uncertainty: 0.001°C to 0.01°C equipment. Durability is as important as
ƒ Very high accuracy reference resistance bridge, standard PRT,
calibration baths, etc. accuracy when used for field calibrations.
• Uses some fixed point temperatures Equipment that cannot stand up to field use
Field will drift quickly and not give the expected
ƒ Typical uncertainty: 0.05 to 0.5°C
measurement uncertainties.
ƒ Accurate reference meters, secondary PRTs, baths or dry-wells
ƒ Instruments are field compatible

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Standard PRTs 55

Specifications
This is NOT the type of device to use for field
ƒ Very fragile
ƒ Use mainly in laboratory calibrations. It is extremely fragile and very
environments expensive, about $10k with calibration.
ƒ Highest accuracy, high
repeatability, low drift
ƒ -328 to 1983°F (-200 to 1084°C),
accurate to ±.0018°F (±.001°C)

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Anatomy of an SPRT 56

Photo of an SPRT element inside its quartz

sheath.

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 Anatomy of an SPRT 57

A little closer look.

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Anatomy of an SPRT 58

Oooops
Yes, the quartz sheath does break very easily
-$10K and is one of the few things duct tape won’t
fix!

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Preventive Maintenance 59

Corroded terminals can cause high resistance in the leads

3-wire circuits are susceptible – accuracy depends on each conductor

having exactly the same resistance
ƒ Terminals clean and tight
ƒ Terminal block clean and dry, secured to head
ƒ Wires are tinned, or terminated with spade lugs
ƒ Connector pins connect firmly and are clean
ƒ Use gold plated pins in a high quality connector

4-wire circuits also compensate for some poor maintenance

ƒ Compensate fully for all lead wire resistance in the circuit

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 Preventive Maintenance 60

The good and bad

The connection head shown in the lower right
corner had a lot of dust in it that caused some
electrical leakage between the terminals
resulting in a bad temperature reading.

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Preventive Maintenance 61

RTD
ƒ Fan blowing on sensor location
ƒ Radiated heating or cooling from nearby equipment
Something as innocuous as a fan blowing
ƒ Insulation covering the external portions of sensor can cause a measurement error if it is
ƒ Sunlight - solar heating right where you don’t want it
Thermowell directed on the external portions of the
ƒ Bore cleaning
ƒ Heat transfer compound
temperature assembly.
ƒ Product buildup on wetted portion
ƒ Cracks in flange weld or leaky gasket
ƒ RTD bottoms in well and spring loads
Controller
ƒ RTD temperature coefficient is set correctly in controller
ƒ 3 or 4 wire circuit connected correctly with correct wire type
Transmitter
ƒ Wires connected securely
ƒ Check output at zero and span

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Preventive Maintenance 62

RTD
ƒ Check insulation resistance 50 VDC > 100 megohms at 25°C
ƒ Check ice point resistance 100 ±0.12 ohms or ±0.06 ohms
ƒ RTD and transmitter matching
ƒ Frequency of checks – process dictates the intervals

Connection head
ƒ Wire insulation
ƒ Shielding
ƒ General condition, corrosion, discoloration, threads, cracks
ƒ Corrosion on terminal connections
ƒ Water inside the connection head
ƒ Conduit seal for hazardous atmospheres

Transmitter
ƒ Wires connected securely
ƒ Check output at zero and span

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 Replacement Checklist 63

‰ RTD
‰ Choose the correct temperature coefficient. Most common is a .00385
conforming to IEC 60751 or ASTM E1137
‰ Interchangeability – choose class A for better accuracy
‰ 3 or 4 wire – 4 wire provides better accuracy
‰ Choose correct length to match thermowell or provide significant
immersion to avoid stem conduction – for a direct immersion probe
minimum immersion = 10x probe diameter + sensitive length

‰ Thermowell selection
‰ Corrosion
‰ Erosion
‰ Wake frequency and strength
‰ Time response
‰ Immersion length

© Burns Engineering Temperature Basics

Summary

ƒ There are many types of temperature sensors. RTD and

thermocouple are the most widely used in industry.
ƒ RTD is the most accurate and TC is the most durable
ƒ When selecting a sensor remember the 4 Ps
ƒ Performance
ƒ Placement
ƒ Protection
ƒ Price
ƒ Periodic calibration is necessary to maintain measurement
accuracy

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BE educated

Watch for upcoming RTDology® events

ƒ View presentation notes from previous sessions on our

website at: www.burnsengineering.com/RTDology

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