TEMPERATURE

SENSORS
SENSOR TECH
What are the temperature sensors

• A temperature sensor is a device, typically, a thermocouple or

resistance temperature detector, that provides temperature
measurement in a readable form through an electrical signal.
• A thermometer is the most basic form of a temperature meter that is
used to measure the degree of hotness and coolness.
• Temperature sensor is a sensor used for measuring the temperature
with or without coming in direct contact with the body.
APPLICATION
• Widely used in air conditioning and heating appliances for human
comfort.
• In automobiles
• Mobile phones
• Smart farming
• Electronics cooling applications
• Medical devices to measure human body temperature
Types of temp. sensors
• Thermocouple
• RTD (Resistance temp. detector)
• Thermistor
• Semiconductor based temp. sensor
• Infrared temp sensor
• thermometers
What are the different types of temperature
sensors?

• Temperature sensors are available of various types, shapes, and sizes. The
two main types of temperature sensors are:
• Contact Type Temperature Sensors: There are a few temperature meters
that measure the degree of hotness or coolness in an object by being in
direct contact with it. Such temperature sensors fall under the category
contact-type. They can be used to detect solids, liquids or gases over a wide
range of temperatures.
• Non-Contact Type Temperature Sensors: These types of temperature meters
are not in direct contact of the object rather, they measure the degree of
hotness or coolness through the radiation emitted by the heat source.
• The contact and non-contact temperature sensors are further divided into:
 Thermostats

A thermostat is a contact type temperature sensor consisting of a bi-metallic strip made up of

two dissimilar metals such as aluminium, copper, nickel, or tungsten.
The difference in the coefficient of linear expansion of both the metals causes them to produce a
mechanical bending movement when it’s subjected to heat.
Thermistors
• Thermistors or thermally sensitive resistors are the ones that change
their physical appearance when subjected to change in the
temperature. The thermistors are made up of ceramic material such
as oxides of nickel, manganese or cobalt coated in glass which allows
them to deform easily.
• Most of the thermistors have a negative temperature coefficient
(NTC) which means their resistance decreases with an increase in the
temperature. But, there are a few thermistors that have a positive
temperature coefficient (PTC) and, their resistance increases with a
rise in the temperature.
Resistive Temperature Detectors
(RTD)
• RTDs are precise temperature sensors that are made up of high-purity
conducting metals such as platinum, copper or nickel wound into a
coil. The electrical resistance of an RTD changes similar to that of a
thermistor.
Thermocouples
• One of the most common temperature sensors includes
thermocouples because of their wide temperature operating range,
reliability, accuracy, simplicity, and sensitivity.
• A thermocouple usually consists of two junctions of dissimilar metals,
such as copper and constantan that are welded or crimped together.
One of these junctions, known as the Cold junction, is kept at a
specific temperature while the other one is the measuring junction,
known as the Hot junction.
• On being subjected to temperature, a voltage drop is developed
across the junction.
Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC)
Thermistor
• A thermistor is basically a sensitive temperature sensor that reacts
precisely to even the minute temperature changes. It provides a huge
resistance at very low temperatures. This means, as soon as the
temperature starts increasing, the resistance starts dropping quickly.
• Due to the large resistance change per degree Celsius, even a small
temperature change is displayed accurately by the Negative
Temperature Coefficient (NTC) Thermistor. Because of this
exponential working principle, it requires linearization. They usually
work in the range of -50 to 250 °C.
Semiconductor-Based Sensors

• A semiconductor-based temperature sensor works with dual

integrated circuits (ICs). They contain two similar diodes with
temperature-sensitive voltage and current characteristics to measure
the temperature changes effectively.
• However, they give a linear output but, are less accurate at 1 °C to 5
°C. They also exhibit the slowest responsiveness (5 s to 60 s) across
the narrowest temperature range (-70 °C to 150 °C).
Where is the temperature sensor
used?
• The temperature sensor’s applications include:
• The temperature sensors are used for verifying design assumptions that will promote
safer and economical design and construction.
• They are used to measure the temperature rise during the process of curing concrete.
• They can measure rock temperatures near liquid gas storage tanks and ground
freezing operations.
• Temperature sensors can also measure water temperatures in reservoirs and
boreholes.
• It can be used to interpret temperature related stress and volume changes in dams.
• They can also be used to study the temperature effect on other installed instruments.
What is the difference between the temperature
sensor and temperature transmitter?

• A temperature sensor is an instrument used to measure the degree of

hotness or coolness of an object whereas, a temperature transmitter
is a device that is interfaced with a temperature sensor to transmit
the signals to a remote location for monitoring and control purposes.
• This means, a thermocouple, RTD, or a thermistor is connected to a
data logger to get the data at any remote location
Which Is The Most Accurate Temperature Sensor?

• An RTD is the most accurate temperature sensor. The platinum RTD

has very good accuracy, linearity, stability and repeatability as
compared to thermocouples or thermistors.
• What is a thermocouple?
Principles of Temperature Measurement

• Temperature measurement relies on the transfer of heat energy from the process
material to the measuring device. The measuring device therefore needs to be
temperature dependent.
• There are two main industrial types of temperature sensors:- Contact - Non contact
• Contact
• Contact is the more common and widely used form of temperature measurement.
• The three main types are:
• - Thermocouples
• - Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTD’s)
• - Thermistors
• These types of temperature devices all vary in electrical resistance for
temperature change. The rate and proportion of change is different between the
three types, and also different within the type classes.
• Another less common device relies on the expansion of fluid up a capillary tube.
• This is where the bulk of the fluid is exposed to the process materials
temperature.
• Non-Contact
• Temperature measurement by non-contact means is more specialised and can be
• performed with the following technologies:
• - Infrared
• - Acoustic
Thermocouples
Basis of Operation
• A Thermocouple consists of two wires of dissimilar metals, such as iron
and constantan, electrically connected at one end. Applying heat to the
junction of the two metals produces a voltage between the two wires.
• This voltage is called an emf (electro-motive force) and is proportional
to temperature
• A thermocouple requires a reference junction, this is placed in series
with the sensing junction. As the two junctions are at different
temperatures a thermal emf is generated.
• The reference junction is used to correct the sensing junction
measurement.
• The voltage across the thermocouple increases as the temperature
rises and a suitably calibrated instrument, capable of measuring small
voltages, can be used to measure the change.
• The process temperature is obtained from the voltage, either by
reading from a graph or by using thermocouple tables.
• Thermocouple tables list the voltages corresponding to each
temperature. A table is required for each thermocouple type.
• The relationship between millivolts and temperature is not linear. In
microprocessor based equipment, the conversion is done based on
the data stored in the device.
• The sensing, or hot junction is inserted into the area where the
temperature is to be measured.
• The reference, or cold junction is normally connected to the
measuring instrument and held at 0 oC.
• For accurate temperature measurement, the reference junction
temperature must remain constant or suitable compensation
provided if it should change.
• To reduce inaccuracies, most thermocouples are now installed with
instruments that provide automatic reference compensation
• One of the most accurate ways of compensating for temperature
change is to maintain the reference junction at 0 oC. This however is
not that practical, and some form of compensation needs to be used.
• The technique of cold junction compensation measures the actual
temperature and applies a correction to the thermocouple reading.
• The correction is made by adjusting the voltage by an amount equal
to the difference between the actual temperature and 0 oC.
• Another method of providing this compensation is to pass current
through a temperature responsive resistor, which measures the
variation in reference temperature and automatically provides the
necessary correction by means of a voltage drop across the resistor.
Thermocouple materials
• The following materials are used to manufacture different types of
thermocouples
• TYPE B
• Positive material –Platinum Rhodium 30%
• Negative material –Platinum Rhodium 6%
• Temp. range -0 to 1800 C
• TYPE C
• Positive material –Tungsten Rhenium 5%
• Negative material-Tunsten Rhenium 26%
• Temp. range 0 to 2300 C
Construction

• Thermocouples are fusion-welded to form a pure joint, which maintains the

integrity of the circuit and also provides high accuracy. Grounded junctions
provide good thermal contact with protection from the environment.
• Ungrounded and isolated junctions provide electrical isolation from the
sensor sheath.
• Thermocouples are usually encased in a protective metal sheath. The sheath
material can be stainless steel which is good for temperatures up to 870 oC.
• For temperatures up to 1150 oC Inconel is used.
• E-type are the most sensitive thermocouple available, and have the
highest change in emf per temperature change, but they tend to drift
more.
• They can be used in oxidising atmospheres.
• Advantages
• - Low cost
• - Small size
• - Robust
• - Wide range of operation
• - Reasonably stable
• - Accurate for large temperature changes
• - Provide fast response
• Disadvantages
• - Very weak output, millivolts
• - Limited accuracy for small variations in temperature
• - Sensitive to electrical noise
• - Nonlinear
• - Complicated conversion from emf to temperature
Application Limitations

• Small temperature changes give a very small change in voltage. A

platinum thermocouple, for example, will give a change of about
10microvolts for a 1 Oc change in temperature.
• It is because of the weak output signal from thermocouples that they
are susceptible to electrical noise and are limited to applications
requiring the measurement of large changes in temperature.
• Thermocouples are not linear and the conversion from the generated
emf to temperature is involved.
• The calibration of thermocouples does change over time, and this is
due to
• contamination, composition changes (possibly due to internal
oxidation).
• Rapid changes in temperature may have an effect, but high
temperatures definitely can affect the stability of the device. It is
proven that when a K-type thermocouple is cycled to 1100°C it can
vary by as much as 10%.
• The integrity of the conductivity of a thermocouple has to be
maintained and as such cannot be used exposed in conductive fluids.