Resistance Thermometers

Resistance thermometers and thermistors are temperature sensors which change

electrical resistance with temperature. The superior sensitivity and stability of these
devices, in comparison to thermocouples, give them important advantages in low and
intermediate temperature ranges. In addition, resistive devices often simplify control and
readout electronics. Resistance thermometers are specified primarily for accuracy and
stability from cryogenic levels to the melting points of metals. They are accurate over a
wide temperature range, may be used to sense temperature over a

Resistance thermometers may be called RTD.s (resistance temperature detectors),
PRT.s (platinum resistance thermometers), or SPRT.s (standard platinum resistance
thermometers). These thermometers operate on the principle that electrical resistance
changes in pure metal elements, relative to temperature. The traditional sensing
element of a resistance thermometer consists of a coil of small diameter wire wound
large area, and is highly standardized. The standard platinum resistance thermometer is
specified by the ITS.90 (International Temperature Scale of 1990) to interpolate
between fixed points in the range 13.80K (.259.35C) to 1234.93K (961.78C). While
normally less stable than resistance thermometers, thermistors offer lower cost and
higher sensitivity over more limited ranges. Thermistor sensors can be relatively small
and are well suited to product or equipment applications where quantities of use justify
the design of special readout circuits.

also called resistance temperature detectors (RTDs), are sensors used to measure
temperature by correlating the resistance of the RTD element with temperature. Most
RTD elements consist of a length of fine coiled wire wrapped around a ceramic or glass
core. The element is usually quite fragile, so it is often placed inside a sheathed probe
to protect it. The RTD element is made from a pure material, platinum, nickel or copper.
The material has a predictable change in resistance as the temperature changes; it is
this predictable change that is used to determine temperature.










Thermocouple consists of two dissimilar conductors in contact, which produces a
voltage when heated. The size of the voltage is dependent on the difference of
temperature of the junction to other parts of the circuit. Thermocouples are a widely
used type of temperature sensor for measurement and control
[1]
and can also be used
to convert a temperature gradient into electricity. Commercial thermocouples are
inexpensive,
[2]
interchangeable, are supplied with standard connectors, and can
measure a wide range of temperatures. In contrast to most other methods of
temperature measurement, thermocouples are self powered and require no external
form of excitation. The main limitation with thermocouples is accuracy; system errors of
less than one degree Celsius (C) can be difficult to achieve.
[3]

Any junction of dissimilar metals will produce an electric potential related to
temperature. Thermocouples for practical measurement of temperature are junctions of
specific alloys which have a predictable and repeatable relationship between
temperature and voltage. Different alloys are used for different temperature ranges.
Properties such as resistance to corrosion may also be important when choosing a type
of thermocouple. Where the measurement point is far from the measuring instrument,
the intermediate connection can be made by extension wires which are less costly than
the materials used to make the sensor. Thermocouples are usually standardized
against a reference temperature of 0 degrees Celsius; practical instruments use
electronic methods of cold-junction compensation to adjust for varying temperature at
the instrument terminals. Electronic instruments can also compensate for the varying
characteristics of the thermocouple, and so improve the precision and accuracy of
measurements.











THERMISTOR
Negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor, bead type, insulated wires
A thermistor is a type of resistor whose resistance varies significantly with temperature,
more so than in standard resistors. The word is a portmanteau of thermal and resistor.
Thermistors are widely used as inrush current limiters, temperature sensors, self-
resetting overcurrent protectors, and self-regulating heating elements.
Thermistors differ from resistance temperature detectors (RTD) in that the material used
in a thermistor is generally a ceramic or polymer, while RTDs use pure metals. The
temperature response is also different; RTDs are useful over larger temperature ranges,
while thermistors typically achieve a higher precision within a limited temperature range,
typically 90 C to 130 C
A thermistor (short for "thermal resistor") is a type of resistor that is used to measure
temperature. While typical resistors are designed to maintain consistent resistance
regardless of temperature, a thermistor's resistance varies significantly as the
temperature changes. Once a thermistor is calibrated, changes in electrical resistance
can be accurately translated into changes in temperature.
Thermistors are commonly used in computers to monitor the ambient temperature of
internalcomponents. For example, thermistors may be used to record the temperature
near the CPU, RAM slots, and the power supply. These thermistors are usually
integrated into the computer's motherboard. The actual temperature of components
such as the processor and memory modules is typically measured by a diode that is
integrated into the chip.











Radiation Pyrometry

The NR series sheathed resistance thermometers are the high performance resistance
thermometers with high sensitivity, solidity, and durability required in a general industrial
sensor. The thermometer is constructed by densely filling the gap between a protective
tube and a resistance thermometer element with magnesium oxide. The thermometer
has excellent response. vibration resistance and impact resistance, and withstand long-
term continuous operation in hot and unfavorable environment.
radiation pyrometer - a pyrometer for estimating the temperature of distant sources of
heat; radiation is focussed on a thermojunction connected in circuit with a galvanometer
pyrometer - a thermometer designed to measure high temperatures