TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT

INSTRUMENTION & CONTROL LAB

MESD311

Semester: 6 2016/2017
Day and Date: 20/06/2016 (MONDAY)
Due date: 27/06/2017
Name and SID:
1

JEREMY JOHN FERNANDEZ

DM87749

Section: 5
Group: 3
Lab Instructor: MOHD FIRDAUS BIN JAAFAR, Mr.
TABLE OF CONTENT
SUMMARY

3-5

OBJECTIVE

THEORY

7-8

EQUIPMENT

PROCEDURE

10

DATA, OBSERVATION AND RESULT

11-18

ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

19-20

CONCLUSION

21

SUMMARY
Mercury in Glass Thermometers. The mercury in glass thermometer is a familiar
device which operates on the principle of thermal expansion. The coefficient of
thermal expansion of the mercury is much greater than that of the glass encasement.
When the thermometer is subjected to changes in temperature, the mercury expands
or contracts depending upon the temperature increases or decreases. The fluid
expansion is quite small, so a very narrow tube is needed in order to visually observe
the change in volume. The glass encasement is calibrated so that a change in mercury
volume (measured as a change in length of the mercury column) corresponds to a
known change in temperature.
Resistance Temperature Sensor (RTD). The electrical resistance of materials is
temperature dependent. For most materials the resistance increases with temperature.
This property can be utilized in measuring the temperature. A common material for
RTD sensors is platinum because of its high temperature coefficient of electrical
resistance. A platinum wire of suitable length and diameter is wound around a ceramic
cylinder and encased in a steel protective tube. The resistance change of the sensor
can be measured using an electrical resistance bridge circuit, and the results displayed

using a calibrated indicator registering the resistance of the sensor in Ohms or using a
Wheatstone bridge to detect small changes in voltage associated with small changes in
resistance.
When two dissimilar metals are placed in contact, to form a junction a potential
difference is created across the junction. The magnitude of the open circuit potential
difference across the junction is temperature dependent and is called the Seebeck
effect. If the junction is between wires of dissimilar metals which are part of an
electrical circuit through which current flows, then the potential difference measured
across the junction is also a function.
A thermistor operates in the same fashion as an RTD, but the sensing element is a
semiconductor while the RTD sensor is a metallic element. Thermistor resistance,
however, responds negatively and non-linearly to temperature. In addition, the
thermistor possesses a higher sensitivity with respect to temperature. Measurement of
the resistance can be accomplished using resistance bridge circuitry (variants of the
Wheatstone bridge).
A bimetallic strip is used to convert a temperature change into mechanical
displacement. The strip consists of two strips of different metals which expand at
different rates as they are heated, usually steel and copper, or in some cases steel
andbrass. The strips are joined together throughout their length
by riveting, brazing or welding. The different expansions force the flat strip to bend
one way if heated, and in the opposite direction if cooled below its initial temperature.

The metal with the higher coefficient of thermal expansion is on the outer side of the
curve when the strip is heated and on the inner side when cooled
The sideways displacement of the strip is much larger than the small length ways
expansion in either of the two metals. This effect is used in a range of mechanical and
electrical devices. In some applications the bi-metal strip is used in the flat form. In
others, it is wrapped into a coil for compactness. The greater length of the coiled
version gives improved sensitivity
A vapor pressure thermometer is a thermometer that uses a pressure gauge to measure
the vapour pressure of a liquid. Basically hand held devices and uses gas having large
entropy wherein the pressure of the gas is converted to temperature by means of a
bounden gauge which represents temperature over calibrated scale having cramped
rulings.

The alcohol thermometer is an alternative to the mercury-in-glass thermometer and

has similar functions. Unlike the mercury-in-glass thermometer, the contents of an
alcohol thermometer are less toxic and will evaporate away fairly quickly. An organic
liquid is contained in a glass bulb which is connected to a capillary of the same glass
and the end is sealed with an expansion bulb. The space above the liquid is a mixture
of nitrogen and the vapor of the liquid. For the working temperature range,
the meniscus or interface between the liquid is within the capillary. With increasing

temperature, the volume of liquid expands and the meniscus moves up the capillary.
The position of the meniscus shows the temperature against an inscribed scale.

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this lab are to familiarize with some of the various types of
temperature sensors in current use, to calibrate them (and hence to recognize the
relationship between data quality and instrument calibration), and to evaluate the
impact of ventilation and time response on temperature measurement.
To compare the time constant of different type of temperature measuring device with
reference to mercury filled thermometer (smallest time constant). Besides that, to
understand the relationship between resistance and temperature.
To investigate the working principle of Type K Thermocouple. To find sensitivity of
the type K thermocouple and also to investigate the relation between voltage output
and temperature.

THEORY
Another type of thermometer that is not really used much in practice, but is important
from a theoretical standpoint, is the gas thermometer. Other important devices for
measuring temperature include: Thermocouples and Thermistors. Temperature
measurement describes the process of measuring a current local temperature for
immediate or later evaluation. Data sets consisting of repeated standardized
measurements can be used to assess temperature trends. Many methods have been
developed for measuring temperature. Most of these rely on measuring some physical
property of a working material that varies with temperature. One of the most common
devices for measuring temperature is the glass thermometer. This consists of a glass
tube filled with mercury or some other liquid, which acts as the working fluid.
Temperature increase causes the fluid to expand, so the temperature can be
determined by measuring the volume of the fluid. Such thermometers are usually
calibrated so that one can read the temperature simply by observing the level of the
fluid in the thermometer. Another type of thermometer that is not really used much in
practice, but is important from a theoretical standpoint, is the gas thermometer. One
must be careful when measuring temperature to ensure that the measuring instrument
(thermometer, thermocouple, etc.) is really the same temperature as the material that

is being measured. Under some conditions heat from the measuring instrument can
cause a temperature gradient, so the measured temperature is different from the actual
temperature of the system. In such a case the measured temperature will vary not only
with the temperature of the system, but also with the heat transfer properties of the
system. An extreme case of this effect gives rise to the wind chill factor, where the
weather feels colder under windy conditions than calm conditions even though the
temperature is the same. What is happening is that the wind increases the rate of heat
transfer from the body, resulting in a larger reduction in body temperature for the
same ambient temperature.

EQUIPMENT
Type-K thermocouple
Pt 100 thermocouple
mV meter
Mains switch 240 VAC
ELCB / MCB
Heater switch
Blower and speed controller
Pt 100 temperature meter
Type K temperature meter
Bi - metallic thermometer
Vapor compression thermometer
Vacuum flask
Hot water pot
Whirling psychrometer

 Thermistor temperature meter

Mercury filled thermometer
Spirit filled thermometer
PROCEDURE
The hot water pot is filled with clean cold water so that any impurities does not
disrupt the reading.
All the apparatus is set up according to the lab manual
Place the vapor pressure thermometer and bi - metallic thermometer into the
opening of the hot water pot.
Place the mercury filled thermometer and spirit filled thermometer into the
opening at the hot water pot. Place the magnet thermistor to the hot water pot.
Connect the wires to the board that are connected to the Pt 100 meter, Type K
meter, and mV meter.
The main power is switched on. The ELCB / MCB switch, 220 VAC switch and
the heater is also switch on.
For every interval of 2 minutes, the reading is recorded from the meter and
thermometer.
The reading is recorded for a total of 24 minutes for 1st experiment and for 2nd
experiment it is recorded till 14 minutes.
The experiment is repeated for Type K.
10

DATA, OBSERVATION AND RESULT

EXPERIMENT 1:

Time (minutes) Temperature

PT 100

TYPE K BI-

VAPOUR

MERCU SPIRIT TH

METALLIC PRESSURE

RY

OR

26

25.7

26

30

27

27

25

28.3

26

27

32

30

30

27

32.1

26.2

31

36

34

34

31

38.7

26.5

36

42

42

42

37

42.9

26.7

40

44

45

45

41

10

47.4

26.8

43

49

54

50

46

12

51.9

27

47

54

55

54

50

14

56.1

27.1

50

58

60

60

55

16

58.2

27.2

53

60

62

62

57

18

60.7

27.2

55

62

65

63

59

20

65.2

27.3

60

66

68

69

64

22

69.2

27.3

63

70

72

74

68

24

73.5

27.4

66

74

78

77

72

11

SAMPLE CALCULATIONS:

Time constant of Mercury Type:

initial temperature + (final-initial) 0.632
27+(78-27)0.632
=59.232

Time constant of Bi - metallic Type:

26+(66-26)0.632
=51.3

Time constant of Thermistor Type:

25+(72.3-25)0.632
=54.89

Time constant of Pt 100:

26+(73.5-26)0.632
=56.02

Time constant of Type K:

25.7 +(27.4-25.7)0.632
=26.8

Time constant of Spirit Type:

27+(77-27)0.632
12

=26.8

Time constant of Vapor Pressure Type:

30+(74-30)0.632
=57.81

INTERPOLATION
Time constant of Mercury Type:
(78-27) x 0.632 = 32.2
32.2-30/t-2 = 34-30/4-2
2-2/t-2 = 2
t-2 = 2/2-2
t = 2+0.91
= 2.91 min

Time constant of Bi - metallic Type:

(66-26) x 0.632 = 25.3
= 25.3 min

Time constant of Thermistor Type:

(72.3-25) x 0.632 = 30
30-27.5/t-2 = 31.4-27.5/4-2
2-5/t-2 = 1.95
t-2 = 1.95/2.5
t = 2+0.78
= 2.78 min

Time constant of Type K:

13

(27.4-25.7) x 0.632 = 1.07

= 1.07 min

Time constant of Pt 100:

(73.5-26) x 0.632 = 30.02
30.02-28.3/t-2 = 32.1-28.3/4-2
1.9/t-2 = 1.9
t-2 = 1.9/1.9
t = 1+2
=3 min

Time constant of Spirit Type:

(77-27) x 0.632 = 31.6
31.6-30/t-2 = 34-30/4-2
1.6/t-2 = 2
t-2 = 2/1.6
t = 1.25+2
= 3.25 min

Time constant of Vapor Pressure:

(74-30) x 0.632 = 28
= 28 min

14

TEMPERATURE vs TME GRAPH.

15

EXPERIMENT 2

TIME

VOLTAGE

TEMPERATU
RE

0.132

26

0.133

28.3

0.134

32.1

0.135

38.7

0.136

42.9

10

0.137

47.4

12

0.138

51.9

14

0.139

56.1

16

0.14

58.2

18

0.141

60.7

20

0.142

65.2

22

0.143

69.2

24

0.144

73.5

SAMPLE CALCULATIONS:
A temperature Te = 42.9, V = 0.136 mV
From graph (Voltage vs Temperature) sub Te into y = 0.00025x + 0.12557
V = 0.00025(42.9) + 0.12557
= 0.136 mV

16

Percentage error = Theoretical - Nominal/Theoretical

= (0.136-0.136/0.136) x 100%
= 0%

TEMPERATURE vs TIME GRAPH (TYPE K)

17

VOLTAGE (mV) vs TEMPERATURE GARPH (TYPE K)

18

ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

Based on the graph for this experiment, Time is against temperature. The temperature
increases rapidly from time to time. Based on this experiment only degree celcius data
was recorded. Each and every apparatus that was used to determine the temperature of
the water in the hot water pot have different kinds of material. That is why each
apparatus gives different readings. Temperature is a measure of hotness. Together with
a measure of thermal mass of a body it gives an indication of the total
thermodynamics energy that body contains. There are many scales for the comparison
of temperatures, the most important is with their corresponding values for melting ice
and boiling water (which are common reference temperature).

Based on graph for experiment 2 which is the Type K experiment. Inn this
experiment, we learned on how to investigate the working principle of Type K
Thermocouple. We also learned on how to find the sensitivity of the Type K
thermocouple and also to investigate its relationship between voltage and
temperature. Basically, what i can conclude by looking at this graph and after
conducting this experiment. As the water becomes hotter the temperature definitely
19

increases, but the reason for the water to become hotter is because of the voltage
increasing rapidly by time. Besides that, in this experiment there is also percentage
error as different experiment. As what Kelvin Plank told no engine can give 100%
efficiency, so in this experiment as per calculation there is no percentage error in this
experiment and that means its giving 100% efficiency which is ridiculous. Machines
are perfect percentage error occurs because of human.

20

CONCLUSION

After conducting both experiment, i can conclude that temperature are always against
time. Meanwhile, current and voltage too are against time. Type K resistance
Thermometer has the highest thermal response. Besides that, the mercury filled
thermometer has the highest temperature reading after 24 minutes compare to the
others. Thermistor has the lowest temperature at 0 minutes. Mercury filled
thermometer, depends on the expansion of a liquid associated with an increase in
temperature. Moreover, time is also against voltage as the time increases the voltage
increases and also the temperature. Last but not least, every apparatus has it own
sensitivity and with its sensitivity the temperature changes against time.

21