Fluke Calibration

Web Seminar Series

Principles and practical tips
about electrical, flow, pressure,
RF and temperature calibration

Understanding Uncertainties
Associated with Dry-block Calibrators

2016 Fluke Corporation

Todays Seminar

Understanding Uncertainties Associated with

Dry-block Calibrators
February 3, 2016
Dry-block calibrators are a valuable thermometer calibration tool used in many industries including
electronics, energy, pharmaceuticals, and petroleum processing. To achieve desired calibration
performance, its important to correctly assess the thermal uncertainties of these industrial drywells.
Join this free Fluke Calibration Web Seminar to learn about the thermal uncertainties of dry-block
calibrators and how to measure & characterize them.

Your Presenter
Fluke Calibration

Electrical (Everett, WA)

RF (Norwich UK)
Temperature (American Fork, UT)
Pressure/Flow (Phoenix, AZ)

Fluke Calibration, Temperature, American Fork, UT

Mike Hirst
Senior Design Engineer
Fluke Calibration, Temperature

30+ years with Fluke / Hart Scientific

Agenda

Dry-well Thermal Uncertainties

Temperature Stability
Temperature Uniformity
Axial
Radial

Block Loading
Hysteresis of the Control Sensor
Immersion Effects (Stem Conduction)

Uncertainty Budget
Direct and indirect modes

Euramet cg-13 v.2

European Association of National Metrology Institutes

Calibration Guide: Calibration of Temperature Block Calibrators
Euramet cg-13 v.2
Formerly: EA-10/13
http://www.euramet.org/fileadmin/docs/Publications/calguides/EURAMET_cg-13__v_2.0__Temperature_Block_Calibrators_01.pdf

Temperature Reference Standard

Direct Mode

Temperature Reference Standard

Indirect Mode

Temperature Stability

Temperature Stability Measurement

100.140

2 Sigma = 0.009C

100.135
100.130
100.125
100.120
100.115
100.110

Peak to Peak = 0.026C

Peak = 0.026C / 2 = 0.013C

100.105

Time

0:35

0:34

0:33

0:31

0:30

0:29

0:28

0:26

0:25

0:24

0:23

0:22

0:20

0:19

0:18

0:17

0:15

0:14

0:13

0:12

0:11

0:09

0:08

0:07

0:06

0:04

0:03

0:02

0:01

100.100

0:00

Temperature Deviation, C

100.145

Temperature Uniformity

Axial Uniformity Variation in the temperature along

the axial length of the insert (block) within the
measurement zone.
Radial Uniformity Variation in the temperature
between different wells of the insert (block) within the
measurement zone.
Measurement Zone Space occupied by the
sensitive elements of the UUTs measured, both axially
and radially. Allow for the range of sensor length.

Axial Temperature Uniformity

Axial Uniformity: Gradient Measurement

Measuring Axial Gradient Deviations

Immersion Depth, mm
20

40

60

0.06

100.30

0.04

100.28

0.02

100.26

0.00

100.24
100.22

-0.02

check

Averages

-0.04

Time, hr:min

1:09

1:05

1:02

0:58

0:54

0:50

0:46

0:42

0:38

0:34

0:30

0:26

0:22

0:19

0:15

-0.08

0:11

100.18

0:07

-0.06

0:03

100.20

Axial Dif. from Ref., C

0:00

Ref. & Grad. Temps., C

100.32

Reference
Gradient
Differential

Axial Uniformity: Gradient Profile

Example
Dry-well
Axial
Homogeneity
Error at
at aa
Example
Dry-well
Axial
Gradient Error
Specified
SpecifiedTemperature
Temperature

Temperature Deviation, C

0.04
0.03
0.02

40 mm Element
20 mm Element

Error = 0.032C max/2

or 0.016C

Error = 0.009C

0.01
0.00
-0.01 0
-0.02
-0.03
-0.04
-0.05
-0.06

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

40 mm vs. 40 mm probes, error = 0.000C

20 mm vs. 40 mm probes, error = 0.009C
min. small probe vs. 40 mm, error = 0.016C
gradient profile

Immersion from Bottom

60

65

Axial Gradient: Calibration Optimization

Optimizing for Large Axial Gradient, (600C)

Profile Error, C

Difference in Error between Centered and Bottom UUT Position

2.80
2.60
2.40
2.20
2.00
1.80
1.60
1.40
1.20
1.00
0.80
0.60
0.40
0.20
0.00

Reference Thermometer
Center Line

20mm UUT

Ref. Temp.
0.15C
gradient profile
-0.88C

20mm UUT

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85
Immersion, mm

Radial Temperature Uniformity

Reference
probe

Gradient
probe

Radial Uniformity: Measurement

Measurement
Radial Homogeneity
Gradient Measurement

400.0

0.04
0.03
0.02
0.01
0.00
-0.01
-0.02
-0.03
-0.04
-0.05
-0.06

maximum
error

399.5
399.0
398.5

Time

17:42

17:41

17:41

17:40

17:39

17:38

17:38

17:37

17:36

17:36

17:35

17:34

17:34

17:33

17:32

17:32

17:31

398.0

Normalized Temp.
Difference, C

400.5

17:30

Reference & Well Temps, C

Well Number

Reference
Mover
Differential

Radial Uniformity: Cyclic Exchange

TD = |((P1W1 P1W2) + (P2W1 P2W2)) / 2|

TD = Temperature Difference Between Wells
P1, P2 = Probes 1 and 2
W1, W2 = Wells 1 and 2
P1W1 is probe 1 in well 1, etc.

Block Thermal Loading

Added Heat Loss due to increased numbers or

size of thermometers, creates a shift in the
temperature gradient in the insert (block) of the
dry-well.

The Temperature Controller cannot completely

compensate for this shift.
The result can be a temperature error that is
particularly apparent in the Direct Mode.

Block Thermal Loading:

Measurement - Direct Mode

Dry-Well Block Loading Effect

421.23
1 Probe

421.21

2 Probes

3 Probes

4 Probes

2 Probes

1 Probe

Constant
Display
Temperature

421.19 0.026C error

421.17
421.15

Ref 1

421.13

Ref 2

421.11
421.09
421.07

Time/event

13:53

13:45

13:37

13:29

13:21

13:13

13:05

12:57

12:49

12:41

12:33

12:25

12:17

12:08

12:00

11:52

11:44

11:36

11:28

11:20

11:12

11:04

10:56

10:48

10:40

10:31

10:23

421.05

10:15

Temp, C

3 Probes

Block Thermal Loading:

Measurement - Indirect Mode

Thermal Loading Difference Between Reference Probes

0.010

0.002C
Error

0.006
0.004
0.002

-0.004
2 Probes

3 Probes

4 Probes

-0.006
-0.008
-0.010

Time/Event

3 Probes

2 Probes

13:54

13:47

13:40

13:33

13:26

13:19

13:12

13:04

12:57

12:50

12:43

12:36

12:29

12:22

12:15

12:08

12:01

11:54

11:47

11:40

11:33

11:26

11:19

11:12

11:05

10:58

10:51

10:44

10:37

10:29

-0.002

10:22

0.000

10:15

Temp. Difference, C

0.008

Control Sensor Hysteresis

Control Sensor Hysteresis

Actual Temperature, C

700
600
500
400

Error

Heating
Cooling

Error

300

Average Value

200
Temperature Range
Midpoint

100
0
0

100

200

300

400

500

Set Point Temperature, C

600

700

Control Sensor Hysteresis:

Temperature Range Effect

Dry-Well Temperature Hysteresis Over

Different Ranges

Hysteresis Error, C

0.060
0.040
0.020
0.000
-100

100

200

300

400

-0.020
-0.040
Hysteresis
-0.060

Set-Point Temperature, C

500

600

700

Immersion Effects and

Thermometer Stem Conduction

Uncertainty Budget: Direct Mode

Uncertainty Source

Probability Distribution

Uncertainty, C

Divisor

Contribution, C

Electronic Measurement

Normal

0.012

NA

Ref. Thermometer (SPRT)

Normal

0.010

NA

SPRT, long term drift

Normal

0.010

NA

Rectangular

0.300

0.173

Normal

0.100

0.050

Gradient, Axial

Rectangular

0.150

0.087

Gradient, Radial

Rectangular

0.070

0.040

Resolution of indicator

Rectangular

0.005

0.003

Temperature Stability

Normal

0.030

0.015

Thermal Loading (direct)

Rectangular

0.100

0.058

Hysteresis

Rectangular

0.025

0.014

Bias

0.050

0.050

Dry-well Accuracy
Dry-well, long term drift

Stem Conduction

Combined Standard Uncertainty, C (k=1)

0.219

Combined Expanded Uncertainty, C (k=2)

0.438

Uncertainty Budget: Indirect Mode

Uncertainty Source

Probability Distribution

Uncertainty, C

Divisor

Contribution, C

Electronic Measurement

Normal

0.012

0.006

Ref. Thermometer (SPRT)

Normal

0.010

0.005

SPRT, long term drift

Normal

0.010

0.005

Rectangular

0.300

NA

Normal

0.100

NA

Gradient, Axial

Rectangular

0.150

0.087

Gradient, Axial (SPRT)

Rectangular

0.070

0.040

Gradient, Radial

Rectangular

0.070

0.040

Gradient, Radial (SPRT)

Rectangular

0.070

0.040

Resolution of indicator

Rectangular

0.005

NA

Temperature Stability

Normal

0.030

0.015

Thermal Loading (indirect)

Rectangular

0.002

0.001

Hysteresis

Rectangular

0.025

NA

Bias

0.050

0.050

Dry-well Accuracy
Dry-well, long term drift

Stem Conduction

Combined Standard Uncertainty, C (k=1)

0.123

Combined Expanded Uncertainty, C (k=2)

0.247

Summary

Thermal properties inherent in dry-wells contribute to

uncertainty of calibration
An estimate of the uncertainty can be made through
measurement and analysis

Different modes of use of the dry-well influence the

overall uncertainty
Careful testing and analysis can be used to improve
accuracy of the calibration for specific cases

Future web seminars

Temperature Calibration seminars coming soon:
February 10: How to do a System Calibration for an
RTD and Readout (presented in English)
February 17: How to do a System Calibration for an
RTD and Readout (presented in Spanish)
March 2: How to Calibrate an RTD Using a Drywell
(presented in English)

For the latest schedule or browse our on-demand web

seminars www.flukecal.com/calwebsem
Our seminar topics cover principles and practical tips about electrical, flow,
pressure, RF and temperature calibration

2016 Fluke Corporation

2016 Temperature
Calibration classes
Instructor-led Training

Advanced Topics in Temperature Metrology, Apr. 12-14

Infrared Calibration, May 17-19
Practical Temperature Calibration, Sep. 20-22
Installation and Training Supplemental Services
(courses scheduled on-demand)

For more information go to:

http://us.flukecal.com/tempcal_training

2016 Fluke Corporation

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