Thursday, November 6, 2014

Understanding The Work Of Custom Resistance Temperature Detectors

By Christa Jarvis


Temperatures measuring applications are particularly used across various manufacturing firms and also in other commercial usage. Custom Resistance Temperature Detectors commonly known as RTDs and Thermocouples are two devices that help perform this operation. While thermocouples have been usually used, RTDs ascertain to be a better alternative when the question is of high accuracy estimates of temperatures.

Consisting of temperature sensors, RTDs work on the basis that the current resistance of a material will change with a change in temperatures. As the change in resistance for known materials can very easily be predicted, this correlation is used to perform highly accurate measurements of temperature.

Not only higher efficiency, RTDs also provide better repeatability and are slowly rendering thermocouples obsolete especially in any application below 600 degrees Celsius. RTDs are also manufactured in a number of form factors and are also more stable. However, if any process requires a fast response time, thermocouples are preferred. Thermocouples are also used at temperatures above 660 degrees Celsius, wherein the element of RTDs tends to get contaminated and at temperatures below 270 degrees Celsius whence the sensitivity of the RTD drops to zero. Also, thermocouples are smaller in size as compared to RTDs and are used in size critical applications.

RTDs also score above thermocouples when it arises to repeatability and are gradually replacing thermocouples. This is particularly true in the case of applications below 600 degrees Celsius where RTDs perform at their best. RTD sensors are also readily available in a number of system factors and are more stable.

Thermocouples, however, are still preferred devices in case the of quick time response requirements, as also are used when the temperatures range is not suitable for RTDs. This range is above 660 degrees Celsius where the elements of RTDs tend to get contaminated and also at temperatures below 270 degrees Celsius, in which case the feeling of the RTD element becomes zero. Thermocouples are also smaller in size than RTDs and are sometimes used in applications where size is a concern.

Another classification of RTDs is on the basis of installation, and they may either be immersion sensors or surface mounted sensors. Immersion sensors are mostly used to measure the temperatures of gases and fluids in tans and pipes. Surface mount sensors are in the form of blocks or cylinders and are used whenever immersion is not possible.

On the base of types of installation, RTDs can also be classified as either immersion detectors or surface mounted sensors. Immersion types are used by immersing the sensor into fluids and gases that are in tanks and pipes. Surface mount detectors come in several shapes and sizes of cylinders or blocks and are used if immersion is not promising. Manufacturers also provide surplus accessories and mounting hardware with RTDs.

Thermocouples, although having been extensively used for temperatures sensing applications across industries, have their limitations. Resistance Temperature Detectors provide for higher precision and a better repeatability for similar applications. RTDs, however, only working over a given temperature range and are fragile, but are nonetheless, the device of choice for some industries and many applications and may soon replace thermocouples altogether.




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