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Differential Temperature Transducer<br />An Iterative Method of Evaluating the Signal Delta-T Comp
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Differential Temperature Transducer<br />An Iterative Method of Evaluating the Signal Delta-T Comp
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Differential Temperature Transducer<br />An Iterative Method of Evaluating the Signal Delta-T Comp
The result of the computation is re-inserted into (4), giving yet another
(and better) point of the curve. With each iteration, the slope (sensitivity)
lies closer and closer to the chord 1-2, whose slope is the correct value.
This procedure is nothing more than a graphical version of the familiar
Newton-Raphson iteration procedure used to solve for zeroes of a
polynomial.
Conveniently, the NBS has provided curve-fitting information in the form of
coefficients of an 8th-order polynomial that closely approximates the
thermocouple characteristic curve for copper-Constantan (type T) over a
range of 0 to 400C (see Table 1):
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Differential Temperature Transducer<br />An Iterative Method of Evaluating the Signal Delta-T Comp
The following simple algorithm can quickly, within one or two iterations
(depending on the accuracy required and the magnitude of T), yield a
satisfactory result:
For the first pass, let T1 = Tlow; then return to (8) with Tavi until T
converges to a stable value.
Note: The Delta-T Differential Temperature Transducer's thermopile
consists of 10 pairs of junctions. Hence the sensitivity coefficients (a1 ...
a8) used in the computation exceed the published values in NBS 125 by a
factor of 10.
RESULTS
For a typical case where Tlow = 20C is erroneously estimated at 25C,
then the error in T is found to be 0.1C after two iterations. At that
portion of the curve, for small errors in Tlow, the error in T is given by:
The more accurate the knowledge of the reference, or low temperature, the
more accurate will be the calculated T that we measure. Fortunately, the
results are not very sensitive to this estimate.
If the value of Tlow is known to vary considerably, it might be convenient
to provide a simple, inexpensive temperature probe at the fluid inlet to the
Differential Temperature Transducer to measure the actual temperature.
The Delta-T transducer can be provided with such probe incorporated
within the housing if desired.
TYPICAL CALCULATION
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Differential Temperature Transducer<br />An Iterative Method of Evaluating the Signal Delta-T Comp
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Differential Temperature Transducer<br />An Iterative Method of Evaluating the Signal Delta-T Comp
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