King Abdulaziz University Faculty of Engineering Aeronautical Engineering Thermo-Fluids I AE300

Temperature Measurement
PREPARED FOR Dr. Ibrahim E. Megahed

Student's name: Abdulrhman S. Babalghoum ID: 1009493 Date: 12/19/2011

Table of Contents

1. 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 3. 4.

Introduction Resistance temperature detectors (RTDs) Glass Thermometer Six's Maximum and Minimum Thermometer Industrial Bulb Thermometer Metal Spring Thermometer Bi-Metal Thermometer Thermocouple Thermometer Thermistor Thermometer Infra-red thermometers Conclusion References

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1. Introduction Heat, when we think of heat we feel it! Heat is energy transferred from body to body, region to region, or thermodynamic system to another. Without heat we won't have Airplanes, cars, engines, or even electricity! We won't be able to live in this word, so, thanks God for it. In order to measure the heat scientist gave it scales, for instance, Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit, gave to the world the Fahrenheit scale and he also invented alcohol and mercury thermometers. And Lord Kelvin (William Thomson), gave to the world the international unit for measuring the temperature, Kelvin, which is absolute thermodynamic temperature scale. To measure the temperature, there are several methods that we'll mention below. 2. Work 2.1 Resistance temperature detectors (RTDs) Resistance temperature detectors (RTDs) operate on the principle of changes in electrical resistance of pure metals and are characterized by a linear positive change in resistance with temperature. Typical elements used for RTDs include nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu), but platinum (Pt) is by far the most common because of its wide temperature range, high accuracy, and stability suitable for precision applications.[1]

2.2 Glass Thermometer When you look at a regular outside bulb thermometer, you'll see a thin red or silver line that grows longer when it is hotter. The line goes down in cold weather. This liquid is sometimes colored alcohol but can also be a metallic liquid called mercury. Both mercury and alcohol grow bigger when heated and smaller when cooled. Inside the glass tube of a thermometer, the liquid has no place to go but up when the temperature is hot and down when the temperature is cold. Numbers are placed alongside the glass tube that mark the temperature when the line is at that point.[2] As we mentioned before there are two fluid can be used inside the tube of the thermometer, mercury, or alcohol. Here are the properties of them.[3] 2.2.1 The mercury thermometer has the following properties:

The advantages are: Mercury expands easily It conducts heat easily, being a liquid metal It is silvery opaque and clearly visible It does not stick to glass A minimum-maximum thermometer can be made with it It has a high boiling point (357C) and can thus be used for high temperatures

The disadvantages are: It freezes at -39C and this could cause the bulb to crack It is relatively expensive It is considered an ecological hazard, even though liquid mercury is harmless
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2.2.2 The alcohol thermometer is also widely used, with the following properties:
The advantages are: It expands easily, even more than mercury

It can be coloured in any colour to be easily visible It has a low freezing point of -112C and is suitable for low temperatures It is inexpensive It is not harmful to the environment The disadvantages are: It is not a good conductor of heat It has a low boiling point of +78C It wets glass and gives a less precise readout

2.3 Six's Maximum and Minimum Thermometer The Six's maximum and minimum thermometer is a clever use of an alcohol bulb thermometer with some mercury in its capillary, topped up with more alcohol and ending in an empty bulb with some vacuum. Because mercury is so dense, a magnetic metal needle will float on it, and can be pushed against some friction (a metal back plate). At maximum temperature the furthest needle will stay behind, attracted by the metal backing plate. Likewise at minimum temperature, the closest needle will stay behind. After reading the thermometer, the two needles can be re-set (drawn onto the mercury level) with an external magnet, or by pushing the metal back plane away from the magnetic needles, which then descend by the pull of gravity. The Six's thermometer has the advantages and disadvantages of both mercury and alcohol thermometers. But its capillary must be wide enough to place the metal floating pins, which means that it cannot be read very accurately (0.5C is difficult). [3] 2.4 Industrial Bulb Thermometer The industrial bulb thermometer consists of a relatively large copper bulb with long capillary tube that can be bent and guided through the innards of an appliance. At its end it has a tiny pressure sensor (manometer) which operates an electrical switch. With a screw its setting can be altered. These thermo-controllers are extensively used in air conditioners, washing machines and other appliances. [3]

2.5 Metal Spring Thermometer A metal spring thermometer can be made by coiling a metal strip with an indicator attached to its loose end. When the strip expands, the coil unwinds somewhat, which moves the indicator. This kind of thermometer is useful where a wide range of temperatures needs to be measured with low accuracy, as in cooking food and for ovens. [3]

2.6 Bi-Metal Thermometer The bi-metal thermometer is based on the difference in extension between two metal strips, sandwiched together and riveted or spot-welded at both ends. This causes the strip to bend when temperature changes. The strip can be bent, folded or coiled to amplify its effect. Bi-metal thermometers are extensively used in temperature controllers to switch electrical devices like warmers and coolers on or off. They are less suitable for absolute temperature measurement. Some bi-metal thermometers are dimpled to give a click-clack effect, a positive transition at a certain temperature (click), but with hysteresis (lagging behind) when clacking back. [3]

2.7 Thermocouple Thermometer The thermocouple thermometer is based on the difference in conductivity (electron mobility) between two metals, brought into contact with one another or spot-welded together. When two dissimilar conductors are brought together, a voltage difference occurs, which can be measured. When warmed, the voltage increases due to a higher electron mobility. Thermocouple thermometers can measure a large range of temperatures and are very stable. They are also independent of the contact area, and are thus easy to make. They are also insensitive to outside pressures. However, thermocouples occur in pairs and one of them must be kept at a constant known temperature.[3]

2.8 Thermistor Thermometer The thermistor thermometer is based on the conductivity of a semiconductor, which is quite sensitive to temperature. So it acts like a resistance thermometer. Unfortunately the resistance change is not linear and can be corrected only to some degree. It also has a very limited range. Thermistor thermometers are suitable for measuring the temperature of living organisms, like humans. They can be made rather small (less than 1mm). [3] 2.9 Infra-red thermometers Infra-red thermometers measure the infra-red (IR) radiation of substances. Therefore they do not need to be in direct contact with them. But the measured object must be warmer than the infra-red detector. So they are more suitable for measuring high temperatures at a safe distance. By cooling the IR detector to a known temperature, also lower temperatures like that of living organisms, can be measured. Note that the CO2 in air absorbs IR radiation, which limits their use. The accuracy of IR thermometers is limited.[3]

3. Conclusion All in all, there are several methods to measure the temperature, one of the most accurate are Platinum Resistance Temperature Detectors, one of the most inexpensive is alcohol thermometer. For sure, there are several application for every method.
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4. References [1] VAS Engineering, C. ( 2011 ) [online] Available at: <http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/3643> [18 Dec 2011]. [2] Energy Quest, C. ( 2002 ) [online] Available at: <http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/how_it_works/thermometer.html> [18 Dec 2011]. [3] Measuring temperature, C. ( 2010 ) [online] Available at: <http://www.seafriends.org.nz/issues/global/climate3.htm> [18 Dec 2011].