Temperature Measurement: Radiation Pyrometers
Introduction
Pyrometer : is any temperature measurement device that includes a
sensor and a reading. However, in this section we will discuss only
radiation pyrometers. A radiation pyrometer is a non-contact
temperature sensor that infers the temperature of an object by detecting
its thermal radiation emitted naturally.
Working principle
An optical system collects the visible and infrared energy of an object
and focuses it on a detector, as shown in the Figure. The detector
converts the collected energy into an electrical signal to control a
temperature display or a control unit. The detector receives the photon
energy of the optical system and converts it into an electrical signal.
Two types of detectors are used: thermal (thermopile) and photon
(photomultiplier tubes). Photon detectors are much faster than the
thermopile type. This allows you to use the type of photon to measure
the temperature of small objects that move at high speed.
Radiation pyrometers are used to measure the temperature of very hot
objects without being in contact with them. Molten glass and molten
metals during casting and shaping operations are typical of the objects
they measure. When selecting the correct radiation pyrometer for an
application, you must take into account several factors. In narrow or
broad fields of vision, the cross-sectional area can vary widely. It can be
rectangular, circular and slot-shaped, depending on the type of openings
used in the instrument. In some instruments, a telescopic eye magnifies
radiant energy to measure smaller objects at longer distances. On some
instruments, hot objects up to 1/16 inch in diameter can be measured.
The construction of the instrument components, such as the lens and the
curved mirrors, control the route of the view. The construction materials
determine the optical characteristics of the device. For example, glass
does not transmit light much beyond 2.5 microns. Therefore, it is only
suitable for high temperature applications where high energy outputs are
present. Other common optical materials are quartz (which transmits
well at 4 microns) and crystalline calcium fluoride (which transmits
approximately up to 10 microns).
Band pass filters are used in some instruments to cut off unwanted light
at certain wavelengths.
Advantages of Radiation pyrometer
The radiation pyrometer has a high performance and a moderate cost.
It has the ability to measure high temperatures.
It has a fast speed response.
It has good stability.
It has no physical contact with the measurement objective.
Disadvantages
The Design of radiation pyrometer is complex in nature.
It has a non-linear scale.
Possible errors due to the pressure to the gases or vapors that intervene
and that absorb the radiation.
Emissivity of the target material that affects the measurement.
Principles of radiation pyrometer
Temperature measurement is based on the measurement of radiation
either directly by a sensor or by comparing with the radiation of a body
of known temperature. The radiation pyrometer is a non contact type of
temperature measurement. The wavelength region having high intensity
is between 0.1 to about 10µm. In this region, 01 is the ultraviolet region,
0.4 to 0.7 is the visible region and 0.7 onwards is the infrared region.
With the increase in temperature, radiation intensity is stronger toward
shorter wavelengths. The temperature measurement by radiation
pyrometer is limited within 0.5 to 8µm wave length region.
Total radiation pyrometer
A radiation pyrometer consists of optical component to collect the
radiation energy emitted by the object, a radiation detector that converts
radiant energy into an electrical signal, and an indicator to read the
measurements.
The optical pyrometer is designed to respond narrow band of
wavelengths that fall within the visible range of the electro‐magnetic
spectrum. Thermal detectors are used as sensors. Their hot junction is
the radiation sensing surface. Thermopiles can detect radiation of all
wavelengths. A number of semiconductors are developed to sense the
radiation. These are materials of Si, PbS, indium antimonides etc. Their
response is though instantaneous but it is selective to wavelength.
Silicon is suitable only around 0.8 െ 0.9 µm and lead sulphide around
1 to 2µm. COଶ, HଶO ଶ It is important that gases like and dust should
not obstruct the path of radiation. The dust particles scatter the radiation,
whereas CO and water vapor selectivity absorbs radiation. Any
instrument built to sense the radiation has to be in an enclosure to avoid
dirt, dust and gases present in industrial environment. Normally a
window is provided with some optical materials to see the radiating
body. The materials should have good transmissivity. All optical
materials allow only particular wavelength to pass through it with
sufficient intensity. For other wavelengths they are opaque.
Limitations of Radiation Pyrometer
1. Availability of optical materials limit on the wavelengths that can be
measured 2. The surface of the hot object should be clean. It should not
be oxidized. Scale formation does not allow to measure radiation
accurately 3. Emissivity correction is required change in emissivity with
temperature need to be considered
Disappearing Filament Pyrometer
In this type of pyrometer, the tungsten filament of an electric bulb is
used as a radiator. The intensity of radiation of filament is compared
with the intensity of the radiation of the hot surface. When both
intensity match, the filament disappears against the back ground. The
intensity of the filament can be controlled by the current flowing
through it. The maximum temperature of the filament is 280 at the
rated voltage. The minimum visible radiation is at . Hence we can
measure the temperature in between 600 0 െ 3000Ԩ 600Ԩ െ
2800Ԩ The ampere meter in the lamp circuit is calibrated is degree
centigrade Figure shows an optical pyrometer. The radiations from the
source are focused onto the filament of the reference temperature
using an objective lens. Now the eye piece is adjusted to focus the
images the hot source and the filament. Now the lamp current is
controlled such that filament appears dark if it is cooler than the
source, the filament will appear bright if it is hotter than source and
filament will not be seen if the filament and the temperature source are
at same temperature