Mis no : 612302023
Name: Kadam Amol Shivaji
Course: Sensors for Industrial Robotics Lab
Batch: B
Date: 03/09/24
Experiment No. 6
To Understand Temperature Sensor – RTD & Thermocouple
using DYNA-TNT
RTD
Objectives:
This experiment aims to:
• Studying the characteristics of resistance temperature detector (RTD).
• Studying the construction, transduction circuit, and application of PT-100.
Apparatus:
• Module KL-64012 on KL-62001
• PT-100 (RTD)
• Digital Multimeter (DMM)
• Thermostatic Container
Theoretical Background:
Surrounding temperature affects the resistance of a conductor. In other words, the variation of
the temperature will change the resistance of a conductor. Using this characteristic, we can
calculate the resistance from present temperature value.
RTD (resistance temperature detector) is a wire-wound resistor with a positive temperature
coefficient of resistance. Metals used as RTD’s generally have a low temperature coefficient
of resistance, high stability, and a wide temperature detection range. Platinum is the most
common material used for the RTDs. Other materials such as copper and nickel are also
suitable for this purpose. The resistance vs. temperature curves of platinum, copper and
nickel are shown in Figure 2.1.
The resistance vs. temperature characteristic of RTD can be expressed by:
Ro = R (1 + α1T + α2T2 + α 3T3 + ...) ….(2.1)
Where Ro is resistance at 0C°.while α1, α2, α3 are temperature coefficients of resistance, and
T is temperature in degrees Celsius. From Equation 2.1, we can see that sometimes RTDs are
nonlinear. However, that approximate relationship for the resistance vs. temperature
characteristic of RTD between zero and one hundred degrees Celsius can be expressed by:
Ro = R (1 + α1T) ….(2.2)
Where for platinum α1 is 0.00392 /C°. Thus, generally, RTDs are considered linear devices.
The RTD is a wire-wound element with internal configuration of (two-wire, three-wire, and
four wire), which is shown in Figure 2.2.
The two-wire RTDs advantage is its low cost, however, the characteristics maybe affected by
the resistance changes of connecting leads which affects it’s precision. Therefore, the two-
wire RTD is commonly used in application where the resistance changes of leads are less than
the resistive changes of the RTD.
The three-wire RTD is suitable for industrial applications where a compromise between
precision and cost must be reached. The effects of connecting leads can be reduced by using
appropriate wiring arrangements.
Figure 2.3 shows an RTD temperature measurement circuit.
When a constant current I is applied to the RTD, the voltage Vt across its two terminals can
be measured. Because I is constant, we can use the equation Rt = Vt/I to calculate Rt. Finally,
calculate the temperature T using the following equations.
V t = I Rt = I Ro (1 + αT) ….(2.3) T
= (V t − I Ro)/(α I Ro) ….(2.4)
Where current I is constant, Ro = 100 Ω, and α = 0.00392 /C°.
In most applications, the resistance of connecting leads between the RTD and the transduction
circuit will cause some error in measured temperature. Therefore, how to eliminate the effect
of connecting wires is an important consideration in designing a transduction circuit.
Resistive sensors usually require circuitry that converts their resistance changes to voltage
changes. A resistive bridge (e.g., Wheatstone bridge) is typical for circuits used in many
telemetry systems. The two-wire RTD can be connected to the bridge circuit, as shown in
Figure 2.4. The RTD resistance Rt and the connection-lead resistance RL1 and RL2 combine
as a bridge arm. This combination will result errors when the bridge is in balance.
Three-wire RTD can also be connected to resistive bridge, as show in Figure 2.5 (a & b), so
that changes in connecting leads are compensated for. All the three connecting leads have the
same length and resistance (RL1 = RL2 = RL3). In Figure 4.5a, lead-resistance changes in the
RTD leg of the bridge are compensated for by equal changes in the R3 leg when the
resistance R3 is approximately equal to the resistance of RTD.
In Figure 2.5 (a), when the bridge balance is reached. Assuming R1 = R2, thus:
R3+ RL2 = Rt + RL1 ….(2.5)
If the connecting leads have the same length and are of the same material RL2 = RL1, the
effect of lead-resistance can be neglected when resistance R3 is equal to the Rt.
R1 (R3 + RL2) = R2 (Rt + RL1) ….(2.6)
In Figure 2.5 (b), when the bridge balance is reached. Assuming R2 = R3, thus:
R2 (Rt + RL1) = R3 (R1 + RL2) ….(2.7)
If the connecting leads have the same length and are of the same material RL1 = RL2, the
effect of lead-resistance can be neglected when resistance R1 is equal to the Rt.
Rt + RL1 = R1 + RL2 ….(2.8)
Therefore, we can conclude that for the three-wire RTD, the connecting leads must have the
same length and are of the same material. Otherwise, errors caused by the connecting lead
will be unavoidable.
The four-wire RTD has high precision over long distances; but unfortunately high cost.
Figure 2.6 shows a wrong connection for the 4-wire RTD, the forth wire is disconnected
from the circuit (useless). Current loop is the correct configuration for the 4-wire RTD,
Figure 2.7. The current has the same value at every point of the current loop.
PT-100 is one form of the RTD. It is made of the platinum wire and has the resistance of 100
Ω at 0C°. The construction of PT-100 is shown in Figure 2.8. The platinum wire is wounded
on a glass or ceramic insulator, which is then installed within a glass or stainless steel
protection tube. The gap between the insulator and the protection tube is filled with ceramic
or cement. The protection tube is used to protect the sensing element in various measuring
environments.