Bimetal temp gauge

Basic Principle:
These thermometers use the following two principles:
1. All metals change in dimension, that is expand or contract when there is a change in temperature.
2. The rate at which this expansion or contraction takes place depend on the temperature co-efficient of
expansion of the metal and this temperature coefficient of expansion is different for different metals.Hence the
difference in thermal expansion rates is used to produce deflections which is proportional to temperature
changes.

The bimetallic thermometer consists of a bimetallic strip. A bimetallic strip is made of two thin strips of metals
which have different coeffcients of expansion. The two metal strips are joined together by brazing, welding or
reveting so that the relative motion between them is arrested.
The bimetallic strip is in the form of a cantilever beam. An increase in temperature will result in the deflection of
the free end of the strip as shown i diagram. This deflection is linear and can be related to temperature
changes.
The radius of the curvature of the bimetallic strip which was initially flat is determined using the following
relationship.
R= t{3(1+m) + (1+mn)[m+1/mn]}/6(h-l)(T2-T1)(1+m)
where,
R= radius of the curvature at the temperature T2.
T = total thickness of the bimetallic strip = (t1+t2)
m=t1/t2 = Thickness of lower expansion metal/thickness of higher expansion metal.
l= coefficient of expansion of lower expansion metal.
h= coefficient of expansion of higher expansion metal.
T1 = Initial temperature.
T2 = temperature.
The following are the important proporties a material should have to be selected for bimetallic thermometers.

1.

Coefficient of expansion.

2.

Modulus of elasticity.

3.

Elastic limit after cold rolling.

4.

Electrical conductivity.

5.

Ductility.

6.

Metallurgical ability.

Different common forms of bimetallic sensors are listed.

1.

Helix type.

2.

Spiral type.

3.

Cantilever type.

4.

Flat type.

Metals used in bimetallic strips are:

High expansion
1.

Brass

2.

Nickel-iron alloyd with chromium & manganese.

Low Expansion
Invar (alloy of nickel & iron).

Application of bimetallic strips and thermometers

1.

The bimetallic strip is used in control devices.

2.

The spiral strip is used in air conditioning thermostats.

3.

The helix strip is used for process application such as refineries, oil burners, tyre vulcanisers etc.,

Advantages of bimetallic thermometers

1.

They are simple, robust and inexpensive.

2.

Their accuracy is between +or- 2% to 5% of the scale.

3.

They can with stand 50% over range in temperaures.

4.

They can be used where evr a mecury in-glass thermometer is used.

Limitations of bimetallic thermometer:

1.

They are not recommended for temperature above 400C.

2.

When regularly used, the bimetallic may permanently deform, which inturn will introduce errors.

Bimetallic Thermometer
In an industry, there is always a need to measure and monitor temperature of a particular spot, field or locality. The industrial names
given to such temperature sensors are Temperature Indicators (TI) or Temperature Gauges (TG). All these temperature gauges
belong to the class of instruments that are known as bimetallic sensors.
Two basic principles of operation is to be followed in the case of a bimetallic sensor. They are
1.

A metal tends to undergo a volumetric dimensional change (expansion/contraction), according to the

change in temperature.

2.

Different metals have different co-efficient of temperatures. The rate of volumetric change depends on this
co-efficient of temperature.
Working
The device consists of a bimetallic strip of two different metals and they are bonded together to form a spiral or a twisted helix. Both
these metals are joined together at one end by either welding or riveting. It is bonded so strong that there will not be any relative
motion between the two. The image of a bimetallic strip is shown below.

Bimetallic Strip
A change in temperature causes the free end of the strip to expand or contract due to the different co-efficients of expansion of the
two metals. This movement is linear to the change in temperature and the deflection of the free end can be read out by attaching a
pointer to it. This reading will indicate the value of temperature. Bimetallic strips are available in different forms like helix type,
cantilever, spiral, and also flat type.
The figure below shows the working of a bimetallic sensor. Two metals, blue and red are riveted together. If it is used in an oven, the
red metal would expand faster than the blue metal. If it is used in a refrigerator, a rise in temperature causes the blue metal to
expand faster than the red one. As a result the strip will bend upward and short circuits with a metal wore so that current begins to
flow. If the size of the gap between the strip and the wire is adjusted, you can control the temperature.

Bimetallic Thermometer
Bimetallic thermometers are generally available with 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6-inch concentric dials, preferably of the non-parallax type (i.e. not
visually misaligned or displaced), with external zero adjustment, and 1/2-inch mounting thread. The stem should be of Stainless
Steel SS316), having a 1/4-inch diameter, and of a customized length to suit process requirements. The dial orientation may be
bottom or back, known as straight or angle, respectively. However, an all angle adjustable swivel connection is preferred in order
to enable the dial to be read from the most convenient location.
Bimetallic thermometers are not recommended for continued use above 420 degree Celsius. The thermal stability of the bimetallic
thermometer is an inherent characteristic of the metals used and continued operation cannot be assured above 471C.
Selection of Temperature Measurement Devices
Usually a given temperature measurement can be satisfactorily made by several different types of temperature sensing devices.
Ranges and capabilities of the various temperature measuring devices overlap in many instances. The following shall be used as
guidelines for selection of Temperature Elements.

1. Bimetallic Thermometers
If the temperature to be measured is not required for automatic control, recording, or indication in the control room, a bimetallic
thermometer should be used.

2. Filled System Thermometers

Occasionally a temperature transmitter, recorder and/or controller has to be installed in a location or under circumstances where
electrical power is not available or inconvenient to use, while instrument air (at 20 psig or above) is present. Under these
circumstances, a filled system thermometer is an ideal choice because it can be combined with a commercially available pneumatic
transmitter, recorder and/or controller. If a local temperature measurement is in an inaccessible location so that a bimetallic
thermometer cannot be easily read, a filled system thermometer is recommended because its capillary tubing can be led to an
indicator that can be installed/located in a convenient place.
A liquid filled thermometer should be considered for corrosive areas or where vibration is a problem.

3. Thermocouples
Thermocouples are generally used for high temperature applications. At high temperatures there is a clear preference for
thermocouples over RTDs. Project specific requirement should be checked before selection of Thermocouple or RTD for specific
application.

4. Resistance Thermometers

Listed below is some temperature measurement applications for which the use of a RTD is normally preferred over a thermocouple:

Temperature of turbine inlet steam whose design temperature is close to the maximum allowable
temperature for piping and equipment

Temperature of permanent turbine test points

Average temperature of nuclear reactor coolant

Average combustion turbine inlet air temperature

Condenser cooling water inlet to outlet temperature gain

Motor stator winding and bearing temperatures

Thermocouples are not suitable for narrow range temperature measurements. This is because the change in the EMF developed
by a thermocouple over a narrow temperature range is very small and difficult to measure. Therefore, for narrow spans or small
temperature differences a RTD is recommended.

Bimetallic Thermometers
Introduction
Bimetallic thermometers are made up of bimetallic strips formed by joining two different metals having different thermal expansion
coefficients. Basically, bimetallic strip is a mechanical element which can sense temperature and transform it into a mechanical
displacement. This mechanical action from the bimetallic strip can be used to activate a switching mechanism for getting electronic
output. Also it can be attached to the pointer of a measuring instrument or a position indicator. Various techniques such as riveting,
bolting, fastening can be used to bond two layers of diverse metals in a bimetallic strip. However the most commonly used method
is welding. Since two metals are employed to construct a bimetallic strip, hence they are named so.

Working
The working of a bimetallic strip thermometer is based upon the fact that two dissimilar metals behave in a different manner when
exposed to temperature variations owing to their different thermal expansion rates. One layer of metal expands or contracts more
than the other layer of metal in a bimetallic strip arrangement which results in bending or curvature change of the strip. The working
principle of a bimetallic thermometer is illustrated in figure below. One end of a straight bimetallic strip is fixed in place. As the strip
is heated, the other end tends to curve away from the side that has the greater coefficient of linear expansion. [1]

Main Features

These types of thermometers work best at higher temperatures, since their accuracy and sensitivity tends to reduce at low
temperatures.

Bimetallic strip thermometers are manufactured in various designs. One of the most popular design i.e. flat spiral is shown
in the figure below. They can also be wound into a single helix or multiple helix form.

Bimetallic thermometers can be customized to work as recording thermometers too by affixing a pen to the pointer. The
pen is located in such a way that it can make recordings on a circling chart.

Bimetallic strips often come in very long sizes. Hence, they are usually coiled into spirals which make them compact and
small in size. This also improves the sensitivity of bimetallic strips towards little temperature variations.

The bimetallic strip can be scaled up or down. On a large scale, it can provide literally tones of force for mechanical
control or other purposes. On a smaller scale, it can provide the force and movement for micro machine integrated
circuits (MMIs).[2]

Applications
Bimetallic strips are one of the oldest techniques to measure temperature. They can be designed to work at quite high temperatures
i.e. upto 500F or 260C. Major application areas of a bimetallic strip thermometer include:

For various household appliances such as ovens etc.

Thermostat switches

Wall thermometers

Grills

Circuit breakers for electrical heating devices

Bimetallic Strip ThermometersWorking principle and features

MARCH 2, 2016 BY SHUTUP LEAVE A COMMENT

In this post we are going to make you familiar with some of the concepts related to bimetallic strip
thermometer such as what are bimetallic thermometers and where these are used .We will also discuss
the working principle , construction and various features of these type of thermometers . Let us know what
basically bimetallic thermometers are and how these are different from other type of thermometers .

Definition & construction of Bimetallic

thermometer
Bimetallic strip is a mechanical element that senses temperature and convert it into mechanical
displacement. This mechanical action can be used to activate a switching mechanism in order to get
electronic output. So bimetallic strip is a device that measure temperature and give output in for of
mechanical displacement of electrical output .
Bimetallic thermometers are the thermometers made of bimetallic strips which is formed by joining two
different metals that have different thermal expansion coefficients. There are number of techniques that
can be used to bind 2 layers of different metals .These techniques include riveting, bolting and
fastening .Other most commonly used method is welding.

Bimetallic strip Images

Working Principle of bimetallic strip

Bimetallic strip work on 2 principles

When change in temperature takes place , either expansion or contraction occurs in metals .

The rate of expansion or contraction depends on the temperature co-efficient of expansion of the
metal. This temperature coefficient is different for different metals. Therefore difference in thermal
expansion rates is used to produce deflections and these deflections are proportional to
temperature changes.

It means that two dissimilar metals behave in a different manner when exposed to temperature variations
due to owing to different thermal expansion rates. One layer of metal expands / contracts more than other
metal layer of metal due to which there occurs bending or curvature change of strip.
Simple explanation of Bimetallic strip thermometer
Fix one end of a straight bimetallic strip and then start heating the strip . As the strip is heated, other
end( end of the strip that is not fixed ) tends to curve away from the side that has the greater coefficient of
linear expansion.
Brass and steel are common metals that are bonded together in a bimetallic strip.

Explanation of this temperature measuring device

More : List of all types of thermometer

Bimetallic thermometer features

These thermometers work best at higher temperatures. This is due to the fact that their sensitivity
and accuracy is less at low temperatures.

There are various designs of Bimetallic strip thermometers available .Most common and popular
design flat spiral .Other designs are single helix or multiple helix form.

Certain customization can be done in Bimetallic thermometers such as fixing a pen to the pointer.
With this pen one can make recordings on a circling chart.

Bimetallic strips are usually coiled into spirals in order to make them compact (Coiled spirals
improves the sensitivity)

The bimetallic strip can be scaled up or down.