EXPERIMENT 6

Calibration of Resistance Temperature Detector and

Thermocouple
Objective: Calibration of Resistance Temperature and thermocouple by
generating Calibration curves
Theory: Calibration is a comparison between the standard known measurements
and measurements using the instrument. It checks the accuracy of the instrument
and repairs the device if it is out of calibration due to its use over a long period of
time. In this experiment, we will be calibrating temperature sensors like
Thermocouple and Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTDs).
1) Thermocouple: An electrical device consisting of two dissimilar conductors
forming an electric junction. It produces a temperature-dependent voltage
as a result of the Seebeck effect, and this voltage is interpreted to measure
temperature. It works on the principle of Thermoelectric Effect and Peltier
Effect.
• Seedbeck Effect is phenomenon in which emf is generated between
two dissimilar conductors due to temperature difference.
• Peltier effect states that when current flows through the junction of
two conductors, heat exchange may occur at the junction.
There are two probes, one of which is maintained at 0oC and the other is kept
on the body whose temperature is being measured. Two metals are joined
together at both ends (as shown in Fig.1), one junction is the “hot end” and
the other is “cold end”. A sensitive voltmeter connected to one of the
conductors, measures the voltage generated in the circuit which correlates
directly to temperature and can easily be converted by reference to the
appropriate tables.

Fig.1 Thermocouple
 2) Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD): Resistance Temperature
Detector (as shown in Fig.2) is sensor with resistance varying with the
variation of temperature. RTDs generally consists of Platinum wire
wrapped around ceramic bobbin. The RTDs are passive sensors and hence
require current to measure the temperature. The accuracy of RTDs is very
high.
The general expression of variation of resistance with temperature is given by
𝑅  =  𝑅0 [1 + 𝛼1 𝑇  +  𝛼2 𝑇 2   +   … .   𝛼𝑛 𝑇 𝑛 ]
For a small range of temperature, the expression can be approximated as:
𝑅 = 𝑅0 [1  +  𝛼𝑇]

Fig.2 Resistance Temperature Detector

Experimental Setup:
1. Resistance Temperature Detector: Waterproof platinum Pt-100
2. Thermometer: Mercury in glass having least count of 10 𝐶
3. Thermocouple: Chromate- aluminate waterproof thermocouple
4. Heater: Coil-type with dimmerstat
5. Millivoltmeter: 0- 5 mV with least count of 0.01 mV
6. Laboratory stirrer: With range 0 to 180 rpm
7. Deionized water
8. Ice cubes
9. Stopwatch for taking readings
Procedure:
1. The insulated chamber having heating coil is to be filled with a measured
amount of water and laboratory stirrer is inserted and set to 70 rpm.
2. The heater is switched on and thermometer, RTD and thermocouple are
inserted in it.
3. The millivoltmeter readings are to be noted every 5 minutes for the
temperature interval of 350 𝐶 to 960 𝐶. This procedure is loading.
4. The same process is to be repeated and the chamber is cooled down to
350 𝐶 by switching off the heater adding ice cubes at fixed intervals of time.
This is unloading.
5. The calibration curve is plotted for each thermocouple and RTD.
Observation Table:
Time Input True RTD Thermocouple
o o
S.No. (min) Voltage(V) temperature( C) Readings( C) Readings(mV)
1. 5 150 36 36 0.01

2. 10 160 40 42 0.09

3. 15 170 46 47 0.21

4. 20 180 53 54 0.26

5. 25 190 58 61 0.32

6. 30 200 71 72 0.38

7. 35 210 82 84 0.49

8. 40 220 96 95 0.5

Table No.1 RTD and Thermocouple readings with true temperature for loading
 Fig.3 RTD readings vs True temperature for loading (Reference Table No.1)

Fig.4 Thermocouple readings vs True temperature for loading (Reference Table No.1)
 Time True RTD Thermocouple
S.No. (min) temperature(oC) Readings(oC) Readings(mV)
1. 5 95 93 0.62

2. 10 84 84 0.53

3. 15 76 74 0.38

4. 20 67 68 0.33

5. 25 57 58 0.30

6. 30 48 50 0.26

7. 35 41 40 0.18

8. 40 37 35 0.11

9. 45 34 32 0.02

Table No.2 RTD and Thermocouple readings with true temperature for
unloading
 Fig.5 RTD readings vs True temperature for unloading (Reference Table No.2)

Fig.6 Thermocouple readings vs True temperature for loading (Reference Table No.2)
Discussion:
1. The reading of voltmeter increases with increase of temperature of water
in the chamber.
2. The rate of increase of reading is initially slow at low temperature, the rate
further increases at intermediate temperatures.
3. At high temperature the reading of millivoltmeter remains constant and
remains affected with respect to change in temperature.
4. In the cooling down process, the reading of millivoltmeter remains constant
at high temperature. The reading started to change at intermediate
temperature.
5. The plot of the Potential difference reading of millivoltmeter vs true
temperature is not linear.
6. The plot of the RTD reading vs true temperature is approximately linear,
which shows the linear resistance vs temperature behavior of metals.
Conclusion:
Thermocouples and RTDs are widely used devices due to its simplicity and
linearity for a wide range of temperature differences.
The arrangement of many thermocouples determines whether the device is used
for more sensitive measurements or for multi-temperature points.
References:
• https://tempsens.com/blog/rtd-resistance-temperature-detectors
• https://engrcomm.che.utexas.edu/wp-content/uploads/SampleLR2012.pdf