Pre-print del Artículo

E. Méndez-Lango, R. Ramirez-Bazán;
CALIBRATION OF INDUSTRIAL GRADE PLATINUM RESISTANCE THERMOMETERS
BY ITS-90 FIXED POINTS

TEMPMEKO - INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM-; 2; 647-652

International symposium on temperature and thermal measurements in industry and science;
TEMPMEKO 2001
8th, International symposium on temperature and thermal measurements in industry and science;
TEMPMEKO 2001

CALIBRATION OF INDUSTRIAL GRADE PLATINUM RESISTANCE

THERMOMETERS BY ITS-90 FIXED POINTS

E Méndez-Lango, R. Ramírez-Bazán
Centro Nacional de Metrología (CENAM).Querétaro, México.

ABSTRACT

We calibrated several industrial-grade platinum-resistance-thermometers (IPRT) using the ITS-90 fixed points in
the interval from the triple point of mercury to the freezing point of zinc. Calibration parameters were calculated
for the ITS-90 deviation-function and for the Callendar-van Dusen equation.

Some of the IPRTs used in this exercise fulfil the ITS-90 acceptation criteria, either W(Hg) or W(Ga), while others
clearly do not fulfil them. However, these instruments follow closely the ITS-90 calibration model.

National Laboratories of some developing countries as well as most of secondary and industry laboratories around
the world use IPRT as reference standards. Calibrations of such thermometers by fixed points improve the
measurement capabilities of those laboratories by reducing the instrumental uncertainty from about 50 mK
(Callendar-van Dusen) to 7-10 mK (ITS-90).

1. INTRODUCTION

The accuracy required by the industry varies according to the particularly requirements of its processes
and it is clear that to speak of “mK” (at this level) is meaningless. However, for some secondary and
industrial laboratories it is worth to achieve the mK level of accuracy.

In the interval from –38ºC to 420ºC most of the temperature standards of the secondary laboratories of
México are industrial platinum resistance thermometers (IPRT) with nominal resistance at 0 0C of 25,
100 or 200 . The 90% of calibration services for IPRT performed in CENAM are in this interval.
Most of the secondary laboratories have programmable instrumentation in terms of the ITS-90 [1].
Some others laboratories have programmable instruments using the Callendar-van Dusen model as well
as another models as the IPTS-68 and another laboratories have an electrical resistance readers only.

For the secondary laboratories, to have a calibration system with accuracy of several mK it can mean a
competitive advantage. Additionally, the high amount of work demands a higher efficiency of the
calibration methods but maintaining or improving the quality of their calibration services. Here we
present a way to archive those two goals.

2. INTERPOLATION MODELS FOR IPRT

The interpolation model for IPRT commonly used is the Callendar-van Dusen one [6] (eq. 1)
Pre-print del Artículo

E. Méndez-Lango, R. Ramirez-Bazán;
CALIBRATION OF INDUSTRIAL GRADE PLATINUM RESISTANCE THERMOMETERS
BY ITS-90 FIXED POINTS

TEMPMEKO - INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM-; 2; 647-652

International symposium on temperature and thermal measurements in industry and science;
TEMPMEKO 2001
8th, International symposium on temperature and thermal measurements in industry and science;
TEMPMEKO 2001

Rt /º C  /   R01  At /º C  Bt /º C 2  C t /º C 100t /º C 3  (1)

 

where A, B and C are constants to be determined; C=0 for t> 0ºC.

Likewise, this model is used in the instrumentation associated to the measurement of electrical
resistance of the IPRT to display temperature values.

The parameter  used to evaluate the sensitivity of an IPRT, is defined as

R100  R0
 /º C 1  (2)
100* R0

There are two standard values of : 0,00385ºC-1 and 0,00392ºC-1 thus, IPRT are catalogued either as
385 or 392, respectively.

In the literature there are several proposals based on studies that suggest the inadequacy of polynomial
models of second and third order as well as the Callendar-van Dusen one to describe the IPRT
behaviour. Hashemian [2] pointed out, for the interval from 0oC to 300oC, that a polynomial of 6th to 8th
order provide a better approach than the Callendar model. Jipei et. al. [3] in their study used
polynomials of 2nd to 9th order for the 0ºC to 800ºC range, and they found that even a 4th and 5th order
polynomials are not appropriate for the interpolation. Niels [4], on one hand, suggested that, when
working in the interval from -500C to 4200C, it should be used the systems of equations of the ITS-90.
On the other hand, he proposed to use a 2nd order polynomial adjustment and then correct it by using a
theoretical deviation to the ITS-90. From these references, it is evident that a model based on smaller
than 4th order polynomial (as the Callendar-van Dusen is) is unsuitable for the IPRT.

3. IPRT STANDARDS

The CCT-96 recommended the use of the IEC 751 standard [5, 6] for IPRT. In this standard, the values
for the Callendar-van Dusen model constants A, B and C are given for an 385 IPRT. The aim of this
standard is inter-changeability of IPRT, rather than in taking advantage of the maximum measurement
capacities of IPRT. Nowadays it is more common to find IPRT with 392 in use, this is because the
IPRT-makers use platinum of better quality and the production technologies have improved to produce
better class of IPRT. Now, is this model suitable for 392 IPRT? The answer is twofold, on one hand
we found that the use of an 392 IPRT in the IEC 751 background generates errors of several (6 to 8) K
at 400ºC and, on the other hand, we found that the ITS-90 model is adequate for these IPRT as we will
present in the rest of the paper.
Pre-print del Artículo

E. Méndez-Lango, R. Ramirez-Bazán;
CALIBRATION OF INDUSTRIAL GRADE PLATINUM RESISTANCE THERMOMETERS
BY ITS-90 FIXED POINTS

TEMPMEKO - INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM-; 2; 647-652

International symposium on temperature and thermal measurements in industry and science;
TEMPMEKO 2001
8th, International symposium on temperature and thermal measurements in industry and science;
TEMPMEKO 2001

4. USE OF THE ITS-90 MODEL IN THE CALIBRATION OF IPRT

The ITS-90 [1] defines a deviation function for a PRT, in the interval 0ºC to 420ºC, as:

W  W90 - Wr  a90 W90  1  b90 W90  12 (3)

where:
RT / K 
W90 T / K   . (4)
R273.16

Now, we will evaluate the suitability of the ITS-90 model for IPRT calibration.

The experimental W values (We) allow us to calculate the parameters of the deviation function W at the
calibration points (table 1).

Table 1: Calibration subintervals of the ITS-90.

Subinterval Fixed points for calibration

-38,8344ºC a 29,7646ºC Hg to Ga Hg, H2O and Ga
0 a 419,527ºC H2O to Zn H2O, Sn and Zn

The scale document points out that a PRT have to fulfil at least one of the following conditions:
1. W (Ga)  1,11807 or
2. W (Hg)  0,844235

In table 2 we show an evaluation of a set of IPRT regarding to these conditions.

Table 2: W(Ga) and W (Hg) of some IPRTs.

IPRT W(Hg) Fulfil W(Ga) Fulfil nominal R0 /   *10-5/ºC-1

T1 --- --- 1,115 826 no 200 385,1
T2 --- --- 1,118 120 yes 25 392,8
T3 0,847 078 no 1,115 917 no 100 385,4
T4 --- --- 1,115 910 no 50 385,3
T5 0,844 178 yes 1,118 108 yes 25 392,7
T6 0,844 196 yes 1,118 097 yes 100 392,7
T7 0,844 193 yes 1,118 103 yes 100 392,7
T8 --- --- 1,117 871 no 100 391,8
T9 0,847 164 no 1,115 949 no 200 385,6
T10 0,847 231 no 1,115 775 no 200 384,9
Pre-print del Artículo

E. Méndez-Lango, R. Ramirez-Bazán;
CALIBRATION OF INDUSTRIAL GRADE PLATINUM RESISTANCE THERMOMETERS
BY ITS-90 FIXED POINTS

TEMPMEKO - INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM-; 2; 647-652

International symposium on temperature and thermal measurements in industry and science;
TEMPMEKO 2001
8th, International symposium on temperature and thermal measurements in industry and science;
TEMPMEKO 2001

According to this table IPRT T1, T3, T4, T8, T9 and T10 clearly are not candidates to be calibrated by
the ITS-90 method while we would consider appropriate to do it on T2, T5,T6 and T7 IPRT.

5. EXAMPLES

We show the calibration of two IPRT ( T6 and T9 ) from –40oC to 420oC. These IPRT were calibrated at
the fixed points of Hg, H2O, Ga, In, Sn and Zn. Several interpolation curves were obtained and they are
compared against the ITS-90 function. Interpolation curves were obtained by using the following
conditions:

i Calculating A,B and C (eq. 1 ) by using the Hg, H2O, Sn and Zn points.
ii Estimating A,B and C (eq. 1 ) by least square fitting and the six fixed point calibration values in
the Hg to Zn interval.
iii Adjusting a and b for the ITS-90 deviation function (eq. 3) by least square fitting using all the
fixed points of the calibration interval H2O to Zn.

We used W90 as reference for the comparison among the models.

Let Ai, Bi and Ci the parameters obtained according to condition i, and we define Wi as

Ri (t /º C )
Wi  (5)
Ri (0,01)
the same was done for condition ii.

We obtained the differences Wi=Wi-W90, Wii=Wii-W90 and Wiii=Wiii-W90 .

As an example we present, the results of calibration of the IPRT and T9 and T6.

6. IPRT T6

In figure 1 we present the behaviour of IPRT T6, this is an 392 IPRT.

The case i curve shows a deviation at negative temperatures of 13 mK, at 100ºC the temperature
difference is 35 mK and at 320ºC is 0,17 mK.

The case ii shows a similar behaviour from Hg to 320ºC, at Zn we can appreciate the deviation caused
by least square fitting, almost 11 mK.

The case iii curve is approximately flat and show an almost null deviation from our reference (maximum
deviation of 1,6 mK).
Pre-print del Artículo

E. Méndez-Lango, R. Ramirez-Bazán;
CALIBRATION OF INDUSTRIAL GRADE PLATINUM RESISTANCE THERMOMETERS
BY ITS-90 FIXED POINTS

TEMPMEKO - INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM-; 2; 647-652

International symposium on temperature and thermal measurements in industry and science;
TEMPMEKO 2001
8th, International symposium on temperature and thermal measurements in industry and science;
TEMPMEKO 2001

Figure 1. Comparison of interpolating models for IPRT T6 (392). The base line is he ITS-90 model.

0,02
0,01
0,00
t / 0C

-0,01
-0,02
-0,03
-0,04
-40 0 40 80 120 160 200 240 280 320 360 400 440
T 06 i ii iii t / 0C

The fact that in case iii we observed an almost null deviation (maximum of 1,6 mK) it is an indication
that the ITS-90 model is the suitable one for this IPRT.

7. IPRT T9

The T9 is an 385 IPRT and does not fulfil the ITS-90 W criteria. In figure 2, it is observed that the
curve of case i has a temperature difference to the W90 of 2mK at –20ºC, 35 mK at 100ºC and 19 mK at
320ºC.

The curve of case ii shows a 32 mK difference at 100ºC, 8 mK at –38ºC and 42 mK at 420ºC.

Figure 2. Interpolation curves for IPRT T9 (385). The base line is he ITS-90 model.

0,02
0,01
0,00
C

-0,01
0

-0,02
t /

-0,03
-0,04
-0,05
-40 0 40 80 120 160 200 240 280 320 360 400 440
T 09 i ii iii t / 0C

For case iii, we found a small deviation (maximum 4,4 mK) to W90.
Pre-print del Artículo

E. Méndez-Lango, R. Ramirez-Bazán;
CALIBRATION OF INDUSTRIAL GRADE PLATINUM RESISTANCE THERMOMETERS
BY ITS-90 FIXED POINTS

TEMPMEKO - INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM-; 2; 647-652

International symposium on temperature and thermal measurements in industry and science;
TEMPMEKO 2001
8th, International symposium on temperature and thermal measurements in industry and science;
TEMPMEKO 2001

8. CONCLUSIONS

Most of 392 IPRT fulfil with the W(Ga) ITS-90 criterion. Those IPRT follow adequately the ITS-90
model.

The 385 IPRT do not fulfil the W(Ga) criterion but the estimated error for calibrating them with the
ITS-90 resulted be smaller than the obtained with the IEC 751 standard.

In consequence, the W(Ga) or W(Hg) criterion is not enough reason for rejecting an IPRT to be
calibrated in the ITS-90 scheme.

Calibrating IPRT by using the ITS-90 model has two extra advantages. First, improves the measurement
capacities of a IPRT and second, this procedure reduces efforts and time in the calibration process.

REFERENCES

1. Preston-Thomas H. Metrologia,1990 27, 3-10

2. H. M. Hasheiman and K.M. Petersen. Temperature: Its Measurement and Control in Science and Industry,
Vol. 6 (Edited by J.F. Schooley), New York, American Institute of Physics,1992, 427-432.
3. Zhang Jipei et al. Temperature: Its Measurement and Control in Science and Industry, Vol. 6 (Edited by J.F.
Schooley), New York, American Institute of Physics,1992, 433-438.
4. Niels Eric Kaiser. The 7th International Symposium on Temperature and Thermal Measurements in Industry
and Science. TEMPMEKO`99 Proceedings. 1999. 365-370.
5. Comité consultatif de thermométrie (CCT) Rapport de 19e session (septembre 1996).
6. Bureau Central de la Commission Electrotechnique Internationale, IEC Standard, Publication 751.
Amendment 2. 1995-07.

Addresses of the authors:

Dr. Edgar Méndez-Lango. Centro Nacional de Metrología (CENAM), Querétaro, México. Apdo. Postal 1-100
Centro. Querétaro, Qro. MÉXICO. emendez@cenam.mx; fax +52 (4)211 0548.

Eng. Rodrigo Ramírez Bazán. Centro Nacional de Metrología (CENAM), Querétaro, México. Apdo. Postal 1-100
Centro. Querétaro, Qro. MÉXICO. rramirez@cenam.mx; fax +52 (4)211 0548.