MENG 4606 - Spring 2023 – Section 81

Heat Transfer

Lab Report 1
Temperature Measuring Devices
Presented by:
Amr Sadek 900192479
John Wahid
Presented to:
Dr. Amr Serageldin
Eng. Fatima Haggag
Due Date:
8 october 2023
 ABSTRACT
This experiment’s objective was to determine the accuracy of the RTD by comparing the

actual readings to the ideal readings (digital thermometer) by measuring the temperature of a

hot water bath, calculate the maximum error by determining the maximum difference between

the actual and the ideal readings, determine the accuracy of the T-type indirect thermocouple

by comparing the actual readings to the ideal readings (direct thermocouple), and to examine

the response time of the bimetallic strip. This was done by measuring the temperature of a hot

water bath using digital thermometer, RTD, direct thermocouple, indirect thermocouple, and a

bimetallic strip gage. The RTD readings were obtained in ohms and so they were converted to

degrees using an online calculator for RTD 100 and then the points were plotted against the

digital thermometer readings. The T-type thermocouple readings were obtained in mV and so

they were converted to degrees using an online calculator for T-type thermocouple and then

the points were plotted against the direct thermocouple readings. Finally, the bimetallic strip

was used to determine its behavior whether it is accurate or not. It was obtained that it is as

accurate as the thermocouple however, it has slower time response than it. the technique used

to prove this is discussed thoroughly in the discussion section.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents
Abstract 2
Table of Contents 3
Nomenclature 3
Introduction 4
Objective 5
Theory 5
Description of Experiment and apparatus 6
Procedure 7
Results 7
Discussion and Conclusion 9
References 10

LIST OF FIGURES & TABLES

List of Figures
Figure 1. Apparatus used 6
Figure 2. RTD vs. Direct thermocouple 8
Figure 3. Direct Vs. Indirect thermocouple 8

List of Tables
Table 1. Nomenclature 3
Table 2. Hot water bath Results 7
Table 3. Furnace Results 8

NOMENCLATURE
Table 1. Nomenclature

Symbol Description Units

RTD Resistance Temperature Detector Ω
T Direct Thermocouple ֯C
emf Voltage V
 INTRODUCTION
There are various techniques to measure the temperature. First, the types that utilize

the change in their physical properties such as changing the volume or color such as bimetallic

strip, bulb thermometer. The second type is the group that utilize the change in their electrical

properties such as thermocouple, RTD and thermistor.

The first type of devices is which the devices exploit the change in the physical

properties according to the change in temperature. In which the bimetallic strip are 2 metals

having different coefficient of thermal expansion which cause both metals to expand with

different rates as the temperature increases causing one to bend the other since once expander

more than the other.

The second type of devices is which it utilizes the changes in the electrical properties

with the change in temperature. The first example is the thermocouple which is simply two

different metals connected at 2 junctions, one cold and the other is the hot junction, creating

temperature difference which in turns create electromotive forces which is proportional with

the temperature difference between the 2 junctions. In the RTD, it changes resistance as the

temperature changes according to the equation: R=R0+αT

 OBJECTIVES
 Determine the accuracy of the RTD.
 Determine the accuracy of the indirect thermocouple.
 Examine the response of the bimetallic strip.

THEORY
Hot Water Bath: “Calibration RTD using digital thermometer”
 In this experiment RTD was used to measure temperature electrically. A resistance
temperature detector analyzes a metals resistance, which can be utilized to calculate
the temperature using equations. In addition, the metal being used can affect the
equation. Therefore, the used conversion was PT 100, and a website was used to
convert the resistance into temperature.

Furnace: “Calibration indirect thermocouple using direct thermocouple”

 In this experiment an induced emf was used to compute temperature that was measure
by the thermocouple. A conversion calculator was used to convert the emf value to
temperature.
DESCRIPTION OF EXPERIMENT & APPARATUS

PROCEDURE
 1. Turn on the heater.
2. Measure the temperature of the hot water bath using digital thermometer, RTD and
indirect thermocouple, and direct thermocouple in addition to the bimetallic strip.
3. Record the resistance of the RTD as the temperature of the direct thermocouple
changes every 2 minutes.
4. Record the voltage of the indirect thermocouple as the temperature of the direct
thermocouple changes every 2 minutes, as well the bimetallic strip reading.
5. Plot a graph between the measured readings of the RTD and the real values of the RTD.
6. Plot a graph between the real values of the thermocouple and the measured readings of
the thermocouple.
7. Get the regression model of both experiments.
8. Compare and analyze the results of the bimetallic strip readings.

RESULTS
Hot Water Bath: “Calibration RTD using digital thermometer”
Table 2. Hot Water Bath Results

Time RTD (Ω) Direct Thermocouple RTD Temperature T(֯C) Error (%)
(mins) T (֯C)
ref

2 114.1 38.4 36.271 5.5

4 116.7 45.7 43.03 5.84
6 118.4 50 47.411 5.178
8 120.3 55 52.346 4.8254
Furnace: “Calibration indirect thermocouple using direct thermocouple”
Table 3. Furnace Results

Time emf Direct Indirect Bimetallic Strip Error

(mins) (mV) Thermocouple Temperature T(֯C) Temperature (֯C) (%)
T (֯C)
ref

2 3.28 83 80.303 79 3.25

4 4 99 97.6431 90 1.37
6 4.72 114 115.1121 110 0.4
8 5.22 124 127.3450 120 0.53
 DISCUSION & CONCLUSION
Concerning the RTD results, the values of the resistance obtained from the RTD were
used to get the temperature of the resistance itself using an automatic calculator. The results
showed that the readings were quite close to each other, as once the results were read the
temperature of the water bath reached a constant temperature, therefore, it was difficult to
find the calibration equation due to the errors.
Concerning the readings obtained for the T-type thermocouple and the direct
thermocouple and the bimetallic strip, the readings that were obtained from the direct
thermocouple, were in °C, while that obtained from the indirect T-type thermocouple, were in
mV, thus they were converted to temperature using an online calculator. Results from both
devices showed a slight deviation between the reading.
After the 5 readings were obtained the furnace was turned off and after 2 additional
minutes the bimetallic strip and the direct thermocouple readings were taken again, and they
were recorded in the table shown in the results section. There was a slight difference between
the readings obtained from both devices at any point when the furnace was turned on and the
temperature was continuously changing. The last reading taken was the evidence that the
bimetallic strip is as accurate as the direct thermocouple, however, the time response is
relatively slow when compared to the thermocouple, as it was not able to catch up the same
reading as the thermocouple. The last reading after turning the furnace off was 125 degrees
when the thermocouple was 124 degrees.
To conclude, the results and the discussion held, that the RTD and the digital
thermometer showed quite similar results with significant percentage error unlike the results
obtained from the direct and the T-type thermocouples, they showed significant difference in
the results. Regarding the bimetallic strip, it was shown that it is accurate, however, it has
relatively slow time response compared to the direct thermocouple. This was supported when
the furnace was turned off, the difference between the readings was too small (1 degree
Celsius).

Recommendations:
 Take readings with smaller intervals for higher accuracy.
 Repeat the experiments several time.

REFRENCES
RTD Calculator. (n.d.). Retrieved October 7, 2023, from
https://instrumentationtools.com/calculate-temperature-from-resistance/#.WxgH0UiFNPY
Thermocouple Temperature Calculator. (n.d.). Retrieved October 7, 2023, from
https://us.flukecal.com/Thermocouple-Temperature-Calculator