Temperature Sensors

Brief Overview
Types

of temperature Sensors
Sensor Applications
Advantages and Disadvantages

Types of Temperature
Sensors

Thermocouples
Resistance
Temperature
Detectors (RTDs)
Thermistors
Infrared Sensors
Semiconductors

Thermocouples

Two wires of different

metal alloys.
Converts thermal
energy into electrical
energy.
Requires a temperature
difference between
measuring junction and
reference junction.
Easy to use and obtain.

Thermocouple Applications

Food processing
equipment
Deicing
Semiconductor
processing
Heat treating
Medical equipment
Industrial heat treating
Packaging equipment

Thermocouples
Advantages

Disadvantages

Simple
inexpensive
High temperature
operation
wide range of
temperatures
Fastest response to
temperature changes

Low sensitivity to small

temperature changes
Wire may pick up radiated
electrical noise if not
shielded
Lowest accuracy

Thermocouple Construction

Resistance Temperature
Detectors (RTDs)

Require an electrical current

to produce a voltage drop
across the sensor
Measures temperature by
correlating its resistance
with temperature
Wire wound and thin film
devices.
Nearly linear over a wide
range of temperatures.
Can be made small enough
to have response times of a
fraction of a second.

RTD Applications

Air conditioning and

refrigeration
servicing
Furnace servicing
Foodservice
processing
Medical research
Textile production

RTDs
Advantages

Disadvantages

Most stable over time

Most accurate
Most repeatable
temperature
measurement
Very resistant to
contamination/
corrosion of the RTD
element

High cost
Slowest response time
Low sensitivity to small
temperature changes
Sensitive to vibration
(strains the platinum
element wire)
Decalibration if used
beyond sensors
temperature ratings
Somewhat fragile

Level Sensors

Brief Overview
Types

of level Sensors
Level Sensor Applications
Advantages and Disadvantages

Types of Level Sensors

Float Sensor

Capacitance Sensor

Ultrasonic Sensor

Radar Level Sensor

Optical Sensors

Principle of Operation of
Floats Sensors
A liquid level control system by using
a float sensor works on the principle
of buoyancy, which states, A float
immersed in a liquid is buoyed
towards upward direction by an
applied equal force to the weight of
the displaced liquid. As a result, the
body drives partially and gets
submerged upon the liquid surface
and covers the same distance the

Primary Areas of Float Sensor

Application
Pump or valve control
Fire Water Towers
Fuel Tanks
Coolant Tanks
High or low level alarm

Low Water Conditions

Heater Protection
Leak Detection
Overfill Warning
Spill Prevention

Float Sensor
Advantages

Disadvantages

make the most accurate

The Disadvantages of this sensor are

level-measuring system for

that it requires various mechanical

various applications in very

equipment, especially the pressure

large storage tanks

vessels

Float sensor Construction

Principle of Operation of
Capacitance Sensors
The principle of capacitive level
measurement is based on the change
of capacitance. There are two plates
in capacitive sensor: one plate acts as
an insulated electrode and the other
plate acts as a tank wall. The
capacitance depends on the liquid
level. An empty tank has low
capacitance while a filled tank has
higher capacitance. A simple
capacitor consists of two electrode
plates separated by a small thickness

Primary Areas of Capacitance

Sensor Application
Fluids
Liquid metals at very-high temperature range
Dissolved gases at very-low level of temperature
Very-high density industrial processes

Capacitance Sensor
Advantages

Disadvantages

The main advantages of

The disadvantages include sensitivity

these capacitance

to changes in the measurable

systems include easy

properties such as dielectric constant

installation, broad

and conductivity which creates an

application range, good

issue; furthermore, it is an intrusive

accuracy suitable for

system

variety of applications
and highly recognized
and well -proven
technology

Capactiance sensor Construction