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5 Theory of Operation<br />
Theory of Operation<br />
Temperature is one of the oldest known physical quantities. Temperature is the most essential factor that<br />
needs continuous measurement, monitoring, and control in various processes in industry. Today, industry<br />
demands accurate, repeatable, and reliable measurement of temperature, because temperature can have<br />
significant impact on product cost, quality, efficiency and safety. All temperature sensors measure<br />
temperature by sensing some change in material physical characteristics as a function of temperature.<br />
Temperature sensors are available in a wide variety such as:<br />
• Thermocouple<br />
• Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD)<br />
• Thermistor<br />
• Semiconductor Temperature Sensor IC<br />
Table 2. Comparison of Different Temperature Sensors<br />
RESISTANCE<br />
SEMICONDUCTOR<br />
THERMOCOUPLE TEMPERATURE THERMISTOR TEMPERATURE<br />
DETECTOR (RTD)<br />
SENSOR IC<br />
Range –270°C to 2000°C –200°C to 850°C –50°C to 300°C –55°C to 200°C<br />
Changing Physical<br />
Characteristic<br />
Voltage Resistance Resistance Voltage or current<br />
Excitation Self-powered Current excitation Current excitation Power Supply (µA)<br />
Cost Low High Low to moderate Low<br />
Response Medium to fast Medium Medium to fast Medium to fast<br />
Accuracy Less Best Good Better<br />
Repeatability Reasonable Excellent Fair to Good Good to excellent<br />
Very high (Can withstand<br />
Ruggedness Less High Medium<br />
high shock and vibration)<br />
Amplification, Filtering, Cold<br />
Lead Compensation,<br />
Special Requirements junction compensation, Linearization<br />
Filtering<br />
Linearization<br />
Power supply, Selfcontained<br />
Low (40 μV per °C for K-<br />
Sensitivity at 20°C Medium Very high High (Typically 10 mV/°C)<br />
Type)<br />
Self-Heating No Very low to low High Very low to low<br />
Lead Wire Resistance Not a problem Problematic Not a problem Not a problem<br />
Interchangeability Good Excellent Poor to fair Better<br />
Stable over long period;<br />
Long Term Stability Poor Typically Less than 0.1°C Poor Good<br />
per year<br />
Noise Susceptibility High Medium Low Medium<br />
Linearity Fair Good Poor (Logarithmic) Good<br />
Size Small to large Medium to small Small to medium<br />
Small to medium but limited<br />
package choices<br />
Among different types of temperature sensors, the most frequently used ones in industrial applications are<br />
thermocouples and resistance temperature detectors (RTDs).<br />
TIDU271–May 2014<br />
Submit Documentation Feedback<br />
Temperature Sensor Interface Module for Programmable Logic Controllers<br />
(PLC)<br />
Copyright © 2014, Texas Instruments Incorporated<br />
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