All present industrial processes need temperature measurement. Even a difference of one or two degrees can be significant. It results in the loss of raw materials or products. This is why plant managers and process engineers need precise temperature measurement products. Several devices give precise temperature readings in real-time.
How is Temperature Measurement Important for Several Industries?
An exact understanding of temperature holds significance in various sectors such as:
Food and Beverage Processing
Temperature control and measurement are very important for food and drink processing manufacturers. It is one of the factors to think about when producing food items in bulk.
In the beverage industry, temperature helps to determine how good the end product will be. When making wine or brewing beer, the temperature and fermentation can impact quality. Also for milk pasteurization, it is necessary to maintain a certain temperature. It further helps in eradicating harmful bacteria like Escherichia, Salmonella, and Listeria.
Plastic Production
In this industry, temperature is a crucial factor. During manufacturing thermoforming or injection molding, temperature ranges have to meet quality standards.
Metal Processing
No matter the kind of metal processing plant it is, temperature measurement comes at the top of the list. Why? It is for operational excellence. Temperature measurement and analysis have a crucial role in metal processing and monitoring. If the temperature information is incorrect, it can affect the quality of the end product.
What are the Types of Temperature Measurement Devices Available?
There are so many devices available that have unique measuring purposes. Let’s check them out:
Temperature Transmitter
It is an electrical instrument with interface sensors. It uses physical characteristics to measure temperature.
Thermocouple Temperature Measurement
Two wires or strips make up thermocouples. Dissimilar metals come together at one end to craft it. When temperature varies at the juncture, it causes a change in Electromotive Force. The EMF of the thermocouple increases with the temperature rise.
Change-of-State Temperature Measurement
It consists of pellets, labels, lacquers, or liquid crystals. that show a change in appearance e. at certain temperatures. This kind of system is utilized in applications like steam traps, where we attach a sensor label to the trap. The trap turns a white dot on the sensor labeled black when it gets hotter than a certain temperature.
These devices don’t have a quick response time, so they do not react to temporary heat changes. Also, the alteration in these devices is enduring except for Liquid-Crystal Displays (LCDs). Yet, one needs to verify the temperature of equipment or material. It will make sure you don’t surpass a certain level. These gadgets can help.
Resistance Temperature Devices (RTD)
As the name suggests, resistance temperature devices depend on the metal resistance change. The increase in resistance happens more or less linearly with rising temperature. The two important kinds of these RTDs are metallic devices and thermistors. Thermistors depend on the alteration of resistance in a ceramic semiconductor. When temperature increases, there is a non-linear decrease in resistance.
Fluid-Expansion Temperature Measurement
The fluid-expansion temperature measurement devices are like the household thermometer. These devices usually fall into two groups: organic-liquid type and mercury type. Additionally, there can be various versions using gas instead of liquid.
Mercury is not good for the environment. There are rules about sending things with mercury in them. Devices that work at fluid-expansion temperatures don’t have any risks of explosion. They don’t need electricity to function and remain steady when you use them again.
Bimetal Temperature Measurement
Metals that expand at different rates when they get hot form the basis of these devices. In this method, different kinds of metal make up the two strips that are connected. When the device becomes warm, one part of the strip will grow more than its other side.
A pointer indicates the temperature reading, which shows the resultant bending. Generally, it is not as accurate as RTDs or thermocouples. It does not offer good recording of temperatures, yet they don’t need a power supply and are easy to carry around. A pointer gives the temperature reading that indicates the resulting bending.
Normally, RTDs or thermocouples are more precise than they are. They do not provide a good method for recording temperatures. Still, these devices do not need any power supply and can be carried easily.
Infrared Temperature Measurement
These devices work without making contact with the object. They measure temperature by capturing the thermal radiation given off by an item. The device has a lens that concentrates infrared (IR) energy onto its detector.
The detector changes the received energy into an electrical signal. Once it is adjusted for shifts in ambient temperature, it shows as a reading in temperature units.