When considering a temperature measurement device with industrial applications, there are many factors you should take into account to ensure the best fit for its application
Temp-Pro has been a leader in the design and manufacturing of industrial temperature measurement devices for almost 50 years. During that time, we have worked on every industrial environment imaginable, allowing us to apply both knowledge and insight to our craft.
There are a wide variety of reasons why you may select one type of temperature measurement device over another, but your selection may have performance implications you must weigh in your decision. Here are five basic factors that can influence your requirements for selecting an electrical temperature measurement device:
Factor #1: Accuracy
An RTD (Resistance temperature detector) is an industrial thermometer known for its accuracy in harsh conditions, such as those found in turbomachinery. The ability of an RTD to deliver such performance is also coupled with the longevity and stability they can deliver. The accuracy of a temperature measurement device can have many critical implications. This can be evident in situations where an RTD measures a shift in temperature that can serve as a warning of a potentially dangerous industrial event.
Factor #2: Ambient Conditions
A temperature measurement device’s exposure to extreme heat or cold can play a role in its performance. Understanding the tolerance or limits for industrial thermometers is paramount in selecting the proper type of device for the ambience. In some cases, there may be rigorous requirements to ensure not only proper functioning, but operator safety. Case in point, some technology manufacturing and healthcare operations require a sterile environment. In other cases, the temperature measurement device may be exposed to industrial slush or abrasive materials, which can require additional resistance to ambient conditions.
Factor #3: Responsiveness
The response time refers to period it takes to record a sudden shift in temperature and how quickly the instrument will display the information. Thermowells are devices that can measure temperature through their exposure to the source and thus, these are of critical importance in the response time period. A way to improve or decrease responsiveness with such devices can be to modify the exposure of the thermowell. Also, modifying the shape of the thermowell can also help influence response times–resulting in increased performance.
Factor #4: Transmission
Deciding whether to use an analog or digital temperature measurement device can help you improve accuracy. Industrial environments are filled with many sources of internal and external interference that can prevent you from having accurate measurement. In addition, determining an industrial thermometer’s connection mode to your system can further improve transmission performance. The output signal can be improved greatly whenever you can reduce the chances of transmission degradation in an electrical temperature measurement device.
Factor #5: Vibration
Some devices–such as RTDs–are largely immune to vibrational forces thanks to their compact size, which is considerably smaller than other instruments used in industrial devices, such as pressure gauges. Simplicity is often at the heart of the best performing devices. Challenges such as fatigue failure, flow-induced vibrational force, or other physical strains are often the culprit for measurement errors. This is why it is important to have a strong knowledge of the dynamics to which a temperature measurement device will be exposed.
Our final thought in the consideration of factors for selecting a temperature measurement device, consider the conditions under which a device may be installed, any approvals required either by regulatory organizations or governments, and whether your supplier meets can deliver the quality and performance you expect.
As a final note, Temp-Pro is dedicated to exceeding quality standards with a full trace on raw materials, complete with logs–maintaining records for up to 10 years. This ensures responsible sourcing and allows our company to reassure you of our focus on quality—further validated by our ISO 9001:2015 certification.
Contact Temp-Pro today to review your temperature measurement device specs and other requirements to ensure you select the proper industrial thermometer for the job.
Neal Messier is a dedicated sales manager at Temp-Pro. With 17+ years of experience working with instrumentation in diverse industrial and process industries particularly power generation, he is passionate about the temperature sensor industry and uses his strong technical background and comprehensive industry knowledge to fulfill client’s temperature sensor needs.
Nicole Chotain is a passionate marketing and sales specialist in the temperature sensor industry who finds it incredibly fulfilling to be involved in marketing and selling crucial components used in power generation and renewable energy. She takes great joy in creating remarkable campaigns, forging meaningful connections between Temp-Pro and its customers, and driving the growth of the brand.
