PAKISTAN INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND APPLIED
SCIENCES
Title of the experiment: Evaluating the precisions and accuracy of different
temperature sensors.
Group number: 1
Group member’s name:





Muhammad Riyan
Aaiza Iqbal
Zainab Bibi
Muhammad Fahad Ismail
Tahir Abbas
Course name and number:
Date of experiment:
Date of report submission:
Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics 1
10/2/25
16/02/25
Name
Muhammad Fahad Ismail
Contribution (%)
20%
Sections Worked On
Experimental setup,
calibration, troubleshooting,
results compilation
Zainab Bibi
20%
Tahir Abbas
Muhammad Riyan
20%
20%
Aaiza Iqbal
20%
Assisted in setup and
readings
Recorded Readings
Compiled reports, graphs
and tables
Monitored experiments,
references and citations
Contribution Table
Muhammad Riyan
Aaiza Iqbal
Zainab Bibi
Muhammad Fahad Ismail
Tahir Abbas
Table of Contents
Abstract: ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Materials and Equipment Along with Theory: ........................................................................... 1
Thermocouple (Type K): ........................................................................................................ 1
Thermistor:............................................................................................................................. 2
RTD: ....................................................................................................................................... 3
Bimetal Thermometer: ........................................................................................................... 4
Vapor Pressure: ...................................................................................................................... 4
Mercury in glass thermometer: .............................................................................................. 5
Procedure: .................................................................................................................................. 6
Precaution: ................................................................................................................................. 7
Results:....................................................................................................................................... 7
Graphs: ..................................................................................................................................... 10
Discussion: ............................................................................................................................... 10
Conclusion: .............................................................................................................................. 10
REFERENCE:.......................................................................................................................... 11
Figure of Tables:
Figure 1 Temperature Calibration Unit ...................................................................................... 1
Figure 2 Thermocouple of Type K ............................................................................................. 2
Figure 3 Thermistor ................................................................................................................... 3
Figure 4 RTD ............................................................................................................................. 3
Figure 5 Bimetal Thermometer .................................................................................................. 4
Figure 6 Vapor Pressure Measuring Unit ................................................................................... 5
Figure 7 Mercury Glass Thermometer ....................................................................................... 6
Figure 8 Various Components of Temperature Measurement Unit ........................................... 7
Figure 9 Graph Between Temperature And Voltage ................................................................ 10
List of Tables:
Table 1 Ambient and Boiling Points of Apparatus In Experiment ............................................. 8
Table 2 Readings Taken By Thermistor During Experiment (Temperature and Voltage) ......... 9
Title: Evaluating the precisions and accuracy of different temperature sensors.
Group No:1
Abstract:
The aim of this experiment is to find a values of different temperature sensors and check that
whether they coincide with the true values and also how close they are to each other. The
experimental setup includes the temperature measurement bench along with different sensors
which includes thermocouple, thermistor, RTDs etc. The readings were taken at upper fixed
point and the lower fixed point along with ambient reading of water taken from each sensor. In
the end we came to know that the values are precise as well as accurate and come under the
graph of the standard readings range that is represented by the error bars. A slight deviation is
due to the human error or might be due to the faulty instruments.
Materials and Equipment Along with Theory:
Temperature Measurement bench:
Figure 1 Temperature Calibration Unit
Thermocouple (Type K):
A thermocouple having two junctions, namely; hot junction & cold junction. At cold junction,
two wires of thermocouple connect to the instrument which is being used for the measurements.
The common metal used in thermocouple is copper. The voltage that is attained at outputs equal
to difference between the hot and cold junctions. This was first observed by Thomas seebeck
pg. 1
Title: Evaluating the precisions and accuracy of different temperature sensors.
Group No:1
in 1821, when he made a circuit of two different wires in result the needles of compass changes
when one of junction was heated. Each thermocouple characteristics curve is different
depending on the metal used and the voltage applied. The voltage applied is created between
the
wires
where
there
is
thermal
gradient.
In-text
citation: (www.flukeprocessinstruments.com, n.d.)
Figure 2 Thermocouple of Type K
Thermistor:
Thermistors are semiconductors that have greater resistance and show response according to
corresponding temperature. The value that is obtained from the thermistor electrical resistance
can be changed into the temperature of surrounding where it is being operated.
In-text citation: (Omega, 2018)
pg. 2
Title: Evaluating the precisions and accuracy of different temperature sensors.
Group No:1
Figure 3 Thermistor
RTD:
RTDs are used in measuring temperature. The components of RTD consists of a wire wrapped
around the heat-resistant ceramics. Wires are typically made of pure components mainly;
platinum, nickel or copper etc.
In-text citation: (Wikipedia Contributors, 2019)
Figure 4 RTD
pg. 3
Title: Evaluating the precisions and accuracy of different temperature sensors.
Group No:1
Bimetal Thermometer:
They show a significant response of expansion with the increasing or changing conditions of
temperature. The two metals strips used in its operation always have different thermal
expansion coefficient.
In-text citation: (www.wika.com, n.d.)
Figure 5 Bimetal Thermometer
Vapor Pressure:
A volatile liquid occupying a little volume of thermometer is used. As the liquid begins to heat
it changes into steam occupying the rest of volume space. A stage will reach when the number
of molecules changing into steam becomes equal to the molecules coming down changing into
liquid state back; this point equilibrium is established. The overall equilibrium depends on
temperature, if temperature is further increased more molecules will change into steam and
more will come back to liquid state.
In-text citation: (tec-science, 2019)
pg. 4
Title: Evaluating the precisions and accuracy of different temperature sensors.
Group No:1
Figure 6 Vapor Pressure Measuring Unit
Mercury in glass thermometer:
Its operation mainly depends on the principle of thermal expansion. Due to rise in temperature
mercury expands and its level rises in a narrow capillary tube. The change in the level of
mercury corresponds to the change in a temperature on a calibrated scale. Mercury having a
rapid response time and it also expands uniformly.
In-text
citation: (Wikipedia
Contributors, 2019)
pg. 5
Title: Evaluating the precisions and accuracy of different temperature sensors.
Group No:1
Figure 7 Mercury Glass Thermometer
Procedure:
Firstly, in that experiment we calibrated all the equipment at the known temperature in order
to minimize error. Then we took the distilled water at r.t.p in kettle. Measured its temperature
using all the mentioned sensors and noted down all the readings. Then the kettled was turned
on and the temperature of water started to rise. At that point we only used the type K
thermocouple to measure the rising temperature with the increment of 10 degrees against its
voltage in order to graphically analyze the relation between temperature and the voltage. At
B.P of water we then again turned to all equipment again and noted down the readings. Then
we took an ice in the funnel and noted down the readings taken from all the sensors.
pg. 6
Title: Evaluating the precisions and accuracy of different temperature sensors.
Group No:1
Figure 8 Various Components of Temperature Measurement Unit
Precaution:




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
Calibration of each instrument to minimize the error.
Experiment was performed in the stable environment.
In kettle make sure that the bulb of the thermometer doesn’t touch the wall of the kettle.
Shaking the kettle allow water to reach thermodynamic equilibrium during convection
cycle.
Make sure to wear shoes in order to protect yourself from the electrical shock.
Kept the sensors away from the extreme heat.
Results:
All the readings that were taken down are listed below
pg. 7
Title: Evaluating the precisions and accuracy of different temperature sensors.
Group No:1
Table 1 Ambient and Boiling Points of Apparatus In Experiment
Sensor
Ambient /
o
C
Boiling /
Thermometer
18
99
Thermistor
18.7
98.7
Vapor Pressure
19
99
Thermocouple
18.4
98
Bimetal Thermometer
X
X
RTDs
X
X
o
C
pg. 8
Title: Evaluating the precisions and accuracy of different temperature sensors.
Group No:1
Table 2 Readings Taken By Thermistor During Experiment (Temperature and Voltage)
pg. 9
Title: Evaluating the precisions and accuracy of different temperature sensors.
Group No:1
Graphs:
Graph 1
Figure 9 Graph Between Temperature And Voltage
Discussion:
The results suggest that the readings were consistent and reproducible. The experiment helps
us to understand the characteristics of different sensors, sources of errors, and calibration
techniques. Different sensors have different response time. Thermocouple was relatively faster
in response due to smaller size and lower thermal mass. RTDs have slower response time means
it was less sensitive. The less sensitive the more accurate. The slight deviation in reading was
due to the faulty thermocouple as its nodes were not fixed. Secondly kettle contains impurities
which also contributed in the the uncertainty. The mercury in glass thermometer was not
clamped this causes the parallax error. Moreover, the surrounding also contributed to the wider
range of results. So, to cope this, the experiment should be conducted with thermostatically
controlled water bath. Moreover, the heat was lost in and gain by the surroundings, this results
in overstated and understated values in the experiment. Due to lower impedance there was
widespread fluctuations in the readings of the voltmeter.
Conclusion:
All the sensors demonstrated accurate measurement within specified range. The sensitivity of
the different sensors was distinct and non-identical so ultimately the response time was
different too. The values were precise as well as accurate. Slight uncertainty was due to the
human reaction error, parallax error and zero error.
pg. 10
Title: Evaluating the precisions and accuracy of different temperature sensors.
Group No:1
REFERENCE:

www.flukeprocessinstruments.com. (n.d.). Thermocouple Theory | Fluke Process Instruments.
[online] Available at: https://www.flukeprocessinstruments.com/en-us/thermal-profilingtechnology/thermocouple-theory.

Omega (2018). What is a
https://www.omega.com/en-us/.
us/resources/thermistor.
Thermistor
Available
and
how
at:
does it work? [online]
https://www.omega.com/en-

Wikipedia Contributors (2019). Resistance thermometer. [online] Wikipedia. Available at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resistance_thermometer.

www.wika.com. (n.d.). How does a bimetal thermometer work? - WIKA. [online] Available at:
https://www.wika.com/en-us/lp_bimetal_thermometer.WIKA.

tec-science (2019). How does a vapour pressure thermometer (vapour-in-metal) work? [online]
tec-science. Available at: https://www.tec-science.com/thermodynamics/temperature/howdoes-a-vapour-pressure-thermometer-vapour-in-metal-work/.

Wikipedia Contributors (2019). Mercury-in-glass thermometer. [online] Wikipedia. Available
at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury-in-glass_thermometer.
It is aimed to assess the precision and accuracy of diverse temperature sensors utilized in thermal
measurements. Various sensors consist of thermocouples, resistance temperature detectors (RTDs), and
thermistors, that have been tested under managed situations. They take a look at involved calibration,
measurement, and statistics evaluation to decide deviations and reliability. The consequences confirmed
that RTDs furnished the best accuracy, at the same time as thermocouples examined proper precision
but better variability. Thermistors exhibited enormous sensitivity to temperature changes but were a lot
tons less robust over the years. The findings spotlight the significance of choosing suitable sensors
based totally on software program requirements, making sure correct thermal measurements in
engineering strategies.
pg. 11