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What are the identical differences between RTD and thermocouple?

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Question added by Mohammed Famil , Sr.Instrument Supervisor , DEWA
Date Posted: 2016/10/22
Toby James Thomas
by Toby James Thomas , Electrical & Instrumentation Engineer , PCTS

1) Thermocouple output is in millivolts, wheras that of RTD is in Ohms.

2) Thermocouple works on Seebeck effect whereas RTD works on Variable resistance principle.

Resistance Thermometer Detectors

The electrical resistance of metals rises as heat increases and the metals become hotter, while their electrical resistance falls as heat decreases and the metals become colder. RTDs are temperature sensors that use the changes in the electrical resistance of metals to measure the changes in the local temperature. For the readings to be interpret-able, the metals used in RTDs must have electrical resistances known to people and recorded for convenient reference. As a result, copper, nickel, and platinum are all popular metals used in the construction of RTDs.

 

Thermocouples

Thermocouples are temperature sensors that use two different metals in the sensor to produce a voltage that can be read to determine the local temperature. Different combinations of metals can be used in building the thermocouples to provide different calibrations with different temperature ranges and sensor characteristics.

 

 

ajmal peersa
by ajmal peersa , Site engineer , Tectronics

rtd consists of platinum and thermocouple has two dissimilar metal.

Agha sarfaraz
by Agha sarfaraz , Electrical Engineer , Hydro-China international

the difference betwwen RTD and thermocouple is the output, thermocouple gives output in potential and RTD gives output in resistance variation.

Bhadresh Thakkar
by Bhadresh Thakkar , engineer , Torrent Power Ltd.

RTD is of Resistance & TC of two different metals.

RTD's O/P is Ohms & TC's O/P is mV.

muhammed niyas
by muhammed niyas , Instrument Specialist , Technicon (Sadara chemicals)

RTD is the sensor which is working the principle of resistance co-efficient 

TC  is the sensor which is working on seebeck voltage principle by means of thermoelectic effect

Shabaz Mahaboob Ali Sheikh
by Shabaz Mahaboob Ali Sheikh , Junior System Engineer , ALDERLEY FZE, DAMMAM- KSA

thermocouple- 2 leads, provides emf(milliVolts)(we obtain connectivity(checking using Multimeter)when placed between 2leads)

RTD-2,3 or 4 Leads, Provides resistance Changeas output.(we output RTD resistance in 2leads and rest lead resisance)

Ahmed Al Barwani
by Ahmed Al Barwani , Head of Instrument & Automation , Haya Water Company (Oman wastewater)

Both have reference electrode and both measure temperature 

Merzouk Belhamel
by Merzouk Belhamel , Instrumentation Foreman Principal Level 2 , sonatrach Hassi R'mel

Thermocouple sa sortie en mv avec un circuit Amplificateur converti en V selon le type en fonction de la température du procédé.

RTD equation    Rt =R0+(1+bt)   R0 = 100r

 

by checking the inside the constructon of the TE

or by multimeter ohms our mv test

Saad K
by Saad K , Electrical Design Engineer , L&T construction

Both RTDs and thermocouples are sensors used to measure heat in scales such as Fahrenheit and Kelvin. Such devices are used in a broad range of applications and settings Resistance Thermometer Detectors

The electrical resistance of metals rises as heat increases and the metals become hotter, while their electrical resistance falls as heat decreases and the metals become colder. RTDs are temperature sensors that use the changes in the electrical resistance of metals to measure the changes in the local temperature. For the readings to be interpretable, the metals used in RTDs must have electrical resistances known to people and recorded for convenient reference. As a result, copper, nickel, and platinum are all popular metals used in the construction of RTDs.

Thermocouples

Thermocouples are temperature sensors that use two different metals in the sensor to produce a voltage that can be read to determine the local temperature. Different combinations of metals can be used in building the thermocouples to provide different calibrations with different temperature ranges and sensor characteristics.

RTD vs Thermocouple

Because the terms encompass entire ranges of temperature sensors tailored for use under a range of conditions, it is impossible to conclude whether RTDs or thermocouples are the superior option as a whole. Instead, it is more useful to compare the performance of RTDs and thermocouples using specific qualities such as cost and temperature range so that users can choose based on the specific needs of their organizations.

In general, thermocouples are better than RTDs when it comes to cost, ruggedness, measurement speed, and the range of temperatures that can be measured using them. Most thermocouples cost 2.5 to 3 times less than RTDs and although RTD installation is cheaper than thermocouple installation, the savings in installation costs are not enough to tip the balance. Furthermore, thermocouples are designed to be more durable and react faster to changes in temperature because of that same design. However, the main selling point of thermocouples is their range. Most RTDs are limited to a maximum temperature of 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. In contrast, certain thermocouples can be used to measure up to 2700 degrees Fahrenheit.

RTDs are superior to thermocouples in that their readings are more accurate and more repeatable. Repeatable means that users reading the same temperatures produce the same results over multiple trials. RTDs producing more repeatable readings means that their readings are more stable, while their design ensures that RTDs continue producing stable readings longer than thermocouples. Furthermore, RTDs receive more robust signals and it is easier to calibrate RTD readings due to their design.

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