What are Temperature Instruments?

Temperature instruments, all types are used in many industrial and non-industrial applications for the measurement of temperature. Thermometry is the measurement of temperature. There are two basic methods for temperature measurement, contact and noncontact. Within these two groupings, an engineer is likely to come into contact with six types: thermocouples, resistive temperature devices (RTDs and thermistors), infrared radiators, bimetallic devices, liquid expansion devices, and change-of-state devices. This is a generic search form for the selection of instruments, probes and elements used for the temperature measuring industry. Both contact and noncontact style devices are listed. Specific temperature device search forms are also available. Specific temperature instrument types include contact temperature instruments, non-contact temperature instruments, digital thermometers, dial thermometers, laboratory glass thermometers, temperature and humidity process controllers, and temperature probes. Contact temperature instruments are instruments and Indicators designed for temperature monitoring and displaying. These instruments either require a sensor input or come equipped with an integral sensor. Non-Contact temperature sensing devices are typically infrared devices. Digital temperature sensing instruments are portable, have permanent probe(s) and a digital display. These thermometers are typically battery powered. A dial thermometer is a bimetal, gas-actuated, or vapor-tension-based thermometer. They display temperature and possibly min/max readings and/or other 'extras'. Laboratory thermometers are standard glass thermometers for laboratory settings and applications. Process controllers can be configured specifically for temperature and humidity processes. Temperature probes include probes for various temperature sensing applications. Common sensor types include thermostat or thermal switch, thermocouple, RTD element, thermistor, and thermal cutoff. The temperature measurement range is also important to consider. Display style choices for temperature instruments include analog meters or indicators, digital readouts, and video display terminals. A Fahrenheit display is defined by 32 degrees at the ice point and 212 degrees at the boiling point of water at sea level. A Celsius display is defined by 0 degrees at the ice point and 100 degrees at the boiling point of water at sea level. Common outputs for temperature instruments include analog voltage, analog current, resistance, frequency or modulated frequency, switch output, serial interface, and parallel interface. Application software may be included for process monitoring and control. Options and features for temperature instruments include explosion proof, splash proof or waterproof, HVAC applications, and sanitary applications.

What are Temperature Transmitters?

Temperature measurement using modern scientific thermometers and temperature scales goes back at least as far as the early 18th century, when Gabriel Fahrenheit adapted a thermometer (switching to mercury) and a scale both developed by Ole Christensen Remer. Fahrenheit's scale is still in use, alongside the Celsius scale and the Kelvin scale. Many methods have been developed for measuring temperature. Most of these rely on measuring some physical property of a working material that varies with temperature. One of the most common devices for measuring temperature is the glass thermometer. This consists of a glass tube filled with mercury or some other liquid, which acts as the working fluid.

Temperature increases cause the fluid to expand, so the temperature can be determined by measuring the volume of the fluid. Such thermometers are usually calibrated, so that one can read the temperature, simply by observing the level of the fluid in the thermometer. Another type of thermometer that is not really used much in practice, but is important from a theoretical standpoint is the gas thermometer. Temperature transmitters, RTD, convert the RTD resistance measurement to a current signal, eliminating the problems inherent in RTD signal transmission via lead resistance. Errors in RTD circuits (especially two and three wire RTDs) are often caused by the added resistance of the leadwire between the sensor and the instrument. Transmitter input, specifications, user interfaces, features, sensor connections, and environment are all important parameters to consider when searching for temperature transmitters, RTD. Transmitter input specifications to take into consideration when selecting temperature transmitters, RTD include reference materials, reference resistance, other inputs, and sensed temperature. Choices for reference material include platinum, nickel or nickel alloys, and copper. Platinum is the most common metal used for RTDs - for measurement integrity platinum is the element of choice. Nickel and nickel alloys are very commonly used metal. They are economical but not as accurate as platinum. Copper is occasionally used as an RTD element. Its low resistivity forces the element to be longer than a platinum element. Good linearity and economical. Upper temperature range typically less than 150 degrees Celsius. Gold and Silver are other options available for RTD probes - however their low resistivity and higher costs make them fairly rare, Tungsten has high resistivity but is usually reserved for high temperature work. When matching probes with instruments - the reference resistance of the RTD probe must be known. The most standard options available include 10 ohms, 100 ohms, 120 ohms, 200 ohms, 400 ohms, 500 ohms, and 1000 ohms. Other inputs include analog voltage, analog current, and resistance input. The temperature range to be sensed and transmitted is important to consider. Important transmitter specifications to consider when searching for temperature transmitters, RTD, include mounting and output. Mounting styles include thermohead or thermowell mounting, DIN rail mounting, and board or cabinet mounting. Common outputs include analog current, analog voltage, and relay or switch output. User interface choices include analog front panel, digital front panel, and computer interface. Computer communications choices include serial and parallel interfaces. Common features for temperature transmitters, RTD, include intrinsically safe, digital or analog display, and waterproof or sealed. Sensor connections include terminal blocks, lead wires, screw clamps or lugs, and plug or quick connect. An important environmental parameter to consider when selecting temperature transmitters, RTD, is the operating temperature.

What are Pressure Transmitters?

Pressure transducers are devices that convert the mechanical force of applied pressure into electrical energy. This electrical energy becomes a signal output that is linear and proportional to the applied pressure. Pressure transducers are very similar to pressure sensors and transmitters. In fact, transducers and transmitters are nearly synonymous. The difference between them is the kind of electrical signal each sends. A transducer sends a signal in volts (V) or millivolt per volt (mV/V), and a transmitter sends signals in milliamps (mA). Both transmitters and transducers convert energy from one form to another and give an output signal. This signal goes to any device that interprets and uses it to display, record or alter the pressure in the system. These receiving devices include computers, digital panel meters, chart recorders and programmable logic controllers. There are a wide variety of industries that use

pressure transducers and transmitters for various applications. These include, but are not limited to, medical, air flow management, factory automation, HVAC and refrigeration, compressors and hydraulics, aerospace and automotive. There are important things to consider when deciding what kind of pressure transducer to choose. The first consideration is the kind of connector needed to physically connect the transducer to a system. There are many kinds of connectors for different uses, including bulletnose and submersible connectors, which have unique applications. Another important part is the internal circuitry of the transducer unit, which is housed by a "can" that provides protection and isolates the electronics. This can be made of stainless steel or a blend of composite materials and stainless steel. The various degrees of protection extend from nearly no protection (an open circuit board) to a can that is completely submersible in water. Other kinds of enclosures safeguard the unit in hazardous areas from explosions and other dangers. The next thing to consider is the sensor, which is the actual component that does the work of converting the physical energy to electrical energy. The component that alters the signal from the sensor and makes it suitable for output is called the signal conditioning circuitry. The internal circuitry must be resistant to harmful external energy like radio frequency interference, electromagnetic interference and electrostatic discharge. These kinds of interferences can cause incorrect readings, and are generally to be avoided when doing readings. Overall, pressure transducers are well-performing and high-accuracy devices that make life easier for many industries.

What are Solenoid Valves?

Solenoid valves are electrically operated devices that control the flow of liquids. Solenoid valves are electro-mechanical devices that use a wire coil and a movable plunger, called a solenoid, to control a particular valve. The solenoid controls the valve during either the open or closed positions. Thus, these kinds of valves do not regulate flow. They are used for the remote control of valves for directional control of liquids. Solenoid valves have two main parts: the solenoid and the valve. After the coil receives a current, the actuating magnetic field is created. The magnetic field acts upon the plunger, resulting in the actuation of the valve, either opening or closing it. There are two general types of solenoid valves: direct-acting and pilot-operated. Direct-acting solenoid valves have a plunger that is in direct contact with the primary opening in the body. This plunger is used to open and close the orifice. The pilot-operated solenoid valve works with a diaphragm rather than a plunger. This valve uses differential pressure to control the flow of fluids. The air-venting valve is opened to allow the pressure to equalize and permit the fluids to flow through. The design of solenoid valves allows them to have many applications. Their most common use is as water valves, oil valves, gas valves, steam valves, solvents valves, cryogenics valves, air and vapors valves, as well as many other applications as hydraulic valves and pneumatic valves. Typical environments for solenoid valves are in medical and biomedical equipment, analytical instrumentation, semiconductors, HVAC and other industrial OEM environments. A unique feature that solenoid valves have is the automatic triggering from remote locations by different voltages, making them useful in rough or hazardous locations. Important items to consider when looking at solenoid valves are proportionality, linearity, frequency response, repeatability, power consumption, leakage, life expectancy and cost. With so many types of solenoid valves and other related valves, the application requirements are very important. Because solenoid valves are designed to perform operations, ranging from water valves, air valves pneumatic valves or used in applications such as ones to restrict, meter

and maintain the flow of liquid and gaseous materials, they are widely used in vastly different fields and industries.

What are Level Sensors?

Level sensors are used to detect liquid or powder levels, or interfaces between liquids. These level measurements can be either continuous or point values represented with various output options. Continuous level sensors are devices that measure level within a specified range and give output of a continuous reading of level. Point level sensors devices mark a specific level, generally used as high alarm or switch. Multiple point sensors can be integrated together to give a stepped version of continuous level. These level sensors can be either plain sensors with some sort of electrical output or else can be more sophisticated instruments that have displays and sometimes computer output options. The measuring range is probably the most important specification to examine when choosing a level sensor. Field adjustability is a nice feature to have for tuning the instrument after installation. Depending on the needs of the application, level sensing devices can be mounted a few different ways. These sensors can be mounted on the top, bottom or side of the container holding the substance to be measured. Among the technologies for measuring level are air bubbler technology, capacitive or RF admittance, differential pressure, electrical conductivity or resistivity, mechanical or magnetic floats, optical units, pressure membrane, radar or microwave, radio frequency, rotation paddle, ultrasonic or sonic and vibration or tuning fork technology. Analog outputs level sensors can be current or voltage signals. Also possible is a pulse or frequency. Another option is to have an alarm output or a change in state of switches. Computer signal outputs that are possible are usually serial or parallel. Level sensors can have displays that are analog, digital or video displays. Control for the devices can be analog with switches, dials and potentiometers; digital with menus, keypads and buttons; or controlled by a computer.

What are Level Controllers?

Level controllers monitor, regulate, and control liquid or solid levels in a process. There are three basic types of control functions that level controllers can use. Limit control works by interrupting power through a load circuit when the level exceeds or falls below the limit set point. A limit controller can protect equipment and people when it is correctly installed with its own power supply, power lines, switch and sensor. Advanced or non-linear control includes deadtime compensation, lead/lag, adaptive gain, neural networks, and fuzzy logic. Level controllers can be used for either liquid or powder or other dry material applications. Linear level controllers can take many different styles. Feedforward control offers direct control or compensation from the reference signal. It may be open loop or in conjunction with PID control. Proportional, integral, and derivative (PID) control is an intelligent I/O module or program instruction, which provides automatic closed-loop operation of process control loops. Proportional plus integral (PI) control has the error signal integrated and is used for eliminating steady state or offset errors. It may also be called automatic reset/bias/offset control. Proportional plus derivative (PD) control has the error signal differentiated to get the rate of change. This type of control is used to increase controller speed of response, but can be noisy and make the system less stable. In proportional (P) control, the control signal is proportional to the error between the reference and feedback signals.

Level controllers differ in terms of specifications, user interface, and features. Specifications include the number of inputs, control outputs and control feedback loops. Control loops may be linked to improve control performance and/or stability. The control output is usually analog current, voltage or a switched output. These controllers can have discrete or TTL I/O as well and can handle high power switching needs. The user interface for level controllers may be analog, digital or computer controlled. Displays for level controllers can be analog meters, digital numerical readouts, or video display terminals. Another possible type of display is a strip chart or circle chart. When connecting to a computer host, level controllers can use the standard serial, parallel or SCSI interfaces or can be networkable via Ethernet, CANBus or a number of other network protocols. Features that are sometimes optional for level controllers include sensor excitation current or voltage, built-in alarms or indicators and washdown or waterproof ratings. Other features can include programmable setpoints, autotune or self-tuning functions and signal computation functions or filters.