Temperature sensors range in accuracy and responsiveness
Some applications, such as equipment used to create life-saving medications, require temperature sensors to be responsive and accurate for critical quality control; however, some applications, like the thermometer in your car, don’t require as accurate or responsive sensors. The four most common types of temperature sensors, ranging in responsiveness and accuracy from high to low are:
- Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) Thermistors
- Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTDs)
- Thermocouples
- Semiconductor-Based Sensors
Temperature Sensor-Thermistor Probe
Temperature Sensor Types
1. Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) thermistor
A thermistor is a thermally sensitive resistor that exhibits a continuous, small, incremental change in resistance correlated to variations in temperature. An NTC thermistor provides higher resistance at low temperatures. As temperature increases, the resistance drops incrementally, according to its R-T table. Small changes reflect accurately due to large changes in resistance per °C. The output of an NTC thermistor is non-linear due to its exponential nature; however, it can be linearized based on its application. The effective operating range is -50 to 250 °C for glass encapsulated thermistors or 150°C for standard thermistors.
2. Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD)
A resistance temperature detector, or RTD, changes the resistance of the RTD element with temperature. An RTD consists of a film or, for greater accuracy, a wire wrapped around a ceramic or glass core. Platinum makes up the most accurate RTDs while nickel and copper make RTDs that are lower cost; however, nickel and copper are not as stable or repeatable as platinum. Platinum RTDs offer a highly accurate linear output across -200 to 600 °C but are much more expensive than copper or nickel.
3. Thermocouples
A thermocouple consists of two wires of different metals electrically bonded at two points. The varying voltage created between these two dissimilar metals reflects proportional changes in temperature. Thermocouples are nonlinear and require a conversion with a table when used for temperature control and compensation, typically accomplished using a lookup table. Accuracy is low, from 0.5 °C to 5 °C but thermocouples operate across the widest temperature range, from -200 °C to 1750 °C.
4. Semiconductor-based temperature sensors
A semiconductor-based temperature sensor is usually incorporated into integrated circuits (ICs). These sensors utilize two identical diodes with temperature-sensitive voltage vs current characteristics that are used to monitor changes in temperature. They offer a linear response but have the lowest accuracy of the basic sensor types. These temperature sensors also have the slowest responsiveness across the narrowest temperature range (-70 °C to 150 °C).
Temperature sensing in everyday life
Temperature sensors are vital to everyday life. These important pieces of technology measure the amount of heat an object or system is giving off. The measurements given allow us to physically sense a change in temperature. One important role of temperature sensors is prevention. Temperature sensors detect when a set high point occurs which allows time for preventative action. A good example is seen in fire detectors.
According to sensorsmag.com:
Temperature sensing is one of the most sensitive properties or parameters for industries like petrochemical, automotive, aerospace and defense, consumer electronics, and so on. These sensors are installed into devices with the purpose of measuring the temperature of a medium accurately and efficiently in a given set of requirements.
A robust temperature detection circuit utilizing an NTC thermistor sensor can be a cost-effective way to design a circuit without compromising responsiveness or accuracy.
