The temperature sensor is a device that detects temperature and provides the measurement in a readable form through electrical signals. The most common and basic type of temperature meter is a thermometer which is used to measure the degree of hotness and coldness. These temperature meters are used in the geotechnical field to detect concrete, structures, water, and soil for seasonal variations at the workplace.
Benefits of Digital Temperature Sensor
Temperature sensors are designed to measure the temperature of an object and its working depends on the voltage across the diode. The change in temperature is directly proportional to the resistance in the diode. It means the cooler the temperature, the lesser will be the resistance and vice versa. This resistance is then converted into readable units of temperature such as in Fahrenheit or Celsius and displayed on the screen in numeric form. These sensors have vast applications such as in the geotechnical monitoring field, they are used to measure the internal temperature of structures like dams, bridges, power plants, and buildings.
There are various types of temperature sensors and usually, they are categorized upon the mode of connection which includes contact and non-contact temperature sensors. Thermocouples and thermistors come under the contact sensors because they have a direct connection with the object, we want to detect temperature. However, non-contact temperature sensors work to measure the thermal radiations emitted from the heat source. non-contact temperature sensors are generally used in harsh and hazardous environments like nuclear power plants and thermal power plants.
Temperature sensors measure the heat of hydration in mass structures such as concrete in geotechnical monitoring. Temperature sensors can also be used to determine the migration of groundwater. The most common area of temperature sensors usage is during the curing procedure of concrete because it has to be warm to cure properly. Seasonal variations cause structural expansion or contraction in the concrete which changes its volume.
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Working of temperature sensors
Temperature sensor work on the basic principle of voltage across the diode terminals. The temperature increases or decreases when voltage increases and decreases. If the voltage increases the temperature also rises followed by a voltage drop between transistor and emitter in a diode. Moreover, Encardio-Rite contains a vibrating wire temperature sensor that works on the principle of stress change according to temperature change. The vibrating wire temperature sensors are designed on the belief that similar metals have a different linear coefficient of expansion with temperature variation.
The vibrating wire temperature meter consists of magnetic high tensile strength stretched wire whose two ends are fixed to any dissimilar metal in the way that any change in the temperature affects the tension in the wire and thus the natural frequency of vibration occurs. Let’s suppose, Aluminum is the dissimilar metal in this case of the Encardio-Rite temperature meter because Aluminium has a larger coefficient of thermal expansion. As the temperature signal turns into the frequency the readout unit monitors the temperature. The change in temperature sensed by the special sensor in the temperature meter turns it into the electrical signal and shows that frequency on the digital meter which is directly proportional to temperature.