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Category Archives: Products

Mineral Insulated Resistance Thermometer

Mineral Insulated Resistance thermometers are a very common form of temperature sensor. It surprises me how often design engineers are not familiar with the product. They may be called Metal clad, MIMS, or simply MI.

 

Basic design of Mineral Insulated Sensors

 

The basic Mineral Insulated Resistance Thermometer design has a sensor and conductors inside a metal tube. Insulation is provided by tightly packed Magnesium Oxide powder. The assembly is robust and ductile. Smaller diameters can be easily bent by hand allowing fairly simple installation through very difficult routes. Diameter 6.0 mm and above are more difficult to bend, but can still be routed as required.… Read more

Gas Burner Nozzle

Peak Sensors has recently been supplying a number of customers with Gas Burner Nozzles for use in gas fired glass furnaces.

Gas Burner Nozzle

Gas Burner Nozzle Design

Typically a coarse thread like 5/8″ UNC on a stainless steel shank is secured to a Recrystalised Alumina gas exit.

Peak Sensors normally manufactures temperature sensors. The materials and construction techniques used for a gas burner nozzle is very similar to thermal probes.

Peak Sensors

Peak Sensors supplies temperature sensors and thermocouple cable for many industrial applications. Working with customers to design bespoke sensors is our core strength.  We welcome any enquiry concerned with temperature measurement.… Read more

Multipoint Temperature Sensor Assembly Design

Peak Sensors has provided many customers with multipoint temperature sensor assembly designs. We regularly supply Duplex and Triplex assemblies, but we have manufactured designs with 60 discrete measuring points. Usually measuring points are in defined positions some distance apart.

Customers choose multipoint temperature sensors for a number of reasons:

  • Temperatures across a fluid flow need to be known with minimal flow disruption.
  • There are a limited number of access holes designed into a vessel.
  • Signal or System duplication. (Measuring points together)
  • Fluid in a vessel has a limited stirring capability because of viscosity or fixed inclusions within a fluid.
  • A process demands specific multiple temperature location inputs
  • Over temperature events can spontaneously occur at various points within a vessel.

    • … Read more

Low Cost Temperature Sensor Design

Sensor buyers always need great value for money. This can mean high specification units built to last, or simply low cost temperature sensor assemblies.

The simplest probe arrangement comprises a sensing element, such as a Pt 100 or thermistor. This is extended with cable to a termination requirement. The sensor as well as the cable to sensor connection are within a metal (usually stainless steel) closed one end tube. The probe is complete.

Low Cost Temperature Sensor Design

The cost components can be broken down to:

Sensing element

Thin film Pt 100 elements are cheaper than wire wound sensors. Wire wound will always be slightly more accurate over a wider thermal span but for most applications this is trivial.… Read more

Thermocouple Fundamentals

A Thermocouple consists of two different conductors. Joined at the measurement point, they produce a voltage because of the thermal gradient passed through. If no net gradient exists, no voltage is generated.

Thermocouple Basics

Thermocouples can cover the measurement range – 270 to + 2320 °C. This useful width and the basic simplicity of the device make thermocouples the dominant temperature sensing technology. A thermocouple does not need a power supply. The conductors alone create a small voltage, this signal, being electrical, can easily be used as a system input.

Thermocouple Pairs

Different conductor pairs are defined as standard sensor types.… Read more

Temperature Sensor Design, Costs and Constraints

Contact temperature sensors are often described as simple devices. Thermocouples are indeed just two pieces of different metal joined at a measuring point. Resistance thermometers are almost as simple in principle. A good Temperature Sensor Design however will consider much more.

While the measuring component of an assembly is simple in principle,  a good temperature sensor design must provide the sensing part with support, insulation, environmental protection, process connection and a termination point. Consideration toward adequate immersion and immunity from other sources of error are also needed. Anticipated sensor lifetime needs consideration as well as cost.

Temperature Sensor Design

Design is always a compromise.… Read more

Waste Treatment Technology Temperature Sensor

Waste Treatment Technology is becoming a more important aspect in society for a number of reasons. Peak Sensors is involved with customers in a number of available technologies, and we are actively seeking new clients with novel waste technology developments to develop better temperature control sensors. If recycling options are exhausted or uneconomic, Turning waste into useful products has a number of advantages.

There are a number of proven and commercially viable waste treatment processes. The processes usually involves some degree of temperature control. Peak Sensors is currently collaborating with these waste treatment technology processes:

Gasification

Pyrolysis

Composting

Waste into Energy, High Temperature Thermocouples.… Read more

Element and Assembly Resistance Thermometer Accuracy

Resistance Thermometer, Pt 100, RTD, whatever you call them, are devices that change resistance with temperature. They are available in a number of defined accuracy bands.

European Resistance Thermometers are usually available as 100Ω at 0°C and 138.5Ω at 100°C according to BS EN 60751 with a linear resistance change within and beyond these temperatures. Resistance Thermometers can be set to 500 or 1000 Ω

Elements can be rated to -200°C and up to +600°C.

RTD’s can be more accurate than Thermocouples, however the expected accuracy of an assembly can easily be misunderstood.

Common Resistance Thermometer Element Types

The Pt 100 sensing element is available in a number of forms:

Thin Film elements are the volume leader inexpensive device.… Read more