Measuring high temperatures with immersion thermowells

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November 2001 Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring

Like ordinary thermocouples, the high temperature IRt/c models can be used with immersion thermowells to measure high temperature gases or liquids while maintaining the integrity of the vessel. However, the IRt/c has significant advantages over ordinary thermocouples, RTDs, etc in this application.

Survivability

Since the IRt/c sensor elements are positioned in a non-contact mode, outside of the heated area and kept at a low temperature, the entire temperature sensing system can be designed to survive for a much longer period of time than conventional thermocouples or RTDs. The only part requiring maintenance is the thermowell itself, an inexpensive and easily replaced part. Users enjoy savings because there are no replacement thermocouple parts, no replacement labour and no production losses from downtime for sensor replacement.

Sensor stability and 'drift'

Even worse than sensor failure is a sensor that reads incorrectly, feeding inconsistent or inaccurate information to the control systems. Sensor stability and drift can be significant problems with standard thermocouples when measuring high temperatures, due to chemical and metallurgical changes that long exposure to high temperatures causes. The IRt/c, however, is essentially immune to those effects, since the sensor remains at a low temperature - far below that of the contact device and below the high levels that are the major causes of drift.

Sensor speed

With its 0,1 to 0,2 s response time, the IRt/c is far faster than any conventional thermocouple or RTD placed inside a well. Accordingly, for all practical purposes, the temperature measurement speed is the same as that of the well itself.

How to use the IRt/c with a thermowell

The technique is to mount an IRt/c sensor so that it aims directly into a hollow thermowell. The well should have a minimum inner diameter to accommodate the minimum spot size of the sensor selected. It is important to choose an appropriate sensor for the temperature range and length of the well to be used. For example, to measure up to 1100°C, 2 m into a stack, An appropriate sensor would be the IRt/c.100A-HiE looking into a thermowell of that length with an inside diameter of at least 20 mm. The spot diameter for the IRt/c 100 A at 2 m is 20 mm. The sensor can then 'see' all the way into the hollow well tube and monitor the tip end temperature, ignoring the sidewall temperatures.

Thermowell material (stainless steel, Hastelloy, Inconel, ceramic, etc) needs to be chosen to withstand the temperature, oxidation and other rigours of the environment where it is to be placed.

If the thermowell is sealed with a sight glass, then a Lo E model should be specified.

Absolute Automation

(011) 453 6662

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Measuring high temperatures with immersion thermowells

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