Main Sector of relevance\IRC classification 6. Energy


6.14 Microprocessor-based temperature-measuring device, accuracy class: 0.1

Microprocessor-based temperature-measuring device, accuracy class: 0.1

Developers’ contact information

SSPA “The Scientific and Practical Materials Research Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus”
19, P. Brovka Str., 220072 Minsk

V.I. Levchenko
Tel/Fax: +375 (17) 284-11-94

Summary

The microprocessor based temperature-measuring device using S-type thermocouple as the primary converter (platinum-10% rhodium/platinum) with graduation in accordance with the State Standard of the Republic of Belarus GOST 8.585, meant for precise temperature measurement in the range of 50-1600 °C in laboratory and workshop conditions, with the conventional error of max. 0.1%.

Description

Nowadays the high-temperature process technologies are widely used in Belarusian industry. However, in a number of the most important branches, such as semiconductor appliances and microcircuit chips production, monocrystals growing, etc., temperature monitoring precision is a crucial parameter which determines yield competitiveness. As far as the range of 50-1600 °C is concerned, at present the best primary temperature convertor is S-type thermocouple (platinum-10% rhodium/platinum) which possesses the record guaranteed accuracy of static characteristic (0.1%), high heat stability and timing stability of parameters. However, due to static characteristic nonlinearity, low temperature sensitivity and dependence of thermal electromotive force on the temperature of free thermal converter ends, realization of the high-accuracy direct-reading temperature measuring device based on S-type thermocouple is quite a complex engineering problem.
The high-accuracy (Class 0.1), thermostable (<0.02% per 10 °C) microprocessor-based measuring device meant for temperature measurements in laboratory and workshop conditions has been developed. The abovementioned basic parameters have been achieved due to use of multipoint (32 points) piecewise approximation of the static characteristic, measurement of the free ends of the thermocouple and temperature within the device case with individual temperature digitizers with subsequent indications correction, taking into account thermal converter nonlinearity, programmed averaging of result sets and exact automated programmable electronic tuning.
In addition to the stated basic parameters, competitiveness of the development is provided by high interference resistance of the device, convenient readings indication in Celsius degree with the definition of 0.3°C, ease of connection of the thermocouple by light removable node and absence of the necessity of free ends temperature control, wide range of measurements (50-1600 °C), absence of the necessity of device pre-heating, operation simplicity, small sizes and weight, self-contained power supply from the 220V power circuit, and easy-to-assemble parameters for unaccommodated equipment, permanent monitoring of thermocouple operation capacity and temperature detector of its free ends, availability of integral dual-limit comparator and on-off MIDI output, availability of the service menu permitting to monitor units operation capacity and accuracy of in-situ measurements, relatively low costs.

Technology type

Technical advantages and economic benefits

High accuracy and heat stability of the temperature measuring device, operation simplicity, small size and weight, self-contained power supply from the 220V power circuit, and easy-to-assemble parameters for unaccommodated equipment, permanent monitoring of thermocouple operation capacity and temperature detector of its free ends, availability of integral dual-limit comparator and on-off MIDI output, availability of the service menu permitting to monitor units operation capacity and accuracy of in-situ measurements, relatively low costs.

Technology differentiation and uniqueness

Industrial application of development and organization of commercial production of microprocessor-based temperature measuring devices permit to equip industrial plants and Belarusian scientific organizations with improved equipment providing cost reduction, improvement in quality, and yield competitiveness. It will also allow substituting import of expensive foreign analogue appliances and creating the conditions for export.

Context in which technology was identified

Belarusian State Institute of Metrology, “Transistor” Plant, Production and Research Corporation “Integral”.

Technological keywords

Temperature measurements, microprocessor-based temperature measuring device, thermocouple.

Development Stage

Intellectual property rights

Range of applications

Sensitive control of high-temperature technological processes in manufacturing of semiconductor appliances and microcircuit chips, single crystal growing, and metals and alloys, chemical production, building materials and cement as well. Scientific investigations.

Classifier Used at the EU Innovation Relay Centres

Preferable Regions

Practical experience

Prototypes of the microprocessor-based temperature measuring device have been successfully employed in State Association “Scientific and Practical Materials Research Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus” for carrying out of scientific investigations for more than 2 years.

Environmental impact

None.

Type of collaboration sought

Terms and restrictions

The terms of the development transfer are defined under the contract, subject to the RB Legislation.

Available technical assistance