26-07-2012, 02:15 PM
Seminar on Sensors
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Introduction
Remember the truism that all sensor have errors in their readings - all the time. One key secret to high quality measurement results is to have confidence in the error estimates. Neglecting to make a careful error analysis can result in error much larger than the assumed values.
It is worth noting that all competent error analyses start with the uncertainties assigned to the traceable calibration of the sensor itself. Without traceable calibration, one is forced to make assumptions. (You know what the word ass|u|me means, we hope.)
Without traceable measurements, the numerical values of results will always be questionable and hardly worth the effort, and cost. It most often pays to get started on the right path to technically sound measurements by beginning with some understanding of the options involved in selecting a temperature measurement device and then in obtaining one that meets the expected conditions and standards, is calibrated and that the calibration is traceable to either a fundamental standard (e.g. the triple point of water) or a national standard. See our calibration and standards pages for more details on each aspect of sound measurement practice.
Contact Sensors
Contact temperature sensors measure their own temperature.
One infers the temperature of the object to which the sensor is in contact by assuming or knowing that the two are in thermal equilibrium, that is, there is no heat flow between them.
Noncontact Sensors
Most commercial and scientific noncontact temperature sensors measure the thermal radiant power of the Infrared or Optical radiation that they receive from a known or calculated area on its surface, or a known or calculated volume within it (in those cases where the obect is semitransparent within the measuring wavelength passbad of the sensor).
One then infers the temperature of an object from which the radiant power is assumed to be emitted (some may be reflected rather than emitted). Sometimes the inference requires a correction for the spectral emissivity (NB: the two words, spectral & emissivity, are used together in correcting IR Thermometer readings -the "emissivity", unspecified, is a big trap which even some of the suppliers of devices and calibration equipment fall into unwittingly for a variety of reason about which one can only speculate ) of the object being measured.
Knowing how and when to apply a spectral emissivity correction is part of the inference, too, and can introduce significant errors if not done correctly. See our Trip down the E-missivity Trail to help you understand that aspect a little better.
Dewpoint Temperature
-- Humidity--
Although this area is in reality just an application of temperature sensors and other sensors, it grew out of temperature measurements.
Remember the old style humidity indicators that consisted of two little glass thermometers, the wet and dry bulb thermometers with a little look up table that told you the humidity, both absolute and relative? Have a look, it's a very important area in terms of human comfort, food safety and energy conservation and efficiency in thermal processes.
Thermal Imaging
The special world of thermography and thermal images includes the temperature-measuring kind of thermal imagers called "Radiomatic", by those in the business, and "Quantitative" by those mostly in R&Dwith thermal imaging. Then, too, there are those who call it "Thermology" when it applies to measurements made on the human body and "Medical Thermography" by still others, some even in the same business.
Users of infrared thermal imaging have many options in cameras both with and without temperature scales or temperature indication.
It seems really odd to have all these different names kicking about, when they all refer to the same basic technology. The names seem to differ only by application area. In reality, they all work because of the same Law of Physics, called Planck's Law.
That's the same law that describes how IR thermometers, optical pyrometers, radiation thermometers and infrared intrusion or people detectors work (note the common trait of multiple names).
The only thing that an IR thermal imager of any denomination really does is take the output from an infrared detector, or plethora of detectors, and presents a 2-D scan of the infrared intensity distribution in the field of view of an optical system. These devices could be called by one common name. The devices that provide temperature information, probably more than any other type of device should be called Infrared Imagers, or Thermal Infrared Imagers or, simply, Thermal Imagers.
[attachment=29065]
Introduction
Remember the truism that all sensor have errors in their readings - all the time. One key secret to high quality measurement results is to have confidence in the error estimates. Neglecting to make a careful error analysis can result in error much larger than the assumed values.
It is worth noting that all competent error analyses start with the uncertainties assigned to the traceable calibration of the sensor itself. Without traceable calibration, one is forced to make assumptions. (You know what the word ass|u|me means, we hope.)
Without traceable measurements, the numerical values of results will always be questionable and hardly worth the effort, and cost. It most often pays to get started on the right path to technically sound measurements by beginning with some understanding of the options involved in selecting a temperature measurement device and then in obtaining one that meets the expected conditions and standards, is calibrated and that the calibration is traceable to either a fundamental standard (e.g. the triple point of water) or a national standard. See our calibration and standards pages for more details on each aspect of sound measurement practice.
Contact Sensors
Contact temperature sensors measure their own temperature.
One infers the temperature of the object to which the sensor is in contact by assuming or knowing that the two are in thermal equilibrium, that is, there is no heat flow between them.
Noncontact Sensors
Most commercial and scientific noncontact temperature sensors measure the thermal radiant power of the Infrared or Optical radiation that they receive from a known or calculated area on its surface, or a known or calculated volume within it (in those cases where the obect is semitransparent within the measuring wavelength passbad of the sensor).
One then infers the temperature of an object from which the radiant power is assumed to be emitted (some may be reflected rather than emitted). Sometimes the inference requires a correction for the spectral emissivity (NB: the two words, spectral & emissivity, are used together in correcting IR Thermometer readings -the "emissivity", unspecified, is a big trap which even some of the suppliers of devices and calibration equipment fall into unwittingly for a variety of reason about which one can only speculate ) of the object being measured.
Knowing how and when to apply a spectral emissivity correction is part of the inference, too, and can introduce significant errors if not done correctly. See our Trip down the E-missivity Trail to help you understand that aspect a little better.
Dewpoint Temperature
-- Humidity--
Although this area is in reality just an application of temperature sensors and other sensors, it grew out of temperature measurements.
Remember the old style humidity indicators that consisted of two little glass thermometers, the wet and dry bulb thermometers with a little look up table that told you the humidity, both absolute and relative? Have a look, it's a very important area in terms of human comfort, food safety and energy conservation and efficiency in thermal processes.
Thermal Imaging
The special world of thermography and thermal images includes the temperature-measuring kind of thermal imagers called "Radiomatic", by those in the business, and "Quantitative" by those mostly in R&Dwith thermal imaging. Then, too, there are those who call it "Thermology" when it applies to measurements made on the human body and "Medical Thermography" by still others, some even in the same business.
Users of infrared thermal imaging have many options in cameras both with and without temperature scales or temperature indication.
It seems really odd to have all these different names kicking about, when they all refer to the same basic technology. The names seem to differ only by application area. In reality, they all work because of the same Law of Physics, called Planck's Law.
That's the same law that describes how IR thermometers, optical pyrometers, radiation thermometers and infrared intrusion or people detectors work (note the common trait of multiple names).
The only thing that an IR thermal imager of any denomination really does is take the output from an infrared detector, or plethora of detectors, and presents a 2-D scan of the infrared intensity distribution in the field of view of an optical system. These devices could be called by one common name. The devices that provide temperature information, probably more than any other type of device should be called Infrared Imagers, or Thermal Infrared Imagers or, simply, Thermal Imagers.