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The NIST Industrial Thermometer Calibration Laboratory

Published

Author(s)

C D. Vaughn, Gregory F. Strouse

Abstract

The NIST Industrial Thermometer Calibration (ITC) Laboratory provides calibrations of industrial thermometers over the range from 196 C to 550 C. The different types of thermometers include liquid-in-glass (LiG), thermistors, thermocouples (<300 C), and industrial platinum resistance thermometers (IPRTs). Calibrations are performed by both comparison with an International Temperature Scale of 1990 a standard platinum resistance thermometer (SPRT) calibrated on the International Temperature Scale of 1990 and by a limited number of fixed-points. The comparison baths are liquid nitrogen ( 196 C), alcohol ( 100 C to 1 C), water (0.5 C to 95 C), oil (95 C to 275 C), and salt (275 C to 550 C). The fixed points used are the melting point of ice (0 C), the triple point of water (0.01 C), and the melting point of gallium (29.7646 C). The temperature measurement system for the reference SPRT is a commercially-available ac resistance ratio bridge, for the IPRTs and thermistors it is a dc voltmeter with a constant current source, for the thermocouples it is a dc voltmeter, and for the LiGs it is a digital video camera. All of these temperature measurement systems are integrated via three computer-controlled data acquisition systems that semi-automate calibrations. This paper presents the methods, equipment, and uncertainties associated with the calibration of industrial thermometers in the ITC Laboratory.
Proceedings Title
International Symposium on Temperature and Thermal Measurements in Industry and Science | 8th | | VDE
Conference Dates
June 1, 2001
Conference Location
Berlin, 1, GE
Conference Title
TEMPMEKO

Keywords

Digitals, Industrial Thermometers, ITS-90, Liquid-in-glass, Resistance Thermometers, Thermistors, Thermocouples, Thermometer Calibrations, Thermometry

Citation

Vaughn, C. and Strouse, G. (2001), The NIST Industrial Thermometer Calibration Laboratory, International Symposium on Temperature and Thermal Measurements in Industry and Science | 8th | | VDE, Berlin, 1, GE, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=830734 (Accessed December 23, 2024)

Issues

If you have any questions about this publication or are having problems accessing it, please contact reflib@nist.gov.

Created May 31, 2001, Updated October 12, 2021