Calibration of industrial platinum resistance thermometers up to 700°C

Industrial grade platinum resistance thermometers were calibrated in the temperature range from 200°C to 700°C . Both wire-wound and thin-film sensor-based thermometers were investigated. The purpose of the study was to investigate thermometers which could be used in future coal power plants. The calibrations were performed in a vertical cesium heat-pipe furnace and in a horizontal and vertical sodium heat-pipe furnace. The reference thermometer was a standard platinum resistance thermometer calibrated at fixed points up to the aluminum point. In addition to calibration, various thermal tests including immersion measurements and thermal-cycling tests were performed. The stability of the sensors was determined by monitoring the ice-point resistance. Possible contamination of the sensors was determined by measuring the resistance ratio R(30°C)/R(10°C) several times during the measurement period. The calibration curves were compared with the ICE 60751 standard and International Temperature Scale 1990 (ITS-90) reference functions. Considerable changes were found in all tested thermometers. The wire-wound sensors were more stable than the thin-film sensors.