Platinum resistance thermometers (PRTs) are electronic devices used to evaluate changes in electrical resistance under extreme temperatures. PRTs are becoming the standard in resistive thermal devices due to platinum’s accuracy in sensing temperature in industrial processes. PRTs come in different forms, with film resistors being an alternative to carbon resistors. Platinum’s chemical inertness allows for wider industrial applications, but limitations arise at temperatures exceeding 1200°F (650°C) and below -463°F (-275°C).
A platinum resistance thermometer, more commonly referred to as a PRT, is an electronic device used within a circuit. Its purpose is to evaluate the changes that can occur in the amount of electrical resistance a material can have under extreme temperatures. The use of platinum is rapidly becoming the standard in resistive thermal devices due to its ability to remain accurate in sensing temperature in industrial processes that occur at or below 1112 degrees Fahrenheit (600 degrees Celsius).
A platinum resistance thermometer has become one of the most commonly used RTDs in industrial applications. A platinum resistance thermometer has also become a standard in resistance thermometers due to its use of platinum. Platinum increases its repeatability in all circuits where the thermometer is used.
PRTs come in several forms. Each of these forms has its advantages and disadvantages. Carbon resistors, for example, have long been used as standards due to their reliability and availability, as well as their low cost. With new forms of circuitry becoming the industry norm, however, carbon resistors may not always be a compatible resource.
Film resistors are an alternative to carbon resistors. Film resistors offer a fast response time and are economical due to the thin film of platinum used in conjunction with the substrate layer of the resistor. These two components expand and contract at different rates, however, which can cause inaccuracy and stress on the resistor.
Another reason platinum is used as the standard material in resistance thermometers is its natural tendency towards chemical inertness. Other materials typically do not have a significant effect on a resistance thermometer when platinum is used as the resistance material. Therefore, a platinum resistance thermometer can be used in a wider range of industrial applications. Also, because a resistance thermometer relies on temperature changes to provide the different level of resistance needed in the circuit, the accuracy provided by the platinum is an advantage.
The limitations faced by platinum resistance thermometers are found in applications that reach common temperatures exceeding 1200 degrees Fahrenheit (650 degrees Celsius). These extreme temperatures create the possibility of chemical impurities within the platinum, making the resistance thermometer inaccurate. Also, when the industrial application requiring the use of a PRT reaches common temperatures of -463 degrees Fahrenheit (-275 degrees Celsius) or lower, the possibility of inaccuracies with platinum resistance thermometers increases dramatically.
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