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Pyrometry measures an object’s temperature by its infrared radiation, using a pyrometer. The first pyrometers used disappearing filament, while modern ones require no contact and give accurate results. Pyrometers are used in various industries and healthcare settings.
Pyrometry is the process of measuring the temperature of an object by measuring its infrared radiation and is usually assumed to refer to operations under high temperature conditions. An instrument called a pyrometer is used for this process, which is a type of thermometer, and there are several types. Most modern pyrometers require no physical contact with the object being measured, making them suitable for measuring the temperature of extremely hot objects.
The first pyrometers used a technique called disappearing filament, or luminosity pyrometry, to measure temperature. The pyrometer used a filament of known composition and chemical properties to compare the object being measured with the filament, which glowed with a certain brightness when a known temperature was reached. These devices worked only when measuring objects with a marked brightness or luminosity. They gave inaccurate results under certain conditions, as the brightness of an object at a specific temperature can vary based on a number of factors, such as the texture or shape of the surface.
As this instrument proved less than satisfactory for some applications, a device known as a two-color or ratio pyrometer was developed. This device was essentially two brightness pyrometers combined into one device. The new pyrometer relied on the principle of physics known as Planck’s law for comparing two readings of an object to determine its temperature. While more accurate than earlier pyrometers, these devices were still prone to some of the same problems.
Modern pyrometers have further advanced the science and technology of pyrometry. They are often described as point-and-shoot pyrometers and provide accurate measurements of surface temperatures for nearly any object. They require no contact with the object to be measured and give results quickly and reliably.
There are many applications for pyrometry, found both in everyday life and in industrial processes. Pyrometers are often used in foundries and other factories to measure temperatures of various materials, including molten metals, gases, and salt baths. In 2011, inexpensive portable pyrometers, also known as infrared thermometers, are becoming more common in healthcare settings as a means of easily and almost instantly taking a patient’s temperature. These types of pyrometers are especially popular for use on young children and infants, as it can be difficult to use more traditional thermometers if the child or infant is uncooperative.
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