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Temperature Specifications for Pressure Transducers
Understand some of the different terminology and specifications associated with pressure transducers.
A common concern when selecting a pressure transducer is the performance in various temperature conditions. Temperature is an important specification as it has a direct effect on the accuracy of the pressure transducer. Significant errors in the pressure readings or complete failure of the transducer is possible if installed in an environment that is outside the specified ranges.
Visual representation of the thermal specifications for the CS10 Industrial Pressure Transducer and how they relate to each other.
See below for a full description of each thermal specification.
Thermal specifications for CS10 Industrial Pressure Transducer
Operating Temperature
The operating temperature, or ambient temperature, refers to the minimum and maximum temperature that the transducers body, or housing, can tolerate. For example, the operating temperature of the CS10 Industrial Pressure Transducer is listed as -40 to +85°C. Temperature limitations of the electronics and other components within the transducers body dictate the operating temperature specification. By comparison, the CS91 high temperature pressure sensor can operate beyond 200°C. Since the CS91 is void of electronic signal conditioning, the pressure sensor can tolerate higher operating and environmental temperature.
Media Temperature
Media is the liquid or gas being measured by the transducer. The media temperature specification refers to the minimum and maximum temperature that the transducers process connection and diaphragm can tolerate. This specification typically has a wider range than the operating temperature as there is more material separating the temperature from the sensitive electronics found in the sensors body.
Core sensors also offers a cooling adapter for certain applications that reduces the temperature of the liquid or gas before it reaches the sensor. Since 316L is a poor conductor of heat, the ambient conditions help reduce the temperature of the liquid or gas as it passes its finned port.
Note: The operating and media temperature of an application should be considered together. Extremely hot media temperatures can cause heat to transfer to the transducers metal body. This heat transfer can push the operating temperature outside of the specified limit. Alternatively, this heat transfer can help when installing a transducer in a cold environment by increasing the temperature of the transducers body.
Compensated Temperature
The compensated temperature specification refers to the temperature range that the transducer has been conditioned to during manufacturing. This conditioning allows the transducer to control, or compensate, the amount of temperature error to a specified amount when within this range. For example, the CS10 Industrial Pressure Transducer has a compensated temperature of -15 to +65°C. The internal electronics of the CS10 can control the amount of error that is experienced as long as the temperature stays within this specified range. The amount of allowable error within this range is known as TC Zero and TC Span (See below).
Storage Temperature
The storage temperature specification refers to the minimum and maximum temperature that the transducer can be exposed to when not in operation. This temperature range is typically wider than the operating temperature since the circuitry of the sensor is not in use and temporary errors are not noticed. For example, the storage temperature of the CS10 Industrial Pressure Transducer is -40 to +125°C. Care should be taken to ensure storage temperatures do not exceed the specified range as damage to the sensor can still occur.
TC Zero and TC Span
TC, or Temperature Coefficient, is the maximum error allowed when operating within the transducers compensated temperature range. TC Zero refers to the effect of temperature on the zero signal while TC Span refers to the effect of temperature on the full scale output of the transducer. Using room temperature as a reference point, the temperature error of the zero signal increases within the specified TC as you move further away from room temperature. This specification is typically listed as a percentage of FS. For example, with a compensated temperature of 0 to +55°C, the TC Zero and TC Span are specified as ≤ ± 1% of FS (≤ ± 2% of FS for pressures 2 PSI & below).
Note: The allowable TC Zero and TC Span for pressure ranges 2 PSI and below is ≤ ± 2% of FS
TC Zero and TC Span temperature specification for CS10 Industrial Pressure Transducer
If you have any questions regarding temperature specifications listed on Core Sensors datasheets or you need help selecting a transducer for your application, please call us at 862-245-2673 or email [email protected].
About Core Sensors:
Core Sensors designs, manufactures and distributes high quality sensors for measuring pressure and temperature properties for industrial and hazardous applications worldwide. Core offers solutions for industrial, submersible, differential and hazardous applications in both standard and custom packaging. In-house design and manufacturing capabilities along with strategic manufacturing partners allows Core to create solutions to some of the most complex sensor requirements.
