Enquire Now
category_image

Resistance Temperature Detector

Request a Quote

ABOUT

Introduction

Tempsens resistance temperature detectors offer unparalleled accuracy and stability in the aggressive industries of the UAE and Gulf region. They can handle extremely low and high temperatures, from -200°C to +850°C, which makes them a safe choice for the critical applications in the oil & gas, petrochemicals, power generation and manufacturing facilities across the Middle East.

Tempsens is a globally certified resistance temperature device manufacturer with over 45 years of thermometry experience. Tempsens provides fully realized temperature measurement solutions and comply with international standards. The Tempsens RTD resistance temperature detectors come with platinum elements with high chemical inertness, and linearity to provide steady performance in the harsh Gulf environments, where temperature accuracy is essential to make industry processes efficient, comply with safety standards, and optimize energy usage.

featured image

PRODUCTS

Our Resistance Temperature Detector Catalog

About Resistance Temperature Detector

Applications of RTD Sensors In The UAE & Gulf Countries

  • Oil & Gas: Monitoring offshore platforms, refineries, and pipelines with vibration-immune resistance temperature sensing devices featuring expansion loops and bearing-specific design.
  • Power Generation: Monitoring steam turbines, boiler systems, and generators with high-temperature RTD sensors and specially designed thermowells (e.g., Inconel, Hastelloy, Monel).
  • Petrochemical Processing: Multi-point temperature monitoring in reactors and distillation columns with explosion-proof resistance temperature devices (Ex-IIA/IIB, Ex-d, ATEX certified).
  • Desalination Plants: Treatment of seawater and thermal processes using corrosion-resistant RTD probes, including Teflon/PVC-coated RTD probes.
  • Steel Processing: High-temperature furnaces and heat-treatment applications utilizing mineral-insulated RTDs for fast response.
  • HVAC: Building automation and climate control of commercial buildings with platinum RTD temperature sensing devices.

Platinum is a highly preferred material for RTD sensors as not at all like different components it has a profoundly straight Resistance–Temperature relationship which is repeatable within a wide temperature range. This linear temperature ranges from (–272.5) °C – (961.78) °C. It is also preferred due to its chemical inertness which makes it ideal to use in any environment.

The sensors made for the International Temperature Scale standard (ITS-90) are Platinum sensors. Copper additionally has a decent straight Resistance–Temperature relationship, however, it oxidizes over 150 °C, which makes it unsuitable for higher temperatures. Nickel shows a Non-Linear relationship above 300 °C which limits its temperature range.

The resistance at 0°C is called

R0

and it is a significant parameter to be defined. The most commonly used RTD resistance element is platinum with a resistance of 100 Ω at 0°C. Hence named as RTD PT100 sensor. Platinum RTDs (Resistance Temperature Devices) are appropriate for temperature ranges from –200°C to 850°C. Normally, industrial RTDs are used up to 400°C.

The direct estimation of resistance versus temperature is taken between 0 °C – 100 °C:

α = (R100 – R0) / (R0 × ΔT)

Where:
R100 is the RTD resistance of the sensor at 100 °C
R0 is the RTD resistance of the sensor at 0 °C
ΔT is the temperature difference

Pure platinum has α = 0.003926 Ω/(Ω•°C) for the 0–100 °C range.

The acceptable value specified by IEC 60751 and ASTM E-1137 standards is α = 0.00385 Ω/(Ω•°C). The estimation of α is shifted by a process called doping, where controlled contaminants are introduced into the atomic lattice of platinum.

RTD Resistance vs Temperature Graph

RTD Advantages

Features of RTD Sensor in UAE & Gulf Countries

  • Exceptional Temperature Range: Platinum resistance temperature detectors with operating temperatures from -200°C to +850°C with α = 0.00385 Ω/(Ω•°C) coefficient as per IEC 60751.
  • Improved Shock Resistance: Mineral insulated (MI) RTDs with great shock resistance and ability to withstand industrial environments with heavy vibrations of the Gulf.
  • Multiple Wiring Configurations: 2-wire, 3-wire, and 4-wire RTD resistance configurations to maximize accuracy while compensating for lead wire resistance.
  • Corrosion Protection: Elaborate thermowell designs made from materials to suit the corrosive atmospheres of the Gulf including SS316L, Hastelloy C-276, and Inconel 625.
  • Explosion Proof Design: ATEX and IECEX certified resistance temperature sensors fit for use in hazardous Zone 1 & 2.
  • Accurate Temperature Sensor Elements: Pt100, Pt500, Pt1000, and Pt5000 series with Class A accuracy (±0.15°C at 0°C) to descend into process control.
  • Custom Solutions: Application-based RTD assemblies including sanitary tri-clover, quick-mount CIP/SIP, and bearing temperature monitoring systems.

All of them differ in their temperature sensor range, lead arrangement, and structure. We provide expert recommendations to assist you in selecting the right fit.

RTD (Resistance Temperature Sensor) Applications – Challenges and Tempsens solutions

IndustryChallengesTempsens RTD Solutions
Power PlantsSensor failure, high vibration, inaccurate flue/steam tempRTD with thermowells (SS, HRS446, Inconel, Monel, Hastelloy, Ceramic, etc)
SteelRefractory failure, ladle heat loss, inconsistent heatingMI RTDs, Fast Response RTDs
Chemical PlantsCorrosion, coating failure, multi-point temperature zonesTeflon/PVC Coated RTDs, Multipoint RTDs, Ex-proof RTDs (Ex-IIA/IIB, EX-D, ATEX head)
PharmaHygiene compliance, calibration issues, frequent sensor downtimeSanitary RTDs with Tri-clover thermowell, Class A Precision RTDs, Quick-mount & CIP/SIP RTDs
Cement ProductionHigh abrasion zones, slag buildup, secondary air temperature monitoringKiln Roller RTDs, WHRB – Water Temperature RTD, Hopper heating RTD, support insulator RTD
Oil & GasMechanical vibration, limited sensor accessSkin RTDs with expansion loops, Vibration-proof RTDs, Bearing RTDs

Why Choose Tempsens RTDs?

Selecting the proper resistance thermometer (resistance temperature sensor) has an impact not only on performance but also on plant safety, energy efficiency, and quality compliance.

Here’s why market leaders rely on Tempsens RTD resistance temperature detector sensors:

Tempsens is not merely a resistance temperature sensor supplier — we’re solution partners dedicated to assisting you in purchasing temperature sensors that truly make a difference.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to frequently asked questions related to Resistance Temperature Detector.

A Pt100 RTD is a temperature sensor based on platinum that has a resistance of 100 Ω at 0 °C. A thermowell is a closed-end protective metal sleeve which protects the RTD from the process conditions which could involve pressure, chemical attack, velocity and mechanical shock. The thermowell allows the RTD to be replaced or recalibrated without interrupting the process.

Platinum has a near linear and extremely stable resistance-temperature relationship and has low drift over time. Pt100 elements have a consistent accuracy, good repeatability and very good material stability over a wide range of temperatures (-200 °C to 850 °C), which makes them the international standard for reasonable accuracy for industrial temperature measurement.Tempsens Pt100 RTDs are specifically calibrated to perform reliably in the challenging conditions found throughout UAE and Gulf industrial environments.

The selection depends on system design:

  • Pt100 is preferred for high-accuracy industrial systems using 3-wire or 4-wire configurations, where cable resistance can be compensated.
  • Pt1000 is advantageous in 2-wire circuits, long cable runs, and battery-powered or low-power installations because the higher base resistance reduces the influence of lead resistance and lowers self-heating effects.

Both are accurate; the choice is driven by wiring configuration, allowable uncertainty, and installation constraints. A certified Tempsens professional can assist you in finding the best temperature measuring device or technique for your business’s unique needs through their local application engineering expertise located in the UAE and Gulf Regions.

Resistance temperature detectors determine temperature by taking the change in electrical resistance of platinum elements and correlating that change with temperature change. RTDs are used mainly in industrial processes where accuracy and stability are important which include power plants, chemical processing, pharmaceuticals, and oil refining where precise control of temperature is vital in order to maintain a safe and efficient process.

RTD resistance changes in a predictable manner with temperature according to the equation α = (R100 - R0)/(R0 x ΔT) where the linear resistance-temperature coefficient of platinum remains largely unaffected across a broad range of temperature; and since a resistance temperature element (RTD) detects the change in resistance electronically, the change in resistance is converted three ways into temperature with high accuracy and repeatability.

The calculation of RTD temperature requires the use of the Callendar-Van Dusen equation for platinum (PT) resistance temperature sensors for all temperatures less than 0°C is R(T) = R0[ 1 + AT + BT² + CT³(T-100)]. For temperatures in the 0°C to 850°C range the relationship is R(T) = R0 (1 + AT + BT²). The definitions in the equations include R0 as the resistance at 0°C (for example Pt100 is equal to 100Ω at 0°C), A, B, C are coefficients standardized so that performance of the resistance temperature sensor is met within each application.

The RTD sensor’s operating principle relies on the fact that resistance varies with temperature in a known manner, providing accurate and stable temperature readings.

Think about parameters such as temperature range, precision, environment (vibration, chemicals), response time, and installation type. Select materials and construction based on these.

RTDs are applied to steel, pharmaceuticals, food processing, petro, HVAC, aerospace, power plants, and industrial automation for accurate temperature measurement and control.

The Callendar-Van Dusen equation is used to define RTD resistance:
R(t) = R₀(1 + At + Bt² + C(t – 100)t³), where A, B, C are constants.

Common materials are platinum (most precise), copper, nickel, and nickel-iron alloys—selected on the basis of stability, linearity, and corrosion resistance.

Platinum is highly stable and has a large range; copper is economical but low-resistance; nickel is highly sensitive but non-linear.

Platinum RTDs generally function within the range of –200°C to +850°C, whereas copper and nickel versions possess lower temperature thresholds determined by their design and materials.

IEC 751 specifies tolerances for RTD:
Class A = ±(0.15 + 0.002×t)°C;
Class B = ±(0.3 + 0.005×t)°C;
There are other classes such as 1/3, 1/5 DIN which are for greater precision.

They are high-purity platinum RTDs in accordance with ITS-90 standards and used in metrology laboratories for precise and repeatable measurements.

RTDs are made up of a sensing element (wire or film), insulators, leads, and a protective cover. They can be constructed as thin-film, coil-wound, or mineral insulated.

This form employs platinum wire wound into a helix and placed inside a ceramic tube for support, suitable for precise lab and industrial use.

Platinum wire is wound over a mandrel and glass- or ceramic-covered here, providing improved vibration resistance and moderate accuracy.

RTDs operate on 2, 3, or 4-wire configurations. Additional wires ensure the elimination of lead resistance and ensure greater accuracy in measurements.

Simple configuration in which a single lead is connected to both ends of the element. It’s easy but has the effect of lead resistance being measured, which decreases the accuracy.

It’s the most popular industrial setup; it takes care of lead wire resistance if all leads have the same resistance.

Utilized in applications requiring precision, it totally removes lead resistance effects by sensing voltage along a known current path.

RTD wiring generally adheres to color codes: two red and one white for 3-wire; two red and two white for 4-wire configurations.

These RTDs are housed in compacted MgO within a metal sheath, thereby being vibration-resistant and flexible, and suited for harsh environment use.

Typical errors are lead wire resistance, insulation breakdown, self-heating, mechanical stress, and long-term calibration drift.

Conformity guarantees standardized performance from sensors; increased conformity indicates greater interchangeability without recalibration.

Sensitivity is a measure of how much the resistance varies per degree; greater sensitivity enhances measurement resolution and signal intensity.

High insulation resistance avoids shunting errors and insures the RTD’s readings are correct and not affected by leakage currents.

Current measurement induces minor self-heating. If not relieved, it causes errors. Reduced current or improved heat removal lessens the effect.

It establishes the speed with which the RTD responds to changes in temperature. Reduced time constants allow faster response in dynamic applications.

Repeatability guarantees that the RTD delivers the same output for a given set of circumstances, essential for process control and data logging to be reliable and consistent.

Long-term resistance to drift is represented by stability. Platinum RTDs exhibit excellent stability, particularly in harsh industrial environments.

Suitable packaging facilitates heat transfer, guards the element, and maintains precision and quick response in the desired environment.

These are robust RTD assemblies contained in protective sheaths and used for direct immersion or industrial installations within a thermowell.

Probe assemblies consist of the RTD sensor, sheath, lead wires, and mounting hardware to meet process connection specifications.

Flexible RTDs are thin, flexible sensors applied in curved or irregular surfaces, offering quick response and high accuracy in confined areas.

These RTDs are engineered for custom applications like surface mounts, embedded sensors, or flexible strip form in OEM equipment.

RTDs are employed in environments such as process industries, laboratories, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, energy, and HVAC, where accurate and consistent temperature regulation is necessary.

They offer excellent accuracy, enduring stability, wide temperature range, high repeatability, making them ideal for precise temperature control applications.

RTDs are pricier than thermocouples, respond more slowly, and are less applicable at extremely high temperatures (beyond 850°C).

CONTACT

Let’s Talk About Your Thermal and Cable Needs

Have questions about Thermal Engineering Solutions, Electric heating solutions, or specialized cable? We're here to provide tailored solutions. Reach out today, and let’s collaborate on your next project!

Tempsens Arrow