Temperature Bath Calibration Simulator – RTD & Thermocouple
Temperature Bath Calibration: RTD, Thermocouple and More
A temperature sensor is calibrated by comparing it with a better reference standard in the same constant-temperature bath. Follow the job like a technician: 1 Safety, 2 Choose equipment, 3 Set up (immersion, stirring, wiring), 4 Calibrate (5 points, wait for stability, record, adjust), 5 Finish safely. Mistakes show up as real errors. Use Next step to move on, Skip this step if you want to jump ahead, or Go to start.
Procedure map (click a step)
Hint
1 Safety and planning
Hot baths cause burns and fires. Never put a wet probe into hot oil (it spatters), never use water above about 95 C, and never touch a hot probe or bath.
Live bench readings
| Bath set / actual | |
| Reference standard | |
| Sensor under test | |
| Difference (UUT – standard) | |
| Stability (60 s spread) | |
| Simulated time |
Results table
| Point | Standard | UUT | Error | Tol +/- | Result |
|---|
Error (UUT minus standard) at each temperature. Blue = this run, green band = tolerance. A flat line near zero means a good sensor.
Calibration certificate and uncertainty budget
| As-found worst error | |
| As-left worst error | |
| Reference standard (k=2) | |
| Bath stability + uniformity | |
| Immersion + resolution + junction | |
| Expanded uncertainty U (k=2) | |
| Test uncertainty ratio (smallest tolerance / U) | |
| Result |
Typical practice (follow your site procedure): traceable reference, TUR 4:1 or better, probes at the same depth in the uniform zone, wait for stability, record as-found before any adjustment, then as-left.
Which bath for which job
| Bath | Range | Stability / uniformity | Remember |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice point | 0 C only | Excellent | Crushed ice, only just covered with water, stirred; a primary fixed point |
| Stirred liquid bath | 5 to 150 C | Very good | Water or oil; stirring is essential; do not use water near its boiling point |
| Hot oil bath | 50 to 250 C | Good | Fumes, flash point, never insert wet probes |
| Dry-block | -25 to 650 C | Fair (longer axial gradient) | Fast and portable, needs well-fitting insert sleeves, probes need long immersion |
| Fluidised bath | 100 to 700 C | Good | For high temperatures; sensors must tolerate heat and thermal shock |
