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If you read my article, “Why and When is RTD Calibration Necessary?” you learned how Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTDs) such as our S81 and S50 are a better choice than thermocouples for temperature process measurement because of their repeatable, high-accuracy measurement capabilities. More specifically, RTDs are ideal for demanding applications like chemical and refining processes that depend on precise temperature measurements. But to really understand RTD calibration, you also need to know how an RTD works. When I joined Ashcroft — a leader of temperature and pressure instrument solutions across the globe— I brought more than 20 years of temperature application experience with me, and I am happy to share my knowledge with you. In the following article, you learn more about how RTDs work, the different levels of accuracy in RTD calibration and the national and international standards that they are measured against. You will also be directed to additional resources and contact information in case you are ready to take the next step in your decision to select the best temperature measurement solution for your specific application.

The number of industries that rely on pressure measurement equipment is expansive. The list includes manufacturing, water/wastewater, hydraulics, food and beverage, medical, and pharmaceutical, among others. If you are new to any of these markets, you need to understand the importance of monitoring and maintaining appropriate levels of pressure in the critical processes in your industry. In fact, accurate measurement of pressure in these processes is essential for ensuring safety, control and process efficiency. However, achieving these goals requires periodic instrument calibration. With more than 12 years of specialization in precision instruments, I have witnessed first-hand the consequences of neglecting calibration. As a follow-up to my blog titled, How to Check the Calibration of a Pressure Gauge, this article examines in more detail the circumstances that necessitate this important process, focuses on the three most critical factors of calibration and discusses the considerations associated with each factor. When you finish reading, you will have a solid foundation of knowledge regarding pressure instrument calibration and be ready to dig deeper into the topic with the additional resources provided for your reference.

Consistently accurate measurements of temperature are vital to several industrial processes in fields from construction to energy to manufacturing. And while there are many ways to measure temperature of gas and liquid, thermocouples are among the most popular thanks to their simple design and versatility. But over time, a thermocouple’s performance may tail off for any number of reasons. Two of the most common are drift and elevated temperature.

Maintenance, reliability, process, and Health Safety Environment (HSE) teams rely on accurate and stable temperature measurements to meet their goals. Thermocouples, new out of the box, are a critical tool for these measurements that help plant personnel maintain safe and efficient operations.

Applications require different levels of accuracy. Measuring the pressure of a home water system does not necessarily need to be as accurate as a medical sterilizer application. A measurement of any parameter is only valuable if the user has confidence that it is accurate, but even the highest quality pressure gauge can become less accurate over time. To maintain optimal reliability and repeatability of your gauge, you must verify its calibration periodically.

Your pressure sensors are an important part of your application, ensuring accurate and reliable measurements and the safety of your process and its operators. To keep your processes working properly, recalibration of your sensors may be necessary over time. Sensors can degrade over time as components are exposed to wear, temperature and cycling. This can lead to a loss of stability and drift in the output signal of the sensor away from its published specification. Using sensors that cannot be recalibrated would require the replacement of the sensor once it drifted outside of its specifications and its output signal was no longer reliable. This could cause your critical application to shut down temporarily until the sensor can be replaced. A sensor that can be recalibrated will not only prolong the sensor’s life but will have your process back up and running in no time at all. This article will discuss zero and span adjustability and the benefits it can provide to your process.