A thermistor has a resistance of 27000 ohms at 25⁰c and 490 ohms at 82⁰c and the resistance temperature relationship is given by Rt = R0ebA With usual notation Calculate (i) the constant ( b ) (ii) The range of resistance to be measured in case the temperature varies from 35⁰c to 85⁰c

Solution: Thermistor resistance and temperature

Given:

  • Resistance at
  • Resistance at
  • Resistance-temperature relationship:

R_t=R_0e^{bA}

Using the usual thermistor notation, the formula is normally written as

R_t=R_0e^{\beta/T}

where:

  • = resistance at temperature
  • = reference resistance constant
  • = thermistor constant
  • = absolute temperature in kelvin (K)
  • = exponential constant, approximately

Important: The temperatures must be converted from Celsius to kelvin before using the formula.

T(K)=T(^\circ C)+273

(i) Calculate the thermistor constant

Step 1: Convert temperatures to kelvin.

T_1=25+273=298KT_2=82+273=355K

Step 2: Take the natural logarithm of the formula.

R=R_0e^{\beta/T}

For the two temperatures:

R_1=R_0e^{\beta/T_1}R_2=R_0e^{\beta/T_2}

Divide the equations to eliminate :

\frac{R_1}{R_2}
=e^{\beta(1/T_1-1/T_2)}

Taking natural logarithms:

\ln\left(\frac{R_1}{R_2}\right)
=\beta\left(\frac1{T_1}-\frac1{T_2}\right)

Therefore,

\beta=
\frac{\ln(R_1/R_2)}
{\left(\frac1{T_1}-\frac1{T_2}\right)}

Step 3: Substitute the values.

\beta=
\frac{\ln(27000/490)}
{\left(\frac1{298}-\frac1{355}\right)}\beta=\frac{\ln(55.102)}
{0.003356-0.002817}\beta=\frac{4.009}{0.000539}\boxed{\beta\approx7441\ K}

(ii) Calculate the resistance range from to

Use the formula:

R_t=R_1e^{\beta(1/T-1/T_1)}

We already know:

Step 1: Calculate resistance at

Convert to kelvin:

T=35+273=308K

Substitute:

R_{35}=27000e^{7441(1/308-1/298)}R_{35}=27000e^{-0.810}R_{35}=27000(0.445)\boxed{R_{35}\approx12,003\ \Omega}

Or approximately .

Step 2: Calculate resistance at

Convert to kelvin:

T=85+273=358K

Substitute:

R_{85}=27000e^{7441(1/358-1/298)}R_{85}=27000e^{-4.182}\boxed{R_{85}\approx411\ \Omega}

Final answers

Screenshot

Engineering interpretation: This is an NTC thermistor because its resistance decreases as temperature increases. Therefore, the highest resistance occurs at , while the lowest occurs at .

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