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Constant sensitivity bridge for thermistor thermometers

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1962 J. Sci. Instrum. 39 75
(http://iopscience.iop.org/0950-7671/39/2/316)
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J. SCI.

INSTRUM.,

1962, VOL. 39

Constant sensitivity bridge for thermistor

thermometers*
E. PITTS and P. T. PRIESTLEY
Research Laboratories, Kodak Ltd., Wealdstone, Harrow, Middlesex
MS. received 21st September 1961
Despite the variation of the incremental temperature resistance sensitivity of thermistors,
temperatures can be measured in a Wheatstone bridge circuit having constant'temperature
deflection sensitivity if the bridge is fed from a variable voltage supply. In the circuit
described the compensation can be automatically set when the bridge is balanced, both
operations being performed simultaneously on one and the same variable resistor, which
is in series with a thermistor in one arm of a Wheatstone bridge and is part of a fixed
resistor, the remainder of which is in series with the bridge voltage supply. As a result,
the voltage across the bridge changes with the balancing resistor, so that the rate of change
with temperature of the off-balancecurrent is independent of the temperature at which the
bridge is balanced. The resistance values of the other three bridge arms must be suitably
chosen to achieve this automatic compensation, and a method is described for their
evaluation. In a typical example, full-scale deflection was obtained for a change of
0.315 degc, i.e. a sensitivity of 2.45 pA-deg-', which was within 1% of the calculated
value and constant to 1% over the working range of 15 degc.

1. IntrodIi~on
Thermometric analysis involves the measurement of small
temperature changes during a chemical reaction, and the
thermometer used must therefore accurately measure such
differences irrespective of the initial temperature. It is very
desirable to have an instrument more convenient and of a
much smaller thermal capacity than the B e c k " thermometer, which is otherwise suitable for the purpose.
Direct-reading thermistor thermometers (McLean 1954,
Beakley 1951) in which the full-scale deflection of a galvanometer corresponds to a temperature change of about 25 degc,
lack sufficient linearity, require complicated setting up and
are not immediately adaptable to the above use.
We here describe a simple bridge circuit in which a fullscale deflection always corresponds to the same small
temperature difference. The instrument has adequate sensitivity which is also constant over a working range of about
15 degc. As an additional advantage, it is very easy to use,
adjustment being effected by varying a single resistance
without the need for complicated cyclical procedures. Moreover, if an accuracy to 1% in the measurement of the
temperature differenceis enough, no calibration of the bridge
is necessary, the theoretically calculated sensitivity being
sufficiently accurate. This feature may save a great amount
of time.
2. The bridge circuit

Repeated measurements of the thermistor resistance are

inconvenient, so the thermistor is placed in one arm of a
Wheatstone bridge which is then balanced at a given
temperature, and subsequent small changes of temperature
are measured by the current flowing through the galvanometer as the bridge departs from balance. The current
through the galvanometer is proportional to a small change

in resistance. Since the rate of change of thermistor

resistance with temperature decreases with rise in temperature, the sensitivity of this simple arrangement decreases as
the working temperature increases.
To compensate for t h i s change in ssnsitivity, a resistance
is included in the circuit outside the bridge, in series with
the applied voltage. This resistance is decreased as the
working temperature increases, thus increasing the voltage
applied to the bridge.
At any working temperature, when the bridge is balanced
the total resistance of the arm containing the thermistor and
the adjustable resistance must have a k e d value determined
by the k e d resistances of the other three arms. If the sum
of the adjustable resistance and that in the external circuit
is kept constant, then, as the resistance of the thermistor
decreases with increasing working temperature so will the
resistance in the external circuit. By suitably choosing the
resistances of the other three arms it is then possible to
maintain constant sensitivity.
3. Theory
The figure shows the bridge circuit and the provision of a
resistance A-Y in the external circuit. The figure indicates
the symbols used in the following argument. Balance is
obtained by varying Y. The current is through the galvanometer may be found by the usual methods, and diJdT
may be derived and conditions chosen such that this rate of
change remains independent of the thermistor resistance R.
The equation for the current is
vi?,(&- R - Y)
ig -L ( M + A - Y)

* Communication No. 2192-H from the Kodak Research

Laboratories. The subject matter of this paper is covered by
U.K. Pat. Appl. No. 33420/61.
75

CONSTANT SENSITIVITY BRIDGE FOR THERMISTOR THERMOMETERS

R1. Equation (8) may be solved to find MOand hence R,,

which is given by

From these results we h a l l y obtain two numerically equal

expressions for the sensitivity at temperatures Tl and T2
respectively.

Thermistor bridge circuit.

V, voltage of cell; &, pre-set potentiometer; Rb, made up
from a high stability resistance and a potentiometer; R, resw
tance of thermistor; G, galvanometer resistance; iD cment
through the galvanometer; Y,resistance of potentiometer in
the bridge circuit; A-Y, resistance of potentiometer in extemal

circuit; A, total resistance of the balancing potentiometer.

The simpler equation (11) is used for calculations of the

sensitivity.
An alternative method is based upon the observation that
over the working range the change of thermistor resistance
with temperature may be written approximately as
dR_
dT - - a(R - ,@,

where a and p are independent of T. This result can be

easily shown graphically or theoretically. If this expression
is used in equation (9,there results
dip -

aVRa(R - tk?)

dT - Lo(M0 + A - Rb + R)'
We now consider the expression for di$dT in conditions
where the bridge is very nearly balanced. There will be small
changes in Lo and MOwhen the bridge goes off balance, but
it is readily shown that the main change in ig will be due to
the change in (Rb - R - Y). A good approximation is
therefore

This expression will be independent of R, and hence of T,

provided
MO= Rb - p - A.
The application of this approximation obviously ensures
constant sensitivity throughout the working range. Its use
leads in practice to the same value of R, as that found by
the first method, and also to the same value of the sensitivity.
4. A practical example

where we have used equation (2) to substitute for Y in the

denominator. Over a temperature range of about 20 degc
the variation of thermistor resistance with temperature is
given by
R = a ebiT,
(9
where a and b are constants and Tis the absolute temperature.
Equation (5) then becomes

In order to test the validity of the foregoing approximate

theory, we calibrated an 'aged' thermistor (Stantel F23,
S.T.C. Ltd.) using an N.P.L.-certiiied 0-50" c thermometer
and a Muirhead Wheatstone bridge. The values R, and R2
of the thermistor resistance were 2500 Q at 1440"c and
1463 Q at 29.62"c respectively. The latter temperature was
chosen so that R1- R2 was equal to the value of a nominal
l m 10-turn helipot (Colvem CLR 2301/22) having an
actual resistance of 1037 Q. These results enable the values
of a and b in equation (6) to be calculated. The result is
b = 2982"K, a = 0-0775 Q. By use of equation (9), the
value of R, was found to be 749 Q. The bridge circuit was
then constructed, R, and Rb being calibrated against the
Muirhead Wheatstone bridge.
The thermistor thermometer was then checked at various
temperatures against a Beckmann thermometer. The
experimental values of sensitivity are shown in the table.

The requirement of constant sensitivity means that thii

expression must be independent of R throughout the range.
A way of effecting this is to make the sensitivities equal at
each end of the working range; in practice this also sufEces
to keep sensitivities very nearly constant throughout.
Suppose R1 and R2 are the resistances of the thermistor at Temp.("c)
14.8 15.2 18.0 24.0 27.2 28.2
the ends of the working range at temperatures Tland T2 dig
-(p~deg-')
2.45 2.45 2 4 7 2.46 2.45 2.45
respectively. Sensitivities will be equal if
dT
Substitution of V = 1-5Ov, G = 1308 Cl and other
quantities in equation (11) gives the theoretical result

The value of the potentiometer resistance A may conveniently

be chosen to qual. RI - R2, and we shall put Rb equal to
76

dT

= 2.43 /.LA

Qeg-'.

CONSTANT SENSITIVITY BRIDGE FOR THERMISTOR THERMOMETERS

From these results it will be seen that the sensitivity varies potentiometer A may be calibrated in absolute degrees if so
by about 1% over the working range and is within about desired.
1% of the theoretical value obtained from the approximate
The 10-turn-helipot, used for A, was fitted with an
theory. With the galvanometer used (Pye Scalamp, indicator dial having lo00 divisions so that in the apparatus
a full-scale deflection corresponded to described lo00 divisions were equivalent to 1 5 . 6 2 " ~or
0-00556 p.4 "-I)
approximately 0 3 degc.
1 division to 0.015 62"c. Consequently the bridge sensitivity,
expressed as degrees c per full-scale deflection, could be
easily evaluated in the following manner, to take into account
5. Conclusions
any change in the bridge supply voltage due to battery
The approximate theory gives results which differ from deterioration. The thermistor was immersed in a liquid at
experiment by about 1%. Greater accuracy cannot be constant temperature, or replaced by a 2.2 kilohm resistor,
expected since the evaluation of the derivative di,ldT is and the bridge balanced. The balance helipot was then
only approximate. Nevertheless, for many purposes this rotated twgive full-scale deflection of the galvanometer.
accuracy is sacient, in which case the theoretical value can The number of divisions, on the indicator dial, which correbe used without the need for time-consuming calibration. sponded to this deflection was noted and the temperature
The sensitivity does remain nearly constant over the whole span of the galvanometer was evaluated.
The authors have also made a thermistor thermometer to
working range.
It is important that an 'aged' thermistor is used, otherwise cover the range 56-82' c for use in the Heitler (1958) ebullioresults will vary considerably over a period of months (see, meter. This thermometer has a sensitivity of 1e94 PA deg-*
for example, Beck 1956). In the present experiments, the with a galvanometer @ye Scalamp 040556 PA mm-') and
thermistor was immersed altemately in hot and cold water its full-scale deflection corresponds to 0.4 degc.
until the resistance at a given temperature remained constant.
The theory enables a suitable choice of galvanometer to References
be made if the sensitivity needed is known. The thermistor BEAKLEY,
W. R., 1951, J. Sei. Instrum., 28,176.
thermometer is accurate and very convenient to use and BECK,A., 1956, J. Sei. Instrum., 33, 16.
therefore suitable for many types of work where small I-IEITLER, C., 1958, Analyst, 83,223.
temperature differences have to be measured. The balancing MCLEAN,J. A., 1954, J. Sei. Instrum., 31, 455.