RTD stands for Resistance Temperature Detector and refers to a resistance thermometer whose electrical resistance changes in a defined manner with temperature. Typical RTD sensors are platinum resistance thermometers such as Pt100 or Pt1000, which are characterized by high accuracy and long-term stability.
Principle of Operation
In an RTD, a measurement current is passed through the sensor element, and the resulting voltage drop is measured; this allows the resistance—and thus the temperature—to be calculated. The characteristic curve (e.g., according to IEC 60751 for Pt100) is known and stored in the measuring device, allowing the output to be displayed directly in degrees Celsius or Kelvin.
RTD in Delphin Applications
Delphin measurement and data acquisition systems support the direct connection of RTD sensors, such as Pt100 or Pt1000, to appropriately configured analog inputs. Through integrated signal conditioning, the resistance values are automatically scaled to temperature values and can then be recorded, visualized, monitored, or used for automation tasks. In typical applications—such as laboratory and process measurements, test benches, or energy monitoring—RTD sensors enable precise and long-term stable temperature measurement using Delphin hardware and software.