A Flexible, All-In-One Temperature Calibration Solution
A large pharmaceutical manufacturer had a need to use both liquid and dry-block calibrators to maintain the
proper temperature within their processes. Due to safety concerns with liquid baths, there had been a push
to move exclusively to dry-block systems. But as they employed a combination of short and sanitary sensors
along with standard straight probes, there were sensors that required liquid baths.
Dry Block Versus Liquid Bath Systems
When considering temperature calibration options, technicians traditionally had to make
the choice between using a dry-block or liquid temperature bath calibrator. Each solution
had distinct advantages over the other, but they also came with different drawbacks.
Advantages of Dry-Block Calibration
No hazardous or hot liquids.
Easier to handle inserts than liquid.
More convenient to carry.
100% repeatability due to the fixed sensor
position in the block.
Advantages of Liquid Bath Calibration
Different inserts aren’t required.
Calibrate any type of odd-shaped sensor
that wouldn’t fit in an insert.
Calibrate glass thermometers and gas- or
liquid-filled sensors
Our Solution
Although customers of our previous models of temperature calibrators
enjoyed the flexibility of switching from dry-block to liquid bath
modes, making the switch had its challenges, especially when switching
from wet to dry:
draining the calibrator, combined with cleanup
and preparation for transitioning to dry calibration, could be a tedious
and time consuming exercise.
Building on the knowledge gained from the development of two previous
combination dry-block/liquid bath temperature calibrators, the
engineering team at AMETEK STC
developed the RTC-168 Reference
Temperature Calibrator, featuring
industry-first innovations including a removable liquid insert/container, that makes
switching from wet to dry easier, faster, and much
cleaner. Simply remove the liquid container, and it’s
a dry-block calibrator again. And as the container can
be covered and sealed with a dedicated, threaded lid,
liquid can be stored and reused the next time that a
liquid bath calibration is called for.
Calibration in the Dry Block Configuration
The RTC-168’s dry-block calibration solution starts with a custom insert that includes a
cable groove which allows users to slide our new STS-102 A 035 reference sensor under
the flange of the sanitary sensor. Place the sanitary sensor into the middle of the insert,
and you’re ready to calibrate. As sanitary sensors and sensor tips are available in countless
shapes and designs, we can design and produce special inserts and deliver a genuinely
plug n’ play sanitary sensor calibration system.
Calibration in Our Temperature Bath
Our new patent-pending temperature calibration technique allows users to calibrate large
diameter, short sanitary sensors in situations that closely mirror the sensor’s day-to-day
use. By isolating the liquid in the main block from the excess liquid around the flange, we
have removed the liquid flow effect and the need for a precise liquid level, two traditional
sources of error. The RTC-168 is the industry’s only portable temperature calibrator capable
of high-accuracy wet calibrations of sanitary sensors up to 84 mm in diameter.
For the complete pdf case story, including supporting images, click here.