CHE184-1P Process Dynamics and Control
3rd Quarter SY 2016-2017
Determination of Time Constant of an Alcohol Thermometer for Ventilated and Unventilated Conditions
Mendoza, Theresa C1,
1Student, CHE184-1P/B41, School of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Mapa Institute of Technology
1. Introduction
The transient response of a dynamic system is the
behavior of the process output in response to a varying
input. The nature of the transient response is dependent
to the structure of the used input to disturb the process.
[1]
Response time is the term utilized to describe the
amount of time for an instrument to indicate a change in
a measured variable. This indication is typically done by
a sensor, which every instrument has. Several factors
influence the response time such as the design of the
sensors and the type of measured variable [2]. Figure 1
shows a comparison of usual response time for different
types of variable.
Figure 1. Response Time for Different Variables [2].
Temperature sensors take long to respond to any
changes since they should physically heat up or cool
down when a temperature change occurs until the same
level of measured variable is reached. This effect is
Laboratory Exercise 1 Group No. 7 February 10, 2017
called thermal lag [2]. The time constant, , is time
required for an instrument to reach within 36.8% of
equilibrium after the sensor has been subjected to a
step input change. The rate at which the denoted value
varies with time, dT/dt, when a thermometer is put in a
medium with changing temperature is expected to be
directly proportional to the rate at which heat flows in
the thermometer [3]. Consequently, the general dynamic
response equation of the liquid-in-glass thermometer
can be expressed as:
=
[ ( )] (Equation 1)
In which,
M mass of fluid that the thermometer comes in contact
within the change in time, dt
cp the specific heat of the fluid at constant
pressure
C the thermal capacity of the thermometer
Te ambient temperature
T(t) temperature reading on the
thermometer at time t
t time
The objectives of the experiment are to determine the
time constant of an alcohol thermometer, also, to
determine the effect of ventilation to this time constant
using both hot and cold medium. Two transient
response, step and pulse, has been used for this
experiment
2. Experimental
Step Function
The procedures for the step function were done for
boiling water and ice bath, and ventilated and
unventilated air systems simultaneously. The
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 CHE184-1P Process Dynamics and Control
3rd Quarter SY 2016-2017

procedure was performed for a total of four systems
which are the following:
a. From boiling water to ventilated air
b. From boiling water to unventilated air
c. From ice bath to ventilated air
d. From ice bath to unventilated air
Initially, the ambient air temperature was measured and
found out to be 28 C the alcohol thermometer was 2.
placed in a boiling water/ice bath, let it equilibrate at
98C and 1C, respectively. The thermometer was
taken out and exposed to air. The temperature for an
The time of constant of any instrument is essential to
know since its function may fail when the environmental
temperature changes with time.
Step Function
To determine the time constant of the alcohol, equation
1 is being integrated assuming that Te is constant with
initial and final limits of Ti and T(t) resulting to equation
()
ln( ) =
(Equation 2)

interval of 5 seconds, except for system b in which the

interval is 10 seconds, was noted for three minutes or However, time constant, , is defined as the thermal
until the thermometer reading reached its ambient resistance multiplied by thermal capacitance. Thus,
temperature.
= (Equation 3)

Pulse Function
Substituting the value from equation 3 to 2 resulting
Listed below are the systems used for this particular into a more simplified equation. Moreover, the left-
function: hand side was expressed in term Y(t), also, for
simplification.
a. From air to boiling water to air
b. From air to ice bath to air
() = (Equation 4)
Note that the air has no ventilation.
In the performed experiment, the necessary data were
To begin with, the thermometer reading was assured to gathered and calculations were done to get the values
be away from the steam coming from either ice bath or of time and Y(t) for both ventilated and unventilated
boiling water to maintain the ambient air temperature at conditions. Tables 1 and 2 shows the raw data while
28 C. Then, the thermometer was placed in boiling tables 3 and 4 shows the data with calculations.
water/ice bath and temperature was noted every five
seconds until the temperature equilibrates or until the Table 1. Hot Water to Air System Raw Data
thermometer reading was same after 15 seconds. Unventilated Ventilated
Continuously, the thermometer was taken out from t (s) T (C) T (C)
boiling water/ice bath and temperature was noted again 0 98 98
with 5 second interval until the thermometer reading is 10 82 78
at ambient air temperature. 20 74 62
30 69 50
The collected data were plotted into the graph to 40 64 42
determine the time constant of the thermometer and the 50 60 38
effect of ventilation to the system. 60 57 36
70 54 32
80 52 30
3. Results and Discussion 90 49 29
100 47 29

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 CHE184-1P Process Dynamics and Control
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110 45 28 150 -1.764

120 44 28 160 -1.851
130 42 28 170 -1.946
140 41 28 180 -2.051
150 40 28
160 39 28
170 38 28 Table 4. Cold Water to Air System Raw Data with
calculations
180 37 28
Unventilated Ventilated
t (s) Y(t) t (s) Y(t) t (s) Y(t) t (s) Y(t)
0 0.000 95 -1.216 0 0.000 95 -1.910
Table 2. Cold Water to Air System Raw Data 5 -0.038 100 -1.216 5 -0.118 100 -1.910
Unventilated Ventilated 10 -0.118 105 -1.216 10 -0.405 105 -2.197
T t (s) T T t (s) T 15 -0.205 110 -1.216 15 -0.657 110 -2.197
t (s) t (s)
(C) (C) (C) (C) -0.811 -2.197
0 1 95 20 0 1 95 24
20 -0.300 115 -1.216 20 115
25 -0.351 120 -1.216 25 -0.993 120 -2.197
5 2 100 20 5 4 100 24
10 4 105 20 10 10 105 25 30 -0.463 125 -1.216 30 -1.099 125 -2.197
15 6 110 20 15 14 110 25 35 -0.523 130 -1.350 35 -1.216 130 -2.603
20 8 115 20 20 16 115 25 40 135 40 -1.216 135 -2.603
-0.588 -1.350
25 9 120 20 25 18 120 25 -1.350 -2.603
30 11 125 20 30 19 125 25 45 -0.657 140 -1.350 45 140
50 -0.731 145 -1.350 50 -1.504 145 -2.603
35 12 130 21 35 20 130 26
40 13 135 21 40 20 135 26 55 -0.811 150 -1.350 55 -1.504 150 -2.603
45 14 140 21 45 21 140 26 60 -0.898 155 -1.350 60 -1.504 155 -2.603
50 15 145 21 50 22 145 26 -1.686 -2.603
55 16 150 21 55 22 150 26
65 -0.993 160 -1.350 65 160
70 -0.993 165 -1.350 70 -1.686 165 -2.603
60 17 155 21 60 22 155 26
65 18 160 21 65 23 160 26 75 -0.993 170 -1.350 75 -1.910 170 -2.603
70 18 165 21 70 23 165 26 80 -1.099 175 -1.350 80 -1.910 175 -2.603
75 18 170 21 75 24 170 26 85 180 85 -1.910 180 -2.603
-1.099 -1.504
80 19 175 21 80 24 175 26 -1.910
85 19 180 22 85 24 180 26 90 -1.216 90
90 20 90 24

Table 3. Hot Water to Air System with Calculations It can be observed from Tables 1 and 2, the temperature
warms up or cools down faster in the system with
Unventilated Ventilated
ventilation. This can be proven in Figures 2 and 3 which
t (s) Y(t) Y(t)
0.000 0.000
shows the graph of Temperature in Celsius versus time
0
-0.260 -0.336
in seconds for the entire systems. For hot water to air
10
-0.420 -0.722 system, the temperature even goes down to 28 degrees
20
30 -0.535 -1.157 Celsius with ventilation. Moreover, for cold water to air
40 -0.665 -1.609 system, the temperature warms up to 26 degrees
50 -0.783 -1.946 Celsius with ventilation.
60 -0.881 -2.169
70 -0.990 -2.862
80 -1.070 -3.555
90 -1.204 -4.248
100 -1.304 -4.248
110 -1.415
120 -1.476
130 -1.609
140 -1.684

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 CHE184-1P Process Dynamics and Control
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Cold Water to Air 131.57942

(Unventilated)
120
100
Adjusting the degree of ventilation is a practical way to
T in Celsius

80
60
change the response time of a thermometer. After
40
observations and calculations in this particular
180; 37
20
180; 28 experiment, the time constant decreases immediately
0
with ventilation.
0 50 100 150 200
t in seconds Pulse Function
In this function, the linearized working equation which is
Unventilated (Hot Water to Air) derived from Laplace transforms is[4]
Ventilated (Hot Water to Air)
ln () = ln() (Equation 5)
Figure 2. Plot of Temperature versus Time Hot Water to Air
Tables 6 and 7 shows the raw data for the two systems
used in this function. They consist of temperature and
30 Y(t) with corresponding time. Moreover, the graphs for
25 these tables are shown in Figures 4 and 5.
T in Celsius

20
15 Table 6. Air Hot Water Air System
10 Unventilated
5 t (s) T (C) Y(t) t (s) T (C) Y(t)
0 0 28 0.000 95 52 -0.981
0 50 100 150 200 5 58 -0.606 100 51 -1.023
t in Seconds 10 76 -1.299 105 50 -1.068
15 82 -1.705 110 48 -1.163
Unventilated (Cold Water to Air) 20 88 -2.398 115 47 -1.214
25 90 -2.803 120 46 -1.269
Ventilated (Cold Water to Air)
30 91 -3.091 125 44 -1.386
35 92 -3.497 130 43 -1.451
Figure 3. Plot of Temperature versus Time Cold Water to 40 92 -3.497 135 42 -1.520
Air 45 92 -3.497 140 42 -1.520
50 80 -0.208 145 40 -1.674
However, the objective is to determine the time constant 55 72 -0.375 150 40 -1.674
of the thermometer. This is simply the reciprocal of the 60 68 -0.470 155 39 -1.761
slope with time (t) as x-axis and Y(t) as y-axis. Using the 65 64 -0.575 160 38 -1.856
linear regression done through MS Excel Software, the 70 62 -0.633 165 38 -1.856
time constant, , for all systems was calculated and 75 60 -0.693 170 37 -1.962
shown in Table 5. 80 58 -0.758 175 37 -1.962
85 56 -0.827 180 36 -2.079
90 54
Table 5. Time Constant of Different Systems -0.901
System Time Constant
Hot Water to Air (Ventilated) 22.285558
Hot Water to Air 94.048685
(Unventilated)
Cold Water to Air (Ventilated) 75.016096

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 CHE184-1P Process Dynamics and Control
3rd Quarter SY 2016-2017

30
Table 7. Air - Cold Water Air System
25
Unventilated

Temperature
t (s) T (C) Y(t) t (s) T (C) Y(t) 20
0 28 0.000 125 18 -0.956 15
5 18 -0.463 130 18 -0.956 10
10 10 -1.099 135 19 -1.061
5
15 6 -1.686 140 19 -1.061
20 -2.197 145 20 0
4 -1.179
25 -2.603 150 20 0 50 100 150 200 250 300
3 -1.179
30 2 -3.296 155 20 -1.179 time
35 2 -3.296 160 20 -1.179
40 2 -3.296 165 20 -1.179 Figure 5. Plot of Temperature versus Time Air to Cold
45 2 -3.296 170 20 -1.179 Water to Air
50 2 -3.296 175 21 -1.312
55 3 -0.039 180 21 -1.312
60 4 -0.080 185 21 -1.312 In order to determine the time constant, a plot of Y(t)
65 6 -0.167 190 21 -1.312 versus time was generated and shown in Figure 6.
70 8 -0.262 195 21 -1.312 From the mentioned figure, two polynomial equations
75 -0.368 200 21
10 -1.312 were shown for both systems in which the value of time
80 -0.486 205 21
12 -1.312 constant can be retrieved. For more accurate
85 12 -0.486 210 21 -1.312 calculations, the range of time was shorter in the plot
90 14 -0.619 215 21 -1.312
95 -0.693 220 22
emphasizing the impulse function occurred in the
15 -1.466
100 -0.773 225 22 system.
16 -1.466
105 16 -0.773 230 22 -1.466
110 16 -0.773 235 22 -1.466 1.000 y = 9E-11x6 - 1E-07x5 + 2E-05x4 - 0.0007x3 +
115 17 -0.860 240 22 -1.466 0.0121x2 - 0.1807x + 0.0611
120 -0.956 0.500
18 y = 6E-09x6 - 1E-06x5 + 0.0001x4 - 0.0036x3 +
0.000 0.0539x2 - 0.4028x + 0.1154
0 20 40 60 80
-0.500

-1.000
Y(t)

-1.500
Air - Hot Water - Air
-2.000
100
-2.500
Temperature

80
60 -3.000
40
-3.500
20
0 -4.000
0 50 100 150 200 time - Air
Air - Hot Water
time Air - Cold Water - Air
Poly. (Air - Hot Water - Air)
Poly. (Air - Cold Water - Air)
Figure 4. Plot of Temperature versus Time Air to Hot Water
to Air
Figure 6. Plot of Y(t) versus time

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 CHE184-1P Process Dynamics and Control
3rd Quarter SY 2016-2017

The similarity of the plot of both systems can be seen

from Figure 7 which means that the impulse function is
just slightly affected by the medium. However, its effect
to the value of time constant is noticeable. Table 7
shows the time constant retrieved from the equations in
the plot which is the reciprocal of the intercept.

Table 7. Time Constants for Impulse Function

System Time Constant
Air Hot Water Air 8.66
Air Cold Water Air 16.36

4. Conclusion

Two transform functions were used in the experiment;

Step Function and Pulse Function. Ventilation serves as
the disturbance for the systems utilized.

The time constant for both ventilated and unventilated

conditions was determined. Moreover, the effect of
ventilated which is to decrease the time constant
rapidly, was observed. Hence, all objectives were met.

References

[1] Rao, M., & H. Qiu. (1993). Process Control

Engineering. Edmonton, Canada: Gordon and Breach
Science Publishers.

[2] Bartelt, T. (2007). Instrumentation and Process

Control. Thomson Delmar Learning.

[3] Experiment 2. (n.d.). Retrieved from Thermometry I:

Expansion-Type Thermometers
http://www.met.sjsu.edu/~clements/met163_hw/Met_1
63_Lab2.pdf

[4] Coughanour, D. R. (1991). Process Systems

Analysis and Control. McGraw-Hill, Inc.

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