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In the framework of the HiTeMS project of the European Metrology Research Pogramme (EMRP) a new multi-wavelength device for measurement of high temperatures in industrial applications was developed at INRIM. The apparatus takes advantage of the ultra-violet operation with working wavelengths from 350 nm up, which reduces the possible errors connected with the multi-wavelength approach. The instrument has been characterised in terms of optical and electronic behaviour and some laboratory trials were carried out to verify the reliability of the multi-wavelength approach. The true temperature of a blackbody source at 1300 °C with optical windows of unknown spectral transmittance interposed has been defined. By applying an approach that allows a result to be accepted when a threshold limit is reached, it was found that, when an acceptable result can be obtained, errors are comprised within less than 1% of the temperature of the source. Three others single-band thermometers, at 508 nm, 650 nm and an IR broadband 0.8–1.1 μm, were also used to the purpose of a comparison. It has been found that, when the multi-wavelength approach is applicable, it provides generally better or in few cases, at worst similar results of corrected single-wavelength thermometers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two small cells for the realization of the fixed point of copper were constructed and investigated at INRIM. They are of the same hybrid design generally adopted for the eutectic high-temperature fixed-point cells, namely a structure with a sacrificial graphite sleeve and a layer of flexible carbon-carbon composite sheet (C/C sheet). Because of the largely different design with respect to the cells normally adopted for the construction of pure metal fixed points, they were compared and characterized with respect to the normal cells used at INRIM for the ITS-90 realization. Two different furnaces were used to compare hybrid and normal cells. One of the hybrid cells was also used in different configurations, i.e. without the C/C sheet and with two layers of sheet. The cells were compared with different operative conditions, i.e. temperature settings of the furnaces for inducing the freeze, and repeatability and reproducibility were investigated. Freezing temperature and shape of the plateaux obtained under the different conditions were analysed. As expected the duration of the plateaux obtained with the hybrid cells is considerably shorter than with the normal cell, but this does not affect the results in terms of freezing temperature. Measurements with the modified cell showed that the use of a double C/C sheet may improve both repeatability and reproducibility of the plateaux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High temperature measurement in industry is subject to large uncertainties due to the non-ideal measurement conditions; for example unknown emissivity and window transmission for radiation thermometry, sensor contamination and ageing causing unpredictable drift in contact thermometry. This paper gives an overview of a European Metrology Research Programme (EMRP) project “High Temperature Metrology for Industrial Applications” (HiTeMS) whose objective was to address, on a broad front, a number of unsolved measurement challenges in the domain of high temperatures (above 1000 °C) both in non-contact and contact thermometry. It brought together a total of 15 partner organisations; National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) (10), industrial companies (4) and a Fraunhofer Institute. The project started in September 2011 and was completed August 2014. Significant progress has been made in all the temperature measurement challenges tackled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]