If connector plugs are used, they should be cleaned frequently (fine emery cloth has been found to be very suitable for this purpose) to assure good electrical contact and prevent errors in thermocouple readings (NFPA, 1985).To ensure that the recorded temperatures represent real time data, all thermocople should to be calibrated against a standard TMD, usually a MIG thermometer. The following can cause thermocouple inaccuracies:• Improper junctions• Too long lead wires• Multiple connectors• Inadequate data logger cold junction compensationTo detect any any inaccuracies and permit corrective action, the TMDs and all connections should be calibrated in place 9i.e., under the conditions in which they will be used). The following are some suggested precautions while using a thermocouple-based data acquisition system:• Minimize multiple connections• Clean all connections• Ground the thermocouple/recording device• Slit thermocouple outer insulation outside the retort to prevent flooding of datalogger or data recording device (NFPA, 1985; ASTM, 1988)• Ensure thermocouple location is not disturbed by the movement of the heating or cooling medium,• Use well-insulated thermocouple lead wires,• Use enameled wires that cotain waterproof insulation,• Make the proces sufficiently long to allow for equilibrium conditions (which can be used to calibrate thermocouples in place).When water is used as a heating medium, it acts as an electrical conductor. Depending upon the hardness, the use of water treament chemicals, and other factors, the conductivity of the water will vary. The conductivity of the water increases with tenperature. There can be problems with loss of signal, which results in lower temperature at each specified time interrval. A data acquisition system (otherwise known as a data logger or data logging system) typically comprises a multichannel temperature measuring and digital data output system (pflug, 1975). Some features of data logging systems have inclide availability of multiple channels (i.e., many systems have addon features in multiple of 16 channels), a temperature range of 40-1600C, and facility to gather other types of signals in addition to temperature (e.g., millivolts, pressure, current, differential outputs, etc.). these systems have the capability of gathering considerable amounts of data as well as manipilating the data.Tree TMDs for each basket or crate is a bare monimum and may have to be increased, especially if any statistical significance is to be dervived from the results. The minimum number of probes from a statistical point of view is generally five. Having more than the minimum three also provides for a TMD malfunction during the test, something that happens more often than not. Thus, the whole test may not have to be abandoned due to lack of compliance with the experimental design; rather it could serve a purpose as long as the minimum number are valid.Knowledge of the retort system, the means to distribute the heating or cooling medium, and the organization of the containers in the crates will aid in the placement of each TMD. They should be fixed at the location so that they extend into the free space between the containers and will not touch the containers or other metallic surfaces during the test.A summary of the data (i.e., maximum temeratures, and ranges) obtained from an actual temperature distribution test is given in table 12.1. The test was done on a three-basket, horizontal steam retort. The steam spreader consisted of two parallel perforated pipes located along the bottom of the retort below the level of the baskets. The vent exited directly to the enviroment. A standard MIG thermometer was installed in compliance with standard requirements and consituted the reference TMD. A temperature recorder/controller probe was installed in close proximity to the MIG stem. The crates were filled to capacity (960 cans/crate for a total of 2880 cans) with 210 x 315 three-piece metal cans filled with water to a 5% headspace. Each crate contained five thermocouple probes located on the hoizontal midplane. One in the center and one located at half the distance on each diagonal from the center to each corner of the rectangular crate. Experience with this retort had shown that these were the points that were slowest to reach retort temperature was set for 2450F (1180C). The temperature were recorded every 20 seconds for the duration of the test; however, the figures in table 12.1 represent those after every 60 seconds to reduce the table space. The data for the two phases, CUT, and at process temperature were analyzed separately.
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