Evaluation of measurement uncertainty for thermometers with calibration equations

Abstract

The method recommended by Eurachem did not mention the effect of adequateness of calibration equations on the measurement uncertainty. In this work, the sources of measurement uncertainty for two types of thermometer were evaluated. Three calibration equations were adopted to compare its predictive performance. These sources of combined uncertainty include predicted values of calibration equation, nonlinearity and repeatability, reference source, and resolution source. The uncertainty analysis shows that the predicted uncertainly of calibration equations is the main source for two types of thermometer. No significant difference of the uncertainty was found between the classical method and the inverse method. However, the calculation procedure of the inverse method was simpler and easier than that of the classical method.