Temperature Sensor

Ideal temperature sensor

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Libraries:
Simscape / Foundation Library / Thermal / Thermal Sensors

Description

The Temperature Sensor block represents an ideal temperature sensor, that is, a device that measures either the absolute temperature at a node, or the temperature difference between two nodes, without drawing any heat.

Connections A and B are thermal conserving ports that connect to the two points where temperature is being monitored. Port T is a physical signal port that outputs the temperature difference value.

The block positive direction is from port A to port B. The measured temperature is determined as T = T_A – T_B.

To measure the absolute temperature at a node, set the set the Measurement reference parameter to Absolute and connect port A to the node being measured.

Examples

House Heating System

Model a simple house heating system. The model contains a heater, thermostat, and a house structure with four parts: inside air, house walls, windows, and roof.

• Open Model

Ports

Output

T — Temperature measurement, K

physical signal

Physical signal output port for temperature measurement.

Conserving

A — Sensor inlet

thermal

Thermal conserving port.

B — Sensor outlet

thermal

Thermal conserving port. The measurement is positive when the value at port A is greater than the value at port B.

Dependencies

To enable this port, set the Measurement reference parameter to Difference.

Parameters

Measurement reference — Select between absolute and relative measurements

Difference (default) | Absolute

Select between absolute and relative measurements:

• Difference — The sensor measures the temperature difference between two nodes in the model. Selecting this option exposes port B on the block icon.

• Absolute — The sensor measures absolute temperature at port A. The sensor contains an implicit reference node, which means that you need only one port to make absolute measurements. Selecting this option hides port B on the block icon.

Extended Capabilities

C/C++ Code Generation
Generate C and C++ code using Simulink® Coder™.

Version History

Introduced in R2007b

R2023a: Usability enhancement for sensors

The Temperature Sensor block now contains an implicit reference node, which means that you need only one port to make absolute measurements of temperature.

This change has no compatibility impact.