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Can I know which component senses heat or acts as heat sensor in the following circuit? In the given diagram, it is said that the 1N4148 diode acts as the sensor. But basically it is a zener diode and I don't think that it is able to sense temperature shift. This circuit provides a working model but the sensor remains as a mystery for me. Can you please help it for me?
D1 is a temperature sensor. Voltage drop developed over a diode will drift with the temperature. Usually silicon diodes have a negative temperature coefficient of -2mV/C.
R5 and Z1 make a 10V voltage regulator. As the temperature increases, voltage drop over diode D1 will decrease making voltage at the "+" input less than voltage at the "-" input, opamp will drive it's output low turning on the fan.
R3 accounts for varying current - when voltage drop over diode decreases, more current will flow thru it. By connecting diode and pot to common point at R3 designers make sure that this does not affect the temperature point set by a potentiometer.
R4 provides hysteresis - it affects the voltage at "-" input a bit so that the output will not oscillate at the specified temperature.
A common silicon diode like the 1N4148 (it's not a zener) have a very linear voltage versus temperature curve for a constant current. If you keep the current constant the voltage across the diode will drop by 2mV per degree Celsius rise.
