Heater element as sensor for temperature control in transient systems

A method of predicting temperature of a resistive heating element in a heating system, the method comprising:

• obtaining resistance characteristics of the resistive heating element;
• interpreting and calibrating the resistance characteristics of the resistive heating element based on at least one of a priori measurements and in situ measurements, wherein the a priori measurements include a resistance to temperature relationship that is interpreted and calibrated by using a model-based determination of resistive heating element temperature and resistance measurements, the model-based determination including at least one of a local dR/dT maximum and a local dR/dT minimum of the temperature and resistance measurements;
• and
• compensating for variations in the resistance characteristics of the resistive heating element over a temperature regime such that the heating system is adjusted near at least one of the local dR/dT maximum and the local dR/dT minimum.