Thermocouples
Thermocouples
Thermocouples
Alumel
Constantan
Temperature
•
Thermocouple Effect
Any time a pair of dissimilar wires is joined
to make a circuit and a thermal gradient is
imposed, an emf voltage will be generated.
– Twisted, soldered or welded junctions
are acceptable. Welding is most
common.
– Keep weld bead or solder bead
diameter within 10-15% of wire diameter
– Welding is generally quicker than
soldering but both are equally
acceptable
– Voltage or EMF produced depends on:
• Types of materials used
• Temperature difference between the
measuring junction and the
reference junction
Thermocouple Tables
(EMF-Temperature)
• Thermocouple tables correlate temperature to
emf voltage.
– Need to keep in mind that the thermocouple
tables provide a voltage value with respect to
a reference temperature. Usually the
reference temperature is 0°C. If your
reference junction is not at 0°C, a correction
must be applied using the law of intermediate
temperatures.
Reference Temperature Systems and
Zone Boxes
• Ice Baths
– Accurate and
inexpensive
• Electronically Controlled
References
– Require periodic
calibration and are
generally not as stable
as ice baths, but are
more convenient.
Zone boxes
B
Measured 2
emf
Emf
A
1
T meter T junction
Temperature
Law of Intermediate Metals
2) Insertion of an intermediate
metal into a thermocouple
circuit will not affect the emf
voltage output so long as the
two junctions are at the same
temperature and the material
is homogeneous.
– Permits soldered and welded
joints.
A Demonstration of the Law of
6
Intermediate Metals
1 2 4 5
3
6
4
Fe (+) C
C (-) Measured 5
Emf
emf
3
P (+)
Fe 2
Signs of the 1
materials used T ref T 2 and 4 T measured Tcandle
Temperature
Law of Intermediate
Temperatures
If a thermocouple circuit develops a net
T2 T1 emf1-2 for measuring junction
temperatures T1 and T2, and a net
emf2-3 for temperatures T2 and T3,
then it will develop a net voltage of
T3 T2
emf1-3 = emf1-2 + emf2-3 when the
junctions are at temperatures T1 and
T3.
T3 T1
C
emf13 emf23
emf
emf12 Fe
T1 T2 T3
A Demonstration of the Law of Intermediate
Temperatures
4
5
3
1
2 Hot Zone
4
C 2
3
Measured
Emf
emf
Fe
1
T ref T measured T hot
If a thermocouple circuit of materials A and C generates a net emfA-C
when exposed to temperatures T1 and T2, and a thermocouple of
materials C and B generates a net emfC-B for the same two
temperatures T1 and T2, then a thermocouple made from materials
A and B will develop a net voltage of