Thermocouple Thermometer

Principle : Thermocouples are based on the principle that when two dissimilar metals are
joined, a predictable voltage will be generated that relates to the difference in temperature between
the measuring junction and reference junction.

Working:

When two dissimilar metals such a iron and copper are gained to form a closed circuit, current
flow when one junction is at higher temperature and the other one is at lower temperature as shown
in the figure.

Figure. 1
Principle of measurement of temperature by a thermocouple

The emf driving the current is called a thermoelectric emf and the phenomenon is known as
thermoelectric effect or Seeback effect. Usually a thermoelectric emf is very small. A pair of
dissimilar metals welded together at their junction forms what is called a thermocouple. When
several thermocouples are arranged in series, the emf is added together to give an appreciable
output, this arrangement is called thermopile as shown in the figure.
 Figure. 2
Arrangement of thermocouple to form a thermopile

When two dissimilar metals are joined together, the free electrons move randomly across the
junction. Because of the different atomic structure of each metal, electrons pass more readily across
the boundary in one direction than in other. This results in displacement of charges, making one
metal positive and other negative.

Materials for thermocouple:

1. Melting point of thermocouple materials must be higher than the measuring temperature.

2. The dissimilar materials on joining should be able to produce large emf for accuracy of
measurements.

3. Temperature is determined indirectly i.e. through calibrations of emf with temperature. As for
as possible, the linear variation of emf with temperature is desired.

4. Thermocouple materials should be resistant to atmospheres in furnaces.

Applications:

Thermocouple is used to measure a variety of temperature objects, measuring a great range, far
greater than alcohol, mercury thermometer. It is suitable for steel-making furnace, coke oven and
other high-temperature areas. It also measure liquid hydrogen, liquid nitrogen and other low-
temperature objects.
Advantages with thermocouples

 Capable of being used to directly measure temperatures up to 2600°C.

 The thermocouple junction may be grounded and brought into direct contact with the
material being measured.
 High resolution
 It has high speed response
Disadvantages with thermocouples

 Temperature measurement with a thermocouple requires two temperatures be measured,

the junction at the work end (the hot junction) and the junction where wires meet the
instrumentation copper wires (cold junction). To avoid error the cold junction
temperature is in general compensated in the electronic instruments by measuring the
temperature at the terminal block using with a semiconductor, thermistor, or RTD.
 Thermocouples operation are relatively complex with potential sources of error. The
materials of which thermocouple wires are made are not inert and the thermoelectric
voltage developed along the length of the thermocouple wire may be influenced by
corrosion etc.
 The relationship between the process temperature and the thermocouple signal (millivolt)
is not linear.
 The calibration of the thermocouple should be carried out while it is in use by comparing
it to a nearby comparison thermocouple. If the thermocouple is removed and placed in a
calibration bath, the output integrated over the length is not reproduced exactly.