Introduction:

A thermocouple is a simple, robust and cost-effective temperature sensor used in a wide range of temperature measurement processes. It consists of two dissimilar metal wires, joined at one end. When properly configured, thermocouples can provide measurements over a wide range of temperatures.

Known for their versatility as temperature sensors, thermocouples are manufactured in a variety of styles, such as thermocouple probes, thermocouple probes with connectors, transition joint thermocouple probes, infrared thermocouples, bare wire thermocouple or even just thermocouple wire.

They are commonly used in a wide range of applications. Due to their wide range of models and technical specifications, it is extremely important to understand its basic structure, functionality, ranges as to better determine the right type and material of thermocouple for an application.

Specification:

Features&Benefits:

1. Can be used to measure high temperatures because metals have high melting points

2. Respond very quickly to temperature changes because metals have high conductivities

3. Sensitive to very small changes in temperature

4. Has precision accuracy in temperature measurement

Application:

Thermocouples are suitable for measuring over a large temperature range, from −270 up to 3000 °C (for a short time, in inert atmosphere). Applications include temperature measurement for kilns, gas turbine exhaust, diesel engines, other industrial processes and fog machines. They are less suitable for applications where smaller temperature differences need to be measured with high accuracy, for example the range 0–100 °C with 0.1 °C accuracy. For such applications thermistors, silicon band-gap temperature sensors and resistance thermometers are more suitable.