Met 163: Lecture 4Chapter 4

Thermometry

Thermoelectric Sensors

The junction of two dissimilar metals forms a thermocouple.

When the two junctions are at different temperatures, a voltage is developed across the junction.

By measuring the voltage difference between the two junctions, the difference in temperature between the two can be calculated.

If the temperature of one junction is known and the voltage difference is measured, then the temperature of the second junction can be calculated.

Thermocouples

Thermocouples provide:

A wide useful temperature range,Are inherently differential, Are ruggedReliable and inexpensiveAnd usually have a fast response.

The main disadvantage of thermocouples:

is the very low output, on the order of 40 μV/ °C.Slight nonlinearityAnd need for calibration.

Thermocouples

There are some observed laws of thermocouple behavior used as a rule-of-thumb guide to thermocouple circuit design and construction.

Thermocouples

The thermoelectric effect: when one junction has a different temperature then the other, an electromotive force is produced in the circuit and current flows.

The magnitude of the force or potential depends on the temperature difference between the two junctions.

There are three components of the thermoelectric: The Seebeck effect, Peltier effect, and Thompson effect.

Thermocouples: Seebeck effect

The Seebeck effect is the conversion of thermal energy to electrical energy.

This effect measures the ease at which excess electrons will circulate in an electrical circuit under the influence of thermal difference.

The change in the voltage is proportional to the temperature difference between the junctions when the ends are connected to form a loop.

Seebeck Effect

Thermocouples: Peltier effect

The Peltier effect is closely related to the Seebeck effect. It represents the thermal effect due to a reversible current through dissimilar materials or through similar metals due to an external source of current.

A current flow in one direction might warm the junction of the two dissimilar materials (and release heat to the surroundings of that junction), whereas if the current was reversed, the junction would cool (and absorb heat from its surroundings).

Thermocouples: Peltier effect

Thermocouples: Thompson effect

The Thompson effect is the absorption or liberation of heat by a homogeneous conductor due to a current flowing through it.

It is primarily evident in currents introduced form external sources and those generated by the thermocouple itself. The ability of a given material to generate heat with respect to both a unit temperature gradient and a unit current, is gauged by the Thompson coefficient.

The importance of the Peltier and Thompson effects is essentially infinitesimal because the heat evolved is negligible compared to the amount of thermal energy available from the environment to the junctions of T1 and T2.

The (Thermocouple) Thermoelectric Laws

The three fundamental empirical laws behind the accurate measurement of temperature by thermoelectric means are the:

1. Law of homogeneous materials2. Law of intermediate materials 3. Law of intermediate temperatures.

Law #1: the voltage across a thermocouple is unaffected by temperatures elsewhere in the circuit, provided the two metals used are each homogeneous.

Thus one can use lead wires made of thermocouple metals.

The (Thermocouple) Thermoelectric Laws

2. Law of intermediate materials

Law #2: If a third metal is inserted in either A or B and if the two new junctions are at the same temperature, no effective voltage is generated by the third metal. This means that a real voltmeter (or amplifier) can be used.

The terminals of a voltmeter are usually made of a third metal and can be close together. It is important to make sure the terminals of the voltmeter are at the same temperature.

The (Thermocouple) Thermoelectric Laws

3. Law of intermediate materials

Law #3: If a metal C is inserted in one of the AB junctions, then no net voltage is generated so long as junction AC and BC are at the same temperature.

This means that the two wires or a junction can be soldered together and the presence of the third metal, solder, will not affect the voltage if there is no temperature gradient across the solder junction.

The (Thermocouple) Thermoelectric Laws

T1

T2Ref.

B A

A+

-

V1

V2

V3G

Fig. 4-5 (a)

Thermocouples

Common thermocouple types

Type Metal

T Copper and constantan J Iron and constantan E Nickel(10% chromium and constantan K Nickel and Nickel(5%

aluminum/silicon)

Thermocouples

A thermocouple is inherently a differential temperature sensor; it measures the temperature difference between two junctions.

Absolute temperature measurements can be made only if one of the junctions is held at a known temperature or if an electronic reference junction is used.

A block of metal (aluminum, copper, or any highly conductive metal) can be used for the reference temperature.

This is done by inserting the reference junction of the thermocouple in the block and simultaneously measuring the temperature of the block.

Thermocouples

The Campbell Scientific data loggers have this metal block underneath the wiring panel.

The CSI data loggers have special instructions in their programming language that allows for thermocouple measurements.

See the CR1000 manual.

Thermocouple output voltages

Thermocouples

The most common type of thermocouple used for meteorology is the copper-constantan (Type-T).

Its range of use varies from -200°C - 350°C, but is mostly used in the -60°C to 100°C with an accuracy of ±0.5°C.

Another common type used in meteorology is the Type-E.

Thermistors

Thermistor or thermal resistor is a hard, ceramic-like electronic semi-conductor, commonly made from a mixture of metallic oxide materials.

Have a very large negative resistance coefficient (i.e., an increase in T by 1°C yields a decrease of 5% in resistance).

Thermistors