Thermocouples Advantages

• The thermocouple is the most common type of industrial thermometer used to measure extreme temperatures. It was discovered in 1822 by Thomas Seebeck, who noted that voltage differences appeared when a wire was heated at one end. Using this discovery, the thermocouple became widely used in a variety of industries. It consists of two dissimilar metals, joined together at one end, called the junction. The voltage that is produced at a given temperature is then interpreted by a thermocouple thermometer.

Temperature Range

• One of the main advantages of thermocouples is their large temperature range. They can be used to measure directly within a range of 200 to 2,600 degrees Celsius. Therefore, their vast temperature range makes thermocouples useful in a variety of circumstances in many different industries. They respond rapidly to changes in temperature and can be used at high temperatures at which other sensors would be destroyed.

Physical Characteristics

• Thermocouples are often the preferred method of temperature measurement due to their physical characteristics. They are very versatile, unlike any other temperature sensor. Generally, they are made rugged, simply constructed and are immune to shock and vibration. They require no excitation power and no self heating. This way they can be made very small, fitting into applications that other temperature sensors, not as robust at thermocouples, would not.

Safety

• This type of temperature sensor is used in several heating devices. An example of this would be heating something to a certain temperature by electrical, chemical or other means, it is required to check the temperature continuously in order to achieve the wanted degree of heat. Thermocouples can measure the temperature, as well as be coupled with certain circuits in order to discontinue the heating process once the wanted temperature is achieved. This can play an important part in safety measures, thus thermocouples can be considered important safety devices.

Direct Contact

• Their robust physical characteristics allow thermocouples to be brought into direct contact with the material they are measuring. Because voltage readings are used to measure temperatures, it is important to verify that the thermocouple is safely grounded when bringing it into contact with the item or material being measured.