Thermoelectric thermometers

Whereas it is no longer an iaterpolation standard of the scale, the thermoelectric principle is one of the most common ways to transduce temperature, although it is challenged ia some disciplines by small iadustrial platinum resistance thermometers (PRTs) and thermistors. Thermocouple junctions can be made very small and ia almost infinite variety, and for base metal thermocouples the component materials are very cheap. Properties of various types of working thermocouple are shown in Table 3 additional properties are given in Reference 5. 

Thermoelectric effect discovered by T.J. Seebeck The Seebeck effect is the basis for the thermometers designated as thermocouples... 

As we said, the sensitivity of a metallic thermometer drastically falls below about 10 K as it was the case of the thermoelectric power it is possible to increase the sensitivity by introducing some magnetic impurities. The most commonly used magnetic alloy is the commercial Rh-0.5% Fe (see Fig. 9.5). 

Early bolometers used, as thermometers, thermopiles, based on the thermoelectric effect (see Section 9.4) or Golay cells in which the heat absorbed in a thin metal film is transferred to a small volume of gas the resulting pressure increase moves a mirror in an optical amplifier. A historical review of the development of radiation detectors until 1994 can be found in ref. [59,60], The modern history of infrared bolometers starts with the introduction of the carbon resistor, as both bolometer sensor and absorber, by Boyle and Rogers [12], The device had a number of advantages over the Golay cell such as low cost, simplicity and relatively low heat capacity at low temperatures. 

At relatively high temperatures thermocouple thermometers are most commonly used to measure temperature. The thermoelectric power of three frequently used thermocouples is compared in Figure 10.2. The choice of thermocouple depends on the temperature range, the chemistry of the problem in question, sensitivity requirements and resistance towards thermal cycling. The temperature range and typical uncertainty of some of the most commonly used thermocouple thermometers are given in Table 10.2. 

Thermistor and resistance thermometer elements Thermoelectric-bolometric sensors Semiconductor-based elements... 

In a modern dew-point instrument, a sample is equilibrated within the headspace of a sealed chamber containing a mirror, an optical sensor, an internal fan, and an infrared thermometer (Figure A2.2.2). At equilibrium, the relative humidity of the air in the chamber is the same as the water activity of the sample. A thermoelectric (Peltier) cooler precisely controls the mirror temperature. An optical reflectance sensor detects the exact point at which condensation first appears a beam of infrared light is directed onto the mirror and reflected back to a photodetector, which detects the change in reflectance when condensation occurs on the mirror. A thermocouple attached to the mirror accurately measures the dew-point temperature. The internal fan is for air circulation to reduce vapor equilibrium time and to control the boundary layer conductance of the mirror surface (Campbell and Lewis, 1998). Additionally, an infrared thermometer measures the sample surface temperature. Both the dew-point and sample temperatures are then used to determine the water activity. The range of a commercially available dew-point meter is 0.030 to 1.000 aw, with a resolution of 0.001 aw and accuracy of 0.003 aw. Measurement time is typically less than 5 min. The performance of the instrument should be routinely verified as described in the Support Protocol. 

Electrolytic type sensors Uxt thick film techniques, e.g. capacitor coated in gl bonded on to a ceramic disc mounted on a thermoelectric (Peltier effect) cooler. Control is by a platinum resistance thermometer which adjusts the temperature of the cooler to regain equilibrium after a change in capacitance due to moisture deposit. Range depends on technique. Capable of high precision. Limitations are similar to those for AIjO) sensor. Capable of being direct mounted. Relatively cheap. Suitable for on-line use. 

It is believed that Galileo invented the liquid-in-glass thermometer around 1592. Thomas Seebeck discovered the principle behind the TC—the existence of the thermoelectric current—in 1821. The same year Sir Humphry Davy noted the temperature dependence of metals, but C. H. Meyers did not build the RTD until 1932. Today, some 20 different types of temperature sensors are available, and Table 3.160 lists the temperature ranges and accuracies of a number of them. 

Thermocouples, or thermal junctions, or thermoelectric thermometers have two intermetallic junctions between two different metals (or semimetals, or semiconductors) A, B in a loop (Fig. 10.21). When these two junctions are held at different temperatures (T i, and T2), then a potential difference A Vis set up this is the Seebeck98 effect. For instance, for a Cu-constantan thermocouple, with T2 = 300 K and T, 273.15 K, AV = 1.0715 mV. Its converse is the Peltier99 effect If a current at a fixed voltage is applied in a loop like in Fig. 10.21, then a temperature difference AT can be maintained (thermoelectric heaters and coolers). The Seebeck effect arises because, before the junctions are made, the two metals have different Fermi levels after the junctions are made, electrons will flow from the higher-level metal to the lower-level metal, until a single Fermi level results across the junction. 

A satisfactory environment for the 0°C reference junction is provided by a slushy mixture of ice and distilled water in a Dewar flask, with a ring stirrer and a monitoring mercury thermometer. Elaborate thermoelectric ice-water chambers are also available these are convenient for prolonged periods of use but rather expensive. As mentioned previously many commercial thermocouple systems eliminate the ice bath by placing the cold junction on an isothermal block that is at room temperature and compensating for the resulting error. This is a convenient but less accurate procedure. 

Recording Pyrometry.—The pyrometers which can be made to record automatically fall under the following classifications (1) Gas, saturated vapor, and liquid thermometers (2) resistance thermometers (3) thermoelectric pyrometers (4) radiation pyrometers. 

Because of the ease with which electric signals can be transmitted and manipulated it is not surprising to find that electrical thermometers are the most widely used thermometers in control systems. Both the thermoelectric type thermometer (thermocouple) and the resistance thermometer can be made small, and hence quite high response speeds are realizable. Even sheathed couples can be obtained which have time constants as low as three seconds. In these instruments the hot junction of the couple is welded directly to the sheath. 

Since temperature measurements are required over such a wide range and diversity of situations, a large number of different types of thermometers with varying levels of accuracy and convenience have been developed over the years. Those most frequently used are based on the expansion of a gas, liquid or solid on changes in electrical resistance on the thermoelectric effect on changes in the thermal radiation of a system on changes in the thermal (Johnson) noise of electrical resistors on changes... 

Thermocouples have been used extensively in cryoscopy and the use of these devices for determining temperature difference is well documented. Their advantages over platinum resistance thermometers are flexibility and small size. They can be even smaller than thermistors. Unlike resistance thermometers, they do not dissipate heat when in use. The temperature-e.m.f. relationship is more stable than with thermistors. The copper-constantan couple has been used extensively because it has a relatively high thermoelectric power and the temperature-e.m.f. characteristics are particularly linear and stable. 

Dew/frost-point hygrometer - utilizing a chilled mirror surface. The mirror is maintained at the dew-point temperature by automatically controlling the current through a thermoelectric cooler. A 100-Q platinum resistance thermometer is... 

Both gold-cobalt and constantan have a sufficiently large thermoelectric power against copper or normal silver to allow their use as thermometers at temperatures down to 4°K. Gold-cobalt has a much larger sensitivity than... 

Probe Thermometers. Volume expansion thermometers use the expansion of liquids with rising temperature through a narrow tube. The expansion coefficient, defined as the increase in volume per unit volume per unit rise in temperature, is 0.00018 per Kelvin for mercury and 0.00109 per Kelvin for ethyl alcohol colored with dye. Calculating temperature from the actual random thermal motion velocity of every molecule, or the energy contained in a vibrational excitation of every molecule, is impractical. So temperature is measured indirectly in most applications. Different metals expand to different extents when their temperature rises. This difference is used to measure the bending of two strips of metal attached to one another in outdoor thermometers. Thermocouples use the Seebeck or thermoelectric effect discovered by Cerman physicist Thomas Johann Seebeck, in which a voltage difference is produced between two junctions between wires of... 

The must temperatme can be taken with a dial thermometer having a 1.5 m probe. This effective method can measure must temperature directly in different areas, especially just below the pomace cap in the hottest part of the tank. This zone has the most significant fermentation activity. The temperature can also be taken by thermoelectric probes judiciously placed in each tank. The probes are linked to a measmement system in the winery laboratory. With this system, the winemaker can verily the temperature of the tanks at any moment Certain temperature control systems automatically regulate tank temperature when the temperature reaches certain value. 

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