Thermocouples calculate temperature by determining the voltage gap between two metals.
Thermocouples are metallic junctions manufactured as temperature sensing units. These units are fabricated as junctions between two different electricity conducting metals or alloys and they measure temperature upon introduction of electricity. Thermocouples basically operate on the function of representing temperature as a voltage difference between two distinct metallic conductors joined together and only operate when electricity is applied over them. Fabrication methods of different thermocouples are based on the types of metals they employ, which ultimately define the range of temperatures for which they are fabricated.
Type T
Fabrication of T type thermocouple employs creating a metallic junction between copper and constantan in equal proportions, which is considered suitable for measuring a wide range of temperatures between -200 and 350 degrees centigrade. Copper is a naturally existing metal with high electricity and heat conducting properties, while constantan is manufactured by creating an alloy between nickel and copper. It is due to the non-magnetic and highly conductive properties of both copper and constantan, which allows them to stay stable under such extreme surrounding temperatures.
Type K
Type K thermocouple fabrication involves creating a junction between metallic alloys of chromel and alumel. The alloy of chromel is created by mixing metals like nickel and chromium in different proportions, while alumel is manufactured by mixing elements like aluminum, nickel, manganese and silicon in appropriate proportions. Type K thermocouple created from two alloys is also known for its capability of sensing temperature from -200 to 1400 degrees centigrade. This type of thermocouple is widely used in metallurgy operations, where huge deposits of metals and ores are melted for industrial purposes.
Type J
Type J thermocouple fabrication involves mixing iron with constantan in any pre-determined and appropriate proportions. This type of thermocouple is very cheap and is used in measuring small range of temperatures between -40 and 750 degree centigrade. Fabrication of Type J thermocouples can be altered by changing the proportion of nickel within constantan, which directly impacts the properties of this thermocouple and shoots its upper temperature sensing levels to 1,350 degree centigrade.
Type C
Type C thermocouple fabrication is done by amalgamating tungsten and rhenium with each other in specified proportions. Both tungsten and rhenium are naturally existing rare metals and both have high melting points associated with them. For this reason, this type of thermocouple fabrication allows measurement of temperature between 0 and 2,500 degrees centigrade. Further, Type C thermocouple is expensive as compared to other thermocouples and is not used in the presence of oxygen due to flammability risks of its constituting elements.
Tags: degrees centigrade, range temperatures, thermocouple fabrication, Type thermocouple, Type thermocouple fabrication, Type Type
