Saturday, August 3, 2013

Fundamentals Of A Type J Thermocouple

By Cathy Mercer


Type J thermocouple like any other thermocouple comprises of two conductors of different materials. The dissimilar conductors remain in contact and produce a voltage when they are heated. The scale of the voltage produced is dependent on temperature difference between other circuit parts and the junction. Besides being used to turn a gradient in temperature into electricity, they are also used to measure and control temperature.

The working of thermocouples was originally discovered by a German scientist in 1821. It was realized that any junction of metals of unlike kind will produce a voltage potential when exposed under a temperature difference. This effect is referred to as thermoelectric or Seebeck. Thermocouples that are intended for practical application are produced from standard metal alloys, which have a predictable and repeatable relationship between the temperature and voltage.

Different temperature ranges can be measured using different alloys. When choosing a thermocouple, there are a few factors to keep in mind, one of them being resistance to corrosion. In cases where the point of measurement is some distance from the measuring instrument, the space between can be covered using extension wires. The wires should be made of material that is less expensive than the sensor material.

Type J thermocouples are standardized against some reference value of zero degrees. They are made of an iron and a copper-nickel alloy wire. The iron acts as the positive lead and is normally colored white. The copper-nickel alloy is the negative lead and is always colored red in most cases. It is the second most popular and most used thermocouple after type K.

This sensors come with a sensitivity of above 50 microvolts per degree centigrade. The sensitivity operates at a range in temperature of -210 to 1200 degrees. The Curie point in iron in the positive end which is at the 770 degrees Celsius mark confines the range of the appliance to between -40 and 750 degrees. At Curie point, iron experiences a molecular change from which it does not recover.

Type J thermocouples fall among the most inexpensive sensors and work best in certain settings. For instance, the devices are not to be exposed to extremely high temperatures in oxidizing environments. High temperatures should work with a reduction environment. It is a good gadget for using on general purpose applications, which do not involve moisture or water conditions. Heavier gage size gadgets should be utilized for applications that entail temperatures that reach the upper limits of the equipment.

The service life of the product depends on the size of the wires. The rate of oxidation in devices with heavier wires is slow hence they last longer than those with fine wires. Oxidation also occurs at a higher rate at temperatures beyond 540 degrees Celsius. If the precautions are followed well, it can be used for measuring temperature in diesel engines, gas turbine exhausts, and kilns.

Type J thermocouple could be purchased from virtually any kind of shop that stocks electrical devices anywhere internationally. They are replaceable and inexpensive. This has the meaning that those, which become faulty, can be substituted with fresh ones. This makes sure that operations are never interrupted.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment