Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Get A Reliable Type K Thermocouple

By Jaclyn Hurley


Thermocouples are a temperature measuring devices used for harsh environments and atmospheres. It consists of two conductors made of different thermal gradient materials. A common type used in most industries is the type K thermocouple. Although there are many other types that are used for various applications this is the most common of them

Thermocouples are used in many industries, such as Power generation, oil and gas and even in everyday appliances such as stoves and toasters. No matter what industry it is a thermocouple will be used. Thermocouples are a sensor comprising of two legs made of different wire. One end of these wires are connected together to form a junction were the temperatures is measured from.

When this junction is exposed to heat source the junction experiences a change in temperature and allows a voltage to be created. By using a reference table the voltage produced from this junction can be used to determine the temperature. Different couples have different characteristics with regards to temperature range. Extreme conditions will require a wire and couple that can with stand high or even extreme cold environments.

Common uses for these devices are found in almost any industry. Scientific research, gas and oil producers and even a simple oven in the home use these devices. They are even used in the nuclear applications were humans can't go at all. From industrial use such as furnaces to a simple hand held device with a probe. The use of these devices will always be needed to monitor and measure temperatures.

The wires used in these couples are made from noble metals which can react to heat changes very quickly. The k type couple is the most common of these because of their accuracy, reliability and wide temperate range. This couple is used very often in nuclear application due to its radiation hardness and it can with stand continuous temperatures of up to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. These couples are not only used for extreme heat conditions, they can also be used for extremely cold conditions.

Type K is the most common general purpose couple. It has a more average sensitivity compared to other types and is inexpensive to produce. It is used in a relatively wide variety of probes and can measure from extreme negative temperatures to extremely high temperatures. One of the conducting materials used in this type of conductor is magnetic and can be susceptible to deviation I n the output voltage.

To differentiate between the different types available, a color combination of the wire sheathing is used. For the type K it will be yellow for positive and red for negative. If the couple is corroded it can lead to incorrect measurements and could give a low reading on the output voltage and may even fail altogether. This often occurs when the couple corrodes due to chemicals and moisture.

These couples can be attached in a permanent manner or by attaching it to a hand held probe. The hand held types are for lower levels of heat. These types tend to be shield from corrosive environments as to prolong the life of the probe. From very large to extremely same couples no matter what the application the actual thermocouple will remain the most popular in any industry.




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