Thermocouple

A thermocouple is a specialized device, comprised of two different electrical conductors which create electrical junctions at different temperatures. As a result of the thermoelectric effect, thermocouples produce temperature-dependent voltage; properly interpreted, this voltage can be used to measure temperature. Because of this, thermocouples are commonly used as temperature sensors. Widely used in science and industry, thermocouples can be utilized to measure temperatures in kilns, turbines, engines, and the like. They are also employed in homes, offices, etc. as temperature sensors in thermostats. Thermocouples can usually be categorized into one of eight types (K, J, N, R, S, B, T, and E). In general, the simpler a thermocouple’s design and construction is, the better. Ideally, each different type of thermocouple would be characterized by a precise E(T) curve, independent of other details; however, in practice, thermocouples are affected by numerous other factors, including material impurities, aging, and circuit design issues.

Thermocouple Manufacturers

• Eustis Co./Pyrocom has been manufacturing high-performance thermocouples since 1962. They offer both standard and custom models to meet the needs of any industrial application.
• Therm-x manufactures custom-designed thermocouples for industrial and mission-critical applications. Their products are built to ASTM tolerances and conform to the International Temperature Scale of 1990.