A thermocouple is an electrical device consisting of two dissimilar electrical conductors forming electrical junctions at differing temperatures. A thermocouple produces a temperature-dependent voltage as a result of the thermoelectric effect, and this voltage can be interpreted to measure temperature.

Thermocouples are used in many industrial, scientific, and OEM applications. They can be found in nearly all industrial markets: Power Generation, Oil/Gas, Pharmaceutical, Bio Tech, Cement, Paper & Pulp, etc.

Thermocouples are also used in everyday appliances like stoves, furnaces, and toasters. Thermocouples are typically selected because of their low cost, high temperature limits, wide temperature ranges, and durable nature.

There are many types of thermocouples, each with its own unique characteristics in terms of temperature range, durability, vibration resistance, chemical resistance, and application compatibility. Type J, K, T, & E are “Base Metal” thermocouples, the most common types of thermocouples. Type R, S, and B thermocouples are “Noble Metal” thermocouples, which are used in high temperature applications (see thermocouple temperature ranges for details).

The traditional RTD element is constructed of a small coil of platinum, copper, or nickel wire, wound to a precise resistance value around a ceramic or glass bobbin. The winding is generally done using one of two styles: birdcage or helix. The birdcage winding keeps the platinum wire loosely wound on the bobbin allowing it to expand and contract freely over temperature in order to minimize any stress-induced change in resistance. This style of winding is generally limited to laboratory use as it has poor resistance to shock and vibration. The helix wire-wound RTD uses a bifilar wound coil wrapped around a bobbin and then sealed with molten glass, ceramic cement, or some other high-temperature insulating coating. The helix winding style helps protect the wire element from shock and vibration induced changes to its resistance, but it may still be prone to stress induced resistance change due to the different coefficients of thermal expansion of the wire coil and bobbin material.

Silicon Carbide Thermocouple offers an excellent alternative material to metals, super alloys and other ceramics for applications such as high temperature furnaces, garbage furnace, chemical processing and other demanding, severe environment applications.

Silicon Carbide Thermocouple provides exceptional properties including extreme hardness, high strength, virtually universal corrosion resistance, high temperature stability, high thermal conductivity.

Our company has developed a special silicon carbide well and applied it to a fluidized bed power plant.

Heat Flux Sensor on furnace wall