INSTRUMENTATION & CONTROL LAB 2

Submitted To
Engr.Usman
 INSTRUMENTATION & CONTROL LAB 1

CONTENTS
 Experiment Title 2
 Objectives 2
 Introduction 3
 Working Principle 3
 Types of Thermocouples 4
 Type J thermocouple 4
 Experimentation 5
 Observations 5
 Advantages & Disadvantages 6
 Applications 7
 Results 6
 References 8
 INSTRUMENTATION & CONTROL LAB 2

EXPERIMENT : 02
Determine the time constant of a typical Iron constantan thermocouple.

Objective:

 Introduction to thermocouples.
 To determine the time constant of a typical iron constantan thermocouple.

Introduction:

When two wires composed of dissimilar metals are joined at both ends and one of the ends
is heated, there is a continuous current which flows in the thermoelectric circuit. Thomas Seebeck
made this discovery in 1821.

If this circuit is broken at the center, the net open circuit voltage (the Seebeck voltage) is a
function of the junction temperature and the composition of the two metals. The pair of metals
forming the circuit is called a thermocouple. The effect is due to conversion of thermal energy to
electrical energy.

All dissimilar metals exhibit this effect. The most common combinations of two metals are listed
in Appendix B of this application note, along with their important characteristics. For small
changes in temperature the Seebeck voltage is linearly proportional to temperature:
∆eAB = α∆T

Where α, the Seebeck coefficient, (mV/K) is the constant of proportionality.

Thermocouple are the most widely use temperature sensors in the process industry and plastics
manufacturing equipment like injection molding and extrusion lines.
 INSTRUMENTATION & CONTROL LAB 3

Materials Seebeck Coefficient(α)

Iron 19

Constantan -35

Table : 01

Working Principle:
The thermocouple principle mainly depends on the three effects namely Seebeck,
Peltier and Thompson.

See beck-effect
This type of effect occurs among two dissimilar metals. When the heat offers to any one of the
metal wire, then the flow of electrons supplies from hot metal wire to cold metal wire. Therefore,
direct current stimulates in the circuit.

Peltier-effect
This Peltier effect is opposite to the Seebeck effect. This effect states that the difference of the
temperature can be formed among any two dissimilar conductors by applying the potential
variation among them.

Thompson-effect
This effect states that as two disparate metals fix together & if they form two joints then the voltage
induces the total conductor’s length due to the gradient of temperature. This is a physical word
which demonstrates the change in rate and direction of temperature at an exact position.

Working of Thermocouple
The thermocouple schematic diagram is shown in the below figure. This circuit can be built
with two different metals, and that are coupled together by generating two junctions. The two
metals are surrounded to the connection through welding. When the temperature of the junction is
dissimilar from each other, then the electromagnetic force generates in the circuit.
 INSTRUMENTATION & CONTROL LAB 4

Types Of Thermocouples:
Based on different metals used and range of temperature sensing the thermocouples are
classified into many types.

Type Temperature Positive leg Negative leg Color Code

B 0-1700°C Pt-30% Rd Pt-6% Rd Grey& Red
E -100- 1000°C Chromel Constantan Purple Red
J 0- 750°C Iron Constantan White& Red
K -100-1300°C Chromel Alumel Yellow& Red
N -230-1300°C Nicrosil Nisil Orange&Red
R 0-1600°C Pt- 10% Rd Platinum Black & Red
S 0-1600°C Pt- 10% Rd Platinum Black & Red
T -200-350°C Copper Constantan Blue & Red
Table : 02

Type J Thermocouple:

The type J is also very common. It has a smaller temperature range and a shorter lifespan at
higher temperatures than the Type K. It is equivalent to the Type K in terms of expense and
reliability.

Type J Temp Range:

 Thermocouple grade wire, -346 to 1,400F (-210 to 760C)

 Extension wire, 32 to 392F (0 to 200C)
 INSTRUMENTATION & CONTROL LAB 5

Experimentation:
Apparatus Required:

 Thermocouple
 Heater
 Digital Voltmeter
 Stop watch
 Hookup wires

Procedure:
 Join the one end of the hookup wires with thermocouple and the other with the digital
voltmeter.
 Note the reading on the voltmeter.
 Switch on the heater.
 As thermocouple receives heat, digital voltmeter reading changes.
 Note the reading after every minute.
 After sometime, the measured voltage shall settle on a particular time constant from the
plot.
 Draw a graph of emf vs time and establish the time constant from the plot.
 Calculate the Temperature at all measured emf using the thermocouple tables of J type
thermocouple.
 Draw the graph of emf vs temperature and the time vs temperature also to study the
relationship between them.
 INSTRUMENTATION & CONTROL LAB 6

Observed Values:

Observations Time(min) Voltage/ emf Temperature(C)

01 0 5.0 1250
02 1 5.4 1350
03 2 5.8 1450
04 3 6.1 1525
05 4 6.5 1625
06 5 6.8 1700
07 6 7.1 1775
08 7 7.4 1850
09 8 7.7 1925
10 9 7.9 1975
11 10 8.1 2025
12 11 8.2 2050
13 12 8.3 2075
14 13 8.4 2100
15 14 8.5 2125
16 15 8.6 2150
17 16 8.7 2175
18 17 8.8 2200
19 18 8.9 2225
20 19 9.0 2250
21 20 9.1 2275
22 21 9.1 2275
23 22 9.2 2300
24 23 9.3 2325
25 24 9.4 2350
26 25 9.4 2350
27 26 9.4 2350
Table : 03

Results From Graphs:

Graph showing the result between time and voltage reading observed during
experimentation.
 INSTRUMENTATION & CONTROL LAB 7

10

7
Voltage(mV)
6

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Time (min)

Graph : 01
Graph showing the result between time and voltage reading observed during experimentation.

2500

2000

1500
Temperature (C)

1000

500

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Time (min)

Graph : 02

Time Constant Calculation by emf:

 INSTRUMENTATION & CONTROL LAB 8

Max Reading on Voltmeter = 9.4 m V

63.2 % Of Max = 5.9408 m V
Time Constant = 2 min

Time Constant Calculation by temperature:

Max Reading on temperature = 2350 ° C

63.2 % Of Max = 1485.2 ° C
Time Constant = 2.7min.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Thermocouple

The advantages include the following.

 Accuracy is high
 It is Robust and can be used in environments like harsh as well as high vibration.
 Thermal reaction is fast
 The operating range of temperature is wide.
 Wide operating temperature range
 Cost is low and extremely consistent
The disadvantages include the following.

 It has low-accuracy.
 The thermocouple recalibration is hard

Thermocouple Applications
Some of the applications of thermocouple include the following.

 These are used as the temperature sensors thermostats in offices, homes, offices & businesses.
 These are used in industries for monitoring temperatures of metals in iron, aluminum, and
metal.
 These are used in the food industry for cryogenic and Low-temperature applications.
Thermocouples are used as a heat pump for performing thermoelectric cooling.
 These are used to test temperature in the chemical plants, petroleum plants.
 These are used in gas machines for detecting the pilot flame.

Conclusion:
 INSTRUMENTATION & CONTROL LAB 9

From the above results and graphs we can conclude that there is a direct relationship between
the temperature difference and emf /voltage. As the temperature increases emf also increase and
vice versa. Also, the emf or voltage productions depends on:
 Types of materials used.
 Temperature difference between the measuring junction and reference junction.
There is also a direct relationship between time and temperature.

References:
 http://www.omega.com
 https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/iron-constantan
 https://www.elprocus.com/what-is-a-thermocouple-definition-working-principle-
diagram-applications/
 https://www.thermocoupleinfo.com/