How Does Thermocouple works?

Basically, the thermocouple has circuit inside made by two dissimilar metal wires that
connected together at one end form two junctions as shown below. One of the wire is work as
reference junction which connected to the body of known temperature, this wire is also known as
the cold zone. While another wire is work as measuring junction and connected to the body which
the temperature is to be measured called as the hot zone.

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According to Seebeck effect, when we connect the wires into this form and maintain a heat
at the measuring junction it will generate Electromagnetic Force (EMF) at both wires since they
have different temperature. The amount of EMF is depending on the metal wires used. There will
be electrical net current flowing inside the circuit. This flowing current of EMF can be measured
by using of EMF measurement (potentiometer). The result of flowing current will be directly
connecting to both wires and start to calibrate against the reference junction and show the result
of the unknown temperature. Other than that, this form of junction also generated a small voltage
known as Peltier effect. So that is why we can see in the picture that wires A and B are connected
to voltage measuring devices such as a voltmeter, or digital multimeter. This device used to
measure the voltage produced that infer the temperature of the object measured. The higher
impedance of the measurement, the more accurate result we got. If the temperature of the both
junction equal, so that zero current flowing and there is no potential voltage in the system.
The equation of Electromagnetic Force (EMF) inside the circuit system written as the equations
below.

T1 and T2 are the temperature of each junction and variable a and b are constant.

There are some types of thermocouple that commonly used. What made they different
is the material that composed them. Type K uses chromel-alumunium alloys (Ni-Cr and Ni-Al),
type J uses iron and nickel-copper (constantan) alloys, type T uses copper and constantan, type
S uses Pt/Rh-Pt, type E uses Ni/Cr-Con, and type N uses Ni/Cr/Si-Ni/Si. The calibration of each
types has different range of temperature and environment. Each types of thermocouple have
different specification and function. To determine which thermocouple type that should be used,
it depends on the range of temperature and chemical abrasion resistance of the material of
thermocouple itself. In practice, type K is more generally used since it has wider temperature
range, has good chemical resistance and lower standard of errors.

Thermocouples provide us some advantage and disadvantages. This device has larger and
higher range of temperature, around 200 until up to 2600 degrees Celsius which is cannot be
measured using ordinary thermometer. This device has a fast respond to the change of
temperature and the price of thermocouple quite cheaper compared to other temperature
measurement. However, thermocouple is vulnerable to corrosion since it is made of metals.
Corrosion can result inaccurate output value or even misreading, so that maintenance will be
needed to avoid corrosion. Another disadvantage of thermocouple is that the calibration of this
device also would be so difficult and tedious.
 References:

"What Is a Thermocouple & How Does It Work? Principle of Working of Thermocouple."Brighthub

Engineering. N.p., 23 Oct. 2013. Web. 14 Feb. 2018.

"What Is Thermocouple Instrument? - Definition, Principle & Construction." Circuit Globe. N.p., 11 July
2017. Web. 14 Feb. 2018.

"Thermocouple Working Principle Instrumentation Tools." Instrumentation Tools. N.p., 23 Dec. 2015.
Web. 14 Feb. 2018.

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