DS IN0023 en Co 51542 PDF
DS IN0023 en Co 51542 PDF
DS IN0023 en Co 51542 PDF
Application of thermocouples
WIKA data sheet IN 00.23
Samples of thermowells
A thermocouple consists of two conductors of dissimilar Every metal has a material-specific electronegativity.
metals connected together at one end, whereby the (Electronegativity = tendency of atoms rather to accept or
connection node is the measuring point. release electrons)
Thermocouple conductors
Following standards define thermocouples
IEC 60584-1: Thermocouples: basic and tolerance values of
the thermoelectric voltages
When the measuring point is heated, the voltage on the
IEC 60584-3: Thermocouples: Thermocouple cables and
wire ends (cold junction) is measured; it represents the
compensating cables
temperature of the measuring point.
(Thermoelectric effect = Seebeck effect)
ASTM E230:
Metal A
Standard specification and temperature-electromotive force
(EMF) tables for standardised thermocouples.
T1
Cold
junction
Measuring T2
point Metal B
and
T2: Cold point (cold junction)
Reference temperature: 0 C
Temperature Thermocouple
in C Type K Type J Type N Type E Type T Type S Type R Type B
-200 -5.603
-180 -5.261
-160 -4.865
-140 -4.419
-120 -3.923
-100 -3.379
-80 -2.788
-60 -2.153
-40 -1.527 -1.961 -1.023 -2.255 -1.475
-20 -0.777 -0.995 -0.518 -1.152 -0.757
0 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
20 0.798 1.019 0.525 1.192 0.790 0.113 0.111
40 1.612 2.059 1.065 2.420 1.612 0.235 0.232
60 2.436 3.116 1.619 3.685 2.467 0.365 0.363
80 3.267 4.187 2.189 4.985 3.358 0.502 0.501
100 4.096 5.269 2.774 6.319 4.279 0.646 0.647
150 6.138 8.010 4.302 9.789 6.704 1.029 1.041
200 8.138 10.779 5.913 13.421 9.288 1.441 1.469
250 10.153 13.555 7.597 17.181 12.013 1.874 1.923
300 12.209 16.327 9.341 21.036 14.862 2.323 2.401
350 14.293 19.090 11.136 24.964 17.819 2.786 2.896
370 15.133 20.194 11.867 26.552 19.030 2.974 3.099
400 16.397 21.848 12.974 28.946 3.259 3.408
450 18.516 24.610 14.846 32.965 3.742 3.933
500 20.644 27.393 16.748 37.005 4.233 4.471
550 22.776 30.216 18.672 41.053 4.732 5.021
600 24.905 33.102 20.613 45.093 5.239 5.583 1.792
650 27.025 36.071 22.566 49.116 5.753 6.041 2.101
700 29.129 39.132 24.527 53.112 6.275 6.743 2.431
750 31.213 42.281 26.491 57.080 6.806 7.340 2.782
760 31.628 42.919 26.883 57.970 6.913 7.461 2.854
800 33.275 28.455 61.017 7.345 7.950 3.154
850 35.313 30.416 64.922 7.893 8.571 3.546
870 36.121 31.199 66.473 8.114 8.823 3.708
900 37.326 32.371 68.787 8.449 9.205 3.957
950 39.314 34.319 9.014 9.850 4.387
1000 41.276 36.256 9.587 10.506 4.834
1050 43.211 38.179 10.168 11.173 5.299
1100 45.119 40.087 10.757 11.850 5.780
1150 46.995 41.976 11.351 12.535 6.276
1200 48.838 43.846 11.951 13.228 6.786
1250 50.644 45.694 12.554 13.926 7.311
1260 51.000 46.060 12.675 14.066 7.417
1300 13.159 14.629 7.848
1350 13.766 15.334 8.397
1400 14.373 16.040 8.956
1450 14.978 16.746 9.524
1480 15.341 17.169 9.868
1500 15.582 17.451 10.099
1550 16.182 18.152 10.679
Legend:
Black: IEC 60584-1 and ASTM E230
Blue: IEC 60584-1 only
Red: ASTM E230 only
ASTM E230
Voltage
The following table contains permissible tolerance values of IEC 60584-1 incl. the tolerance values of ASTM E230 standard
which is common in North America:
Tolerance values of the thermocouples per IEC 60584-1 / ASTM E230 (Reference temperature 0 C)
There are different notations of type K thermocouples in Europe and North America:
Europe: NiCr-NiAl or NiCr-Ni
North America: Ni-Cr / Ni-Al
There is no physical difference, it is just the naming caused by historical reasons.
Types R, S and B
Not available as MI-cable version in class 1 per IEC 60584 or Special per ASTM E230
10
6
Tolerance value in C
5 Legend:
Type K Class 2
4 Type K Class 1
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400
Temperature in C
Example:
Tolerance value of the accuracy classes 1 and 2 of thermocouple type K
Base-metal thermocouples
Type K Type T
+ leg - leg + leg - leg
NiCr - NiAl Cu - CuNi
Nickel-Chromium - Nickel-Aluminum (ferromagnetic) Copper - Copper-Nickel
NiCr-NiAl thermocouples are suitable for use in oxidising or Cu-CuNi thermocouples are suitable for temperatures
inert gas atmospheres up to 1200 C (ASTM E230: 1260 C) below 0 C with an upper temperature limit of 350 C
with the largest wire size. (ASTM E230: 370 C) and can be used in oxidising, reducing
Protect thermocouples from sulphurous atmospheres. Since or inert gas atmospheres. They do not corrode in moist
they are less susceptible to oxidation than thermocouples atmospheres.
made of other materials, they are mostly used for
applications at temperatures above 550 C up to the
maximum working pressure of the thermocouple. Precious-metal thermocouples
Type S
Type J
+ leg - leg
+ leg - leg
Pt10%Rh - Pt
Fe - CuNi
Platinum-10%Rhodium - Platinum
Iron (ferromagnetic) - Copper-Nickel
Nickel-Chromium-Silicon - Nickel-Silicon
Type R thermocouples are suitable for continuous use in
oxidising or inert gas atmospheres at temperatures up to
NiCrSi-NiSi thermocouples are suitable for use in oxidising
atmospheres, in inert gas atmospheres or dry reduction 1600 C. Beware of embrittlement due to contamination.
atmospheres up to 1200 C (ASTM E230: 1260 C).
They must be protected from sulphurous atmospheres. They Type B
are very accurate at high temperatures. The source voltage + leg - leg
(EMF) and the temperature range are almost the same as Pt30%Rh - Pt6%Rh
with type K. They are used in applications where a longer Platinum-30%Rhodium - Platinum-6%Rhodium
service life and greater stability are required.
Type B thermocouples are suitable for continuous use in
Type E oxidising or inert gas atmospheres and for short-term use
+ leg - leg in vacuum environments for temperatures up to 1700 C.
NiCr - CuNi Beware of embrittlement due to contamination.
Nickel-Chromium - Copper-Nickel
NiCr-CuNi thermocouples are suitable for use in Type R, S and B thermocouples are commonly installed
oxidising or inert gas atmospheres up to 900 C in a pure ceramic closed-ended protection tube. If a metal
(ASTM E230: 870 C) with the largest wire size. TypeE thermowell or protection tube is used, an inner closed-ended
thermocouples, of all the commonly used thermocouples, protection tube is required. Precious metal thermocouples
develop the highest source voltage (EMF) per C. are susceptible to contamination. It is strongly recommended
to surround these thermocouples with ceramic material.
Sheathed thermocouples (see also table Thermoelectric voltages per IEC 60584-1)
Specifications under consideration of optimum laboratory conditions (relating to air without harmful gases).
Other materials are available resulting in different temperature limits.
Straight thermocouple assembly (see also table Thermoelectric voltages per IEC 60584-1)
Specifications under consideration of optimum laboratory conditions (relating to air without harmful gases).
Protected thermocouples (see also table Suggested upper temperature limits for protected thermocouples
perASTM E230)
Thermocouple Upper temperature limit for various wire sizes (Awg) in C
type No. 30 gauge No. 28 gauge No. 24 gauge No. 20 gauge No. 14 gauge No. 8 gauge
0.25 mm 0.33 mm 0.51 mm 0.81 mm 1.63 mm 3.25 mm
[0.010 inch] [0.013 inch] [0.020 inch] [0.032 inch] [0.064 inch] [0.128 inch]
T 150 200 200 260 370
J 320 370 370 480 590 760
E 370 430 430 540 650 870
K and N 760 870 870 980 1090 1260
R and S 1480
B 1700
Note:
The specified maximum operating temperatures apply to the
thermocouple under optimal environmental conditions. The
maximum working temperature of the thermowells is often
well under the temperature of the thermocouple!
Note:
The specified maximum operating temperatures apply to the
thermocouple under optimal environmental conditions. The
maximum working temperature of the thermowells is often
well under the temperature of the thermocouple!
Important factors which counteract the long-term protect it from further oxidation of the chromium, cannot be
stability of thermocouples formed on the surface of the thermocouple.
Ageing effects/contamination
The thermocouple is permanently destroyed by this process.
Oxidation processes in thermocouples which are not
The name green rot is derived from the greenish shimmering
appropriately protected (bare thermocouple wires) result
colouration on the breaking point of the wire.
in falsifications of the characteristic curves
Foreign atoms (poisoning) that diffuse into the original
The thermocouple type N (NiCrSi-NiSi) has in this regard an
alloys lead to changes of these original alloys and thus
advantage due to its Silicon content. Here, a protective oxide
falsify the characteristic curve.
layer forms on its surface under the same conditions.
The influence of hydrogen leads to the embrittlement of
the thermocouples.
K effect
Base-metal thermocouples are subject to ageing The NiCr leg of a type K thermocouple has an ordered
and thereby change their temperature/thermal voltage alignment with respect to the alignment in the crystal lattice
characteristic curve. below approx. 400 C. If the thermocouple is heated further,
Precious PtRh-Pt thermocouples of the types R and S show a transition to a disordered state occurs in the temperature
virtually no ageing up to 1400 C. range between approx. 400 C and 600 C. Above 600 C, an
However, they are very sensitive to contamination. Silicon ordered crystal lattice is restored.
and phosphorous destroy the Platinum rapidly. In the If these thermocouples cool too quickly (quicker than approx.
presence of Platinum, Silicon can be released from the 100 C per hour), the undesirable disordered crystal lattice
isolating ceramic parts, even in slightly reducing atmosphere. occurs again during cooling in the range from approx.
The reduction of SiO2 to Si contaminates the Pt-leg of the 600 C to approx. 400 C. In the characteristic curve of
thermocouple. This leads to errors of 10 C and more even if type K, however, a consistently ordered alignment state is
the volume of Silicon is in the range of a few ppm. assumed and provided with values. This results in a fault of
thermoelectric voltage of up to approx. 0.8 mV (approx. 5 C)
Due to a better ratio of the total material volume to the in this range.
surface sensitive to poisoning, the long-term stability of the The K effect is reversible and is largely eliminated again by
precious-metal thermocouples increases with increasing annealing above 700 C, followed by correspondingly slow
thermocouple wire diameter. This is why the sensors of cooling.
the types S, R and B with thermocouple wire diameters
0.35 mm or 0.5 mm (0.015" or 0.020") are available. But: Thin sheathed thermocouples are particularly sensitive in this
thermocouple wires with 0.5 mm (0.020") have twice the regard. Cooling in resting air can already lead to deviations
area of cross section of the wires with 0.35 mm (0.015") of 1 C.
and are thereby also twice as expensive. Nevertheless, it can
be worth it as a considerably longer service life can equalise In type N thermocouple (NiCrSi-NiSi), it has been possible to
the possibly high service costs (downtime of the plant). reduce this short-range-order effect by alloying both legs with
Silicon.
The Ni leg of the type K thermocouple is often damaged by
sulphur that is present in exhaust gases. Thermocouples of
the types J and T age slightly as the pure metal leg oxidises
first.
Green rot
If type K thermocouples are used at temperatures from
approx. 800 C to 1050 C, considerable changes of the
thermoelectric voltage can occur. The cause of this is a
chromium depletion or the chrome oxidation in the NiCrleg
(+ leg). The precondition for this is a low concentration
of oxygen or steam in the immediate environment of the
thermocouple. The nickel leg is not affected by it. The
consequence of this effect is a drift of the measured value
caused by decreasing thermoelectric voltage. This effect
is accelerated if there is a shortage of oxygen (reducing
atmosphere), since a complete oxide layer, which would
3168477.01
3168469.01
corrosion resistance properties under exposure to high
temperatures, resistant to induced stress corrosion
cracking and pitting in media containing chloride
- resistant to corrosion caused by aqueous ammonia in all
temperatures and concentrations
- highly resistant to halogens, chlorine, hydrogen chloride
Insulation rod
Ceramic insulators
Stainless steel 316
- up to 850 C (air)
- good corrosion resistance with aggressive media as well
as steam and flue gases in chemical media
Sheath Sheath
Measuring point
(welded thermocouple)
Thermocouple cable
The internal leads of the thermocouple cable are made of
original materials of the thermocouple (not available for
precious thermocouples for cost reasons).
The cables are available in the accuracy classes 1 and 2.
Compensating cable
The internal leads of the compensating cable are made of
materials which correspond to the thermoelectric properties
of the original thermocouples. This applies to a temperature
range defined in IEC 60584 / ASTM E230 on the transition
cable thermocouple, and to the entire length of the cable.
Available only in accuracy class 2.
Note:
The potential faults of thermocouple and connecting cable
are added!
ASTM E230 ASTM E230 BS 1843 DIN 43714 ISC1610-198 NF C42-323 IEC 60584-3 IEC 60584-3
Thermocouple Extension Intrinsically
wire wire safe
2013 WIKA Alexander Wiegand SE & Co. KG, all rights reserved.
The specifications given in this document represent the state of engineering at the time of publishing.
We reserve the right to make modifications to the specifications and materials.