Experiment 1
Thermocouple Calibration
Objectives
The objectives of this experiment are: (1) to calibrate two thermocouples, and (2) to
examine some of the properties and behavior of thermocouples. You will calibrate two
thermocouples by comparing induced voltages measured with voltmeter and
temperatures measured with a thermometer.
Introduction: The Thermocouple
The thermocouple is the most common type of temperature sensor, primarily because
it is inexpensive and easy to use. In fact, it is used in many places familiar to you: in
the home, it is used to control the temperature of the furnace, water heater, and the
kitchen oven; in the automobile, it is used to monitor coolant and oil temperature, and
even to control the air conditioner. It is not the most accurate technique available to
measure temperature – typical thermocouples are accurate to around ±0.5°C – but for
many applications this accuracy is acceptable.
Figure 1. Thermocouple circuit connected to a voltmeter.
In order to calibrate a thermocouple, one of the junctions must be held at constant
temperature. For the sake of simplicity, let us set the reference temperature, T1, to be
0°C. This can easily be achieved by submersing the junction in a bath of ice water,
commonly called an ice bath reference. In Part A of this experiment, we will use this
technique to calibrate two thermocouples. Later in this course, we will develop a
simpler method that eliminates the ice bath.
There are many types of thermocouples, categorized by the two dissimilar metals
used. Appendix A lists the output voltage as a function of temperature for three
common types of thermocouples. This data is published by the National Institute of
Standards and Testing (NIST), and is available through textbooks and vendor catalogs.
Note that these thermocouples are referenced to an ice bath.
Experiment
Equipment
Thermocouple Kit, including:
Glass thermometer
24-gage type J (red/white wire) and type T (red/blue wire) thermocouples
Thermos
“hot hands” mitt
Voltmeter
electric hot plate
two 250 ml beakers
chemistry stand
Procedure
1. Make an ice bath by filling the Thermos with crushed ice and water.
2. You are given two thermocouples, each made from 24-gage wire: one type J (Iron-
Constantan) and one type T (Copper-Constantan). For both thermocouples the
Constantan wire is the wire with the red stripe, and for both it is the negative
lead. Connect these thermocouples to the voltage terminals on voltmeter.
WARNING: Record which type thermocouple (type J or T) is connected to
which channel.
3. Place the two junctions leading from the positive terminals in the ice bath.
Wrap the remaining two junctions together with the bulb of the thermometer
and place them in the beaker of water using the chemistry stand so that all
three are approximately 2 inches above the bottom of the beaker. None of
the three sensors should touch the side or bottom of the beaker, and make
sure the bare wires of the thermocouples do not touch each other:
otherwise they will short out. Finally, make sure that the water level
reaches the solid line on the thermometer, about an inch or two above the
bulb; this line is called the calibration line, and will ensure the accuracy of
your temperature readings. Refer to Figure 2. for the complete experimental
layout.
Figure 2. Experimental apparatus for thermocouple calibration. NOTE: If the recorder
does not read a positive voltage from one or both of the thermocouples,
check that the junctions leading from the positive terminals go to the ice
bath.
6. You are now ready to begin collecting data. Record the current water temperature
indicated on the thermometer. Start the voltmeter by clicking the on/off bottom.
7. Begin heating the water, setting the hot plate to 50% power. At increments of
approximately 10°C, record the “Data Point” number from the voltmeter and the
corresponding temperature indicated by the thermometer. Later, arrangement your
data in a table below.
Thermometer Voltage voltmeter (mV)
Temp. (°C) Thermocouple Thermocouple
(1) (2)
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
