PrayogSetu Virtual Lab

Interactive PrayogSetu Learning Platform

Thermocouple Measurement Experiment
Sensor Type K
Status IDLE
Cold Junc (Tref) 25.0 °C

Virtual Experiment Setup

Normal View
GAS BURNER 25.0 °C Metal Heating Plate 1. Protective Sheath 2. Pos (+) Wire 3. Ceramic Beads 4. Neg (-) Wire 5. HOT JUNCTION THERMOCOUPLE PROBE COLD JUNCTION Ref. Junction Tref = 25.0 °C + - Signal Wires TEMPERATURE INDICATOR 25.0 °C PV 77.0 °F Seebeck EMF Converted MILLIVOLTMETER 0 10 20 30 40 mV DC 0.000 mV

Experiment Controls

250 °C
Presets:

Live Sensor Readouts

Thermal Equilibrium
Hot Junction (Thot) 25.0 °C
Cold Junction (Tcold) 25.0 °C
Temp Difference (ΔT) 0.0 °C
Output EMF Voltage 0.000 mV
Thermocouple: Type K (Ni-Cr vs Ni-Al)
Pos (+): Chromel (90% Ni, 10% Cr)
Neg (-): Alumel (95% Ni, 2% Mn, 2% Al, 1% Si)
Seebeck (S): ~41.2 µV/°C
Sample # Time (s) TC Type Thot (°C) Tcold (°C) ΔT (°C) EMF (mV) Calc T (°C) Observation
No data points logged yet. Click "Start Experiment" or "Record Data Point".

Real-time Temperature (°C) vs Millivolt Output (mV)

Live Recorded Curve NIST Standard Reference

The Seebeck Effect & Thermocouple Working Principle

A Thermocouple operates on the Seebeck Effect, discovered by Thomas Johann Seebeck in 1821. When two dissimilar electrical conductors (Metal A and Metal B) are joined together at two junctions maintained at different temperatures (Hot Junction Thot and Cold Junction Tcold), an electromotive force (EMF) or millivolt potential difference (VmV) is produced proportional to the temperature difference ΔT.

1

Burner Heat Applied

Thermal energy from the burner flame transfers heat directly to the metal plate and thermocouple hot junction tip.

2

Hot Junction Heats Up

The measuring tip (Thot) reaches high temperature while reference junction (Tcold) remains at ambient (25°C).

3

Temperature Gradient (ΔT)

A thermal gradient ΔT = Thot - Tcold is established across the length of the conductor wires.

4

Seebeck Effect Occurs

Electrons diffuse from hot to cold ends at different rates in Metal A vs Metal B due to differing Fermi energy levels.

5

Millivolt EMF Generated

A net potential difference develops across the open terminals proportional to ΔT and the Seebeck coefficient.

6

Meter & Temp Display

The millivoltmeter measures VmV and the process indicator calculates measured temperature via inverse polynomials.

Governing Thermo-electric Principle:

Generated EMF potential increases with temperature difference between junctions High-precision transmitter electronics apply cold-junction compensation and linear signal conditioning