Thermocouple Temperature Sensors

What are the typical industrial applications of K-type thermocouple temperature sensors?
1. Gas Turbine and Engine Exhaust Temperature Monitoring
Due to their wide temperature measurement range (-200°C to 1250°C) and excellent oxidation resistance, K-type thermocouple temperature sensors are commonly used for real-time exhaust temperature monitoring in gas turbines, aircraft engines, and automotive engines, helping to optimize combustion efficiency and provide fault warnings.

2. Metallurgy and Metal Heat Treatment
In the heat treatment of metals such as steel and aluminum alloys, precise monitoring of the furnace temperature profile is essential. K-type thermocouples maintain stable output in high-temperature environments, making them the preferred sensor for critical locations such as furnaces, heat treatment furnaces, and forging dies.

3. Petrochemical and Chemical Process Control
Petroleum refining and chemical reactors often involve high-temperature, corrosive media. The high-temperature and corrosion-resistant properties of K-type thermocouples enable reliable temperature measurement of critical nodes such as reactors, heat exchangers, and steam pipes, ensuring production safety.

4. Industrial Furnaces and Ceramic Firing
High-temperature firing processes for ceramics, glass, and other materials require extremely high temperature uniformity. K-type thermocouples can be placed at multiple locations within the furnace to achieve multi-point temperature measurement, helping to achieve uniform temperature control and improve product quality.
How to determine if a thermocouple is damaged or malfunctioning?
1. Check the relationship between the output voltage and the reference temperature
Use a calibration furnace or thermostat at a known temperature to perform on-site calibration of the thermocouple. If the measured voltage deviates from the reference table value by more than the specified tolerance (e.g., ±1%), the thermocouple may be deteriorating or the contacts may be corroded.

2. Visually inspect the wiring and protective tube
Inspect the thermocouple wires for cracks, oxidation, or insulation damage. Cracks or leaks in the protective tube (e.g., stainless steel or ceramic) can easily allow ingress of foreign media, causing signal drift.

3. Perform a continuity test using a multimeter
Use a multimeter to measure the resistance or continuity across the thermocouple while it is cold. If an open circuit or extremely low resistance is detected, it indicates a break or short in the wire.

4. Monitor long-term drift trends
Record the thermocouple's historical output curve using a data acquisition system. If a gradual increase or decrease in deviation occurs under the same operating conditions, the thermoelectric potential of the thermocouple has degraded and needs to be replaced.