Kylmäliitäntäanturit

Kylmäliitäntäanturit, also known as cold junction compensation sensors, are devices used to measure temperature by compensating for the temperature at the junction of two different conductors, typically in a thermocouple circuit. Thermocouples generate a voltage that is proportional to the temperature difference between their measuring junction and their reference junction. If the reference junction's temperature fluctuates, the measured voltage will not accurately reflect the temperature at the measuring junction. Kylmäliitäntäanturit are employed to measure the temperature of this reference junction and provide a correction signal.

Common types of kylmäliitäntäanturit include thermistors, RTDs (Resistance Temperature Detectors), and semiconductor-based sensors. Thermistors are resistors whose resistance changes significantly with temperature. RTDs use the principle that the electrical resistance of a pure metal changes with temperature in a predictable way. Semiconductor sensors often utilize the temperature-dependent voltage drop across a p-n junction.

The signal from the kylmäliitäntäanturi is then processed, either by dedicated circuitry or by a microcontroller, and added to the thermocouple's output voltage. This combined signal is then used to calculate the true temperature at the measuring junction. Accurate cold junction compensation is crucial for obtaining precise temperature readings from thermocouples in a wide range of industrial, scientific, and laboratory applications. Without it, temperature measurements can be significantly inaccurate, especially when ambient temperatures are unstable.