lämpöpari

Lämpöpari is the Finnish term for a thermocouple. A thermocouple is a temperature-measuring device consisting of two dissimilar conductors that make contact at one or more points. It is a simple and robust temperature sensor.

The operation of a thermocouple is based on the thermoelectric effect, also known as the Seebeck effect. When two different metals are joined at two junctions, and these junctions are at different temperatures, a voltage is produced across the conductors. This voltage is proportional to the temperature difference between the junctions. One junction, the measuring junction, is placed at the point where the temperature is to be measured, while the other junction, the reference junction, is kept at a known constant temperature.

The voltage generated by a thermocouple is typically very small, measured in millivolts. Therefore, specialized instrumentation is required to measure and interpret this voltage accurately. Different combinations of metals are used for thermocouples, each suited for a specific temperature range and environmental conditions. Common types include Type K (chromel-alumel), Type J (iron-constantan), and Type T (copper-constantan).

Thermocouples are widely used in various industrial, scientific, and commercial applications due to their wide temperature range, durability, and relatively low cost. They are employed in furnaces, engines, chemical processes, and many other fields where precise temperature monitoring is essential.