Thermocouples with two tabs spaced apart along a transverse axis and methods

摘要

Methods for determining a temperature of a portion of an electrically conductive substrate are provided wherein the substrate is heated by applying an electrical current flow through the substrate. The method for determining the temperature employs a thermocouple including a first tab element and a second tab element that are spaced apart from one another along an axis transverse to a direction of the current flow. In another example, an apparatus includes an electrically conductive substrate and a direct heating apparatus configured to heat the substrate with an electrical current flow through the substrate. The apparatus includes first and second coupling positions of a thermocouple that are spaced apart from one another along an axis transverse to a direction of the current flow.

主权项

1. A method for determining a temperature of a portion of an electrically conductive substrate, comprising:
providing a thermocouple comprising a first thermoelectric element formed of a first thermoelectric material and having a first proximal end and a first distal end, and a second thermoelectric element formed of a second thermoelectric material and having a second proximal end and a second distal end; forming a thermocouple circuit by coupling the respective proximal ends of the first and second thermoelectric elements to a portion of the electrically conductive substrate through intermediate first and second tab elements, respectively, the first and second tab elements having a composition substantially the same as the first and second thermoelectric materials, respectively, and wherein the first and second tab elements are spaced apart such that the first and second proximal ends are not physically coupled each to the other; heating the electrically conductive substrate by applying an electrical current flow through the electrically conductive substrate, wherein the first tab element and the second tab element are spaced apart from one another along an axis transverse to a direction of the current flow, wherein the axis extends through the first tab element and the second tab element; and quantifying a voltage provided by the formed thermocouple circuit, wherein said voltage is indicative of a temperature within the portion of the electrically conductive substrate.