MODULE 3:Thermoelectric materials and devices

Numericals

1. Calculate the inversion temperature for an iron- cadmium thermocouple. The value of a
and b are 17.5 and -0.1 for iron and for cadmium these values are 3 and + 0.08
respectively.

Solution: airon- cadmium = airon-acadmium= 17.5 – 3 = 14.5

biron- cadmium = biron- bcadmium=– 0.1 – 0.08 = -0.18

𝑎𝐹𝑒−𝑐𝑑 14.5
Inversion temperature 𝑇𝑛 = = − = 𝟖𝟎. 𝟓𝟓𝒐 𝑪
𝑏𝐹𝑒−𝑐𝑑 −0.18

Ti=2Tn= 2x80.55oC=161.1 oC

2. EMF of a thermocouple is 1200μV, when working between 0oC and 100oC . Its neutral
temperature is 300oC. Find the values of a and b for it.
Data: Emf of a thermocouple 𝑒 = 1200𝜇𝑉 = 1200 × 10−6 𝑉
Solution:𝒕 = T2 − 𝑇1= 100𝑜 𝐶
Neutral temperature 𝑇𝑛 = 300𝑜 𝐶
1
𝑒 = 𝑎𝑡 + 2 𝑏𝑡 2
1
(1200 × 10−6 ) = 𝑎(100) + 𝑏(100)2
2

𝑖.e., 𝑎 + 50𝑏 = 12 × 10−6 (i)

𝑎
𝑇𝑛 = −
𝑏
𝑎
300𝑜 𝐶 = −
𝑏

∴ 𝑎 = −300𝑏 (ii)

From relation (i), −300𝑏 + 50𝑏 = 12 × 10−6

12
i.e., 𝑏= −2.5
× 10−8 = −4.8 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖

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From relation (ii), 𝑎 = (−300)(−4.8 × 10−8 ) = 𝟏𝟒. 𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔

3. The thermo emf of a Cu-Fe thermocouple is 2160μVwhen the cold junction is at 0oC and
hot junction at 250oC. Calculate the constants a and b if the neutral temperature is 330oC.
1
Solution: 𝑒 = 𝑎𝑡 + 2 𝑏𝑡 2

1
2160 × 10−6 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑠 = 𝑎(250) + 𝑏(250)2
2

∴ 𝑎 + 125𝑏 = 8.64 × 10−6 ………(i)

𝑎
Neutral temperature 𝑇𝑛 = −
𝑏

∴ 𝑎 = 𝑇𝑛 (−𝑏) = −330𝑏 ……….(ii)

Using (ii) in (i), we get

−330𝑏 + 125𝑏 = 8.64 × 10−6
𝒃 = −𝟎. 𝟎𝟒𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔
From(ii) 𝑎 = 330(−0.042 × 10−6 )
𝒂 = 𝟏𝟑. 𝟖𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔

4. For Fe-Cu thermocouple it is observed that the thermo emf is zero when one of the
junctions is at 20oC and the other one is at some higher temperature. If the neutral
temperature is 285oC, calculate the higher temperature. Hence find out the temperature of
inversion, if the cold junction temperature is at -20oC.

Solution: For Fe- Cu thermocouple,

e.m.f. 𝑒 = 0 𝑎𝑡 𝑇1 = 20𝑜 𝐶 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑇2 = 𝑇 (𝑠𝑎𝑦)
1
𝑒 = 0 = 𝑎(𝑇 − 𝑇1 ) + 𝑏(𝑇 − 𝑇1 )2
2
1
∴ 𝑎 + 𝑏(𝑇 − 𝑇1 ) = 0
2
−2𝑎
i.e.,(𝑇 − 𝑇1 ) = 𝑏
=2Tn ∴ 𝑇 = 2𝑇𝑛 + 𝑇1 = 2𝑋285𝑜 𝐶 + 20𝑜 𝐶 = 590𝑜 𝐶

𝑇2 = 590𝑜 𝐶 is the higher temperature.

If cold junction temperature 𝑇1 = −20𝑜 𝐶, then the inversion temperature

𝑇𝑖 = 2𝑇𝑛 − 𝑇𝑐 = 2𝑋285𝑜 𝐶 − (−20𝑜 𝐶 ) = 590𝑜 𝐶 Or 𝑇𝑖 = 590𝑜 𝐶

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5. The e.m.f. in micro volts (e) of a thermocouple, one junction of which is at 0oCe is given
by e = 1600 T – 4T2 where ToCis the temperature of hot junction. Find (i) neutral
temperature (ii) Peltier Coefficient.
Solution:
1
(i) 𝑒 = 𝑎𝑇 + 2 𝑏𝑇 2 = 1600 𝑇 – 4𝑇 2

1
∴ 𝑎 = 1600 and 𝑏 = −4, ∴ 𝑏 = −8
2

−𝑎 −1600
∴ Neutral temperature, 𝑇𝑛 = 𝑏
= (−8)

∴ 𝑇𝑛 = 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝒐 𝑪

𝑑𝑒
(ii) Peltier coefficient 𝜋 = 𝑇 𝑑𝑇 = 𝑇(𝑎 + 𝑏𝑇)

∴ 𝜋 = (𝑇)(1600 − 8𝑇) = 1600𝑇 − 8𝑇 2

6. The e. m. f. in lead – iron thermocouple, one junction of which is at 0oC, is given by

𝐸 = 1784 𝑡 − 2.4 𝑡 2 (𝑖𝑛 𝜇 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑠) where t is temperature in o C. Find the neutral
temperature and π
1
Solution: 𝐸 = 𝑎𝑡 + 2 𝑏𝑡 2 𝐸 = 1784 𝑡 − 2.4 𝑡 2

a= 1784, b = - 4.8
𝑎 1784
Now 𝑡𝑛 = − 𝑏 = − −4.8 = 371.67𝑜 𝐶

𝑑𝐸
Peltier coefficient, 𝜋 = 𝑇. 𝑑𝑇 = 𝑇[𝑎 + 𝑏𝑇] = 1784𝑇 − 4.8𝑇 2

7) Cold junction of thermocouple is at 00C and the other junction at t0C if thermo emf is a function of
1
temperature is given by 𝐸 = 10 × 10−6 𝑡 − 10−6 𝑡 2 ,calculate maximum value
40
of thermo emf.

Solution:

−10−6
Given: Tc = 00C Tn = t0C, 𝐸 = 10−5 𝑡 + ( 40
) 𝑡2

𝑑𝐸 10−6
For maximum thermo EMF, 𝑑𝑡
=0 ∴ 10−5 − 40
(2𝑡) = 0 ∴ 𝑡 = 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝒐 𝑪

10−6
Thus, 𝐸 = 10−5 (200) − 40
(200)2 = 10−3 𝑉 = 1𝑚𝑉

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8) In a thermocouple, the neutral temperature is 270oC and the temperature of inversion is 525oC.
Calculate the temperature of cold junction.
Solution:

Here, neutral temperature Tn = 2700C Temperature of inversion Ti = 5250C

Temperature of cold junction Tc = ?

As Tn − Tc = Ti − Tn

 Tc = 2Tn − Ti = 2(2700 C) − 5250 C

𝑇𝑐 = 5400 𝐶 − 5250 𝐶 = 150 𝐶

9) The thermo e.m.f. of a thermocouple is given by E= 2164t−6.2t2. Calculate the neutral temperature
and temperature of inversion.
Solution:
𝑎 2164
Given: E = 2164t − 6.2t 2, Therefore a=2164, b=-12.4 𝑇𝑛 = − 𝑏 = − −12.4 = 174.5𝑜 𝐶

Ti=2Tn=2X174.5=349𝑜 𝐶

𝑑𝐸
{ Alternate method: At neutral temperature tn, =0 𝑖. 𝑒, 2164 − 6.2 × 2𝑡𝑛 = 0
𝑑𝑡

2164
 𝑡𝑛 = = 174.5OC
12.4

At inversion temperature t i , 𝐸 = 0

==> 2164𝑡𝑖 = 6.2𝑡𝑖2 = 0

2164
==> 𝑡𝑖 = = 349 OC
6.2

10) For a thermocouple the neutral temperature is 2700C when its cold junction is at 200C. What will
be the neutral temperature and the temperature of inversion when the temperature of cold junction is
increased to 400C
Solution:

No change in neutral temperature but, i.e, neutral temperature =270oC

Temperature inversion is 𝑡𝑖 = 2𝑡𝑛 − 𝑡𝑐

 𝑡𝑖 = 2 × 270 − 40 = 5000 𝐶

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11) The temperature of cold junction and neutral temperature of a thermocouple
are 150C and 2800C respectively. Calculate the temperature of inversion.
Solution:

Given, 𝑡𝑐 = 150 𝐶, 𝑡𝑛 = 2800 𝐶, 𝑡𝑖 =?

𝑡𝑐 + 𝑡𝑖
𝑡𝑛 =
2

𝑡𝑐 + 𝑡𝑖 = 2𝑡𝑛

15 + 𝑡𝑖 = 2 × 280

𝑡𝑖 = 560 − 15 = 5450 𝐶

Possible questions:

1. Explain variation of Variation of Thermoelectric emf with temperature and obtain the
relation between inversion temperature and neutral temperature.(7)
2. State and explain Laws of thermoelectricity. (9)
3. Describe the Seebeck effect and and Seebeck coefficient. (5)

4. Describe Peltier effect and Peltier coefficient. (5)

5. Explain the construction working of thermocouple. Also discuss on its advantages and
limitations. (8)

6. Explain the construction working of thermopiles. Also discuss on its advantages and
limitations. (8)

7. Describe the construction and working thermoelectric generator (TEG). (7)

8. Describe the construction and working thermoelectric cooler. (7)

9. Define thermo emf, thermo current, Neutral temperature, thermo electric power,
thermocouple and thermopile. (6)

10. Explain thermoelectric power and figure of merit. (4)

11. Derive expression for thermo emf in terms of T 1 and T2. (7)

12. What are thermoelectric materials? Explain Low, mid and high temperature
thermoelectric materials (7)

13. Explain applications of thermoelectricity on exhaust of automobiles. (7)

14. Explain applications of thermoelectricity on refrigerator. (7)

15. Explain applications of thermoelectricity on Space Program (RTG) (6)

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