RFThermocouple vs. Thermopile: Key Differences Explained
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This article compares thermocouple and thermopile sensors, highlighting the key differences between them.
What is a Thermocouple?
A thermocouple is an electrical device constructed from two dissimilar conductors that form electrical junctions at different temperatures.
It generates a voltage that depends on the temperature difference between these junctions. This phenomenon, known as the thermoelectric effect, makes thermocouples thermoelectric transducers.
What is a Thermopile?
A thermopile consists of multiple thermocouples arranged in series or parallel.
It produces a higher voltage output than a single thermocouple. Unlike thermocouples, which are contact-based temperature sensors, thermopiles are non-contact temperature sensors. They use infrared radiation for temperature measurement, typically incorporating an IR absorber device.
Thermocouple vs. Thermopile: Key Differences
The following table summarizes the comparison between thermocouples and thermopile sensors:
| Features | Thermocouple | Thermopile |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Thinner and has a pointed end | Bigger and thicker |
| Voltage output | Lower, typically between 8 mV to 30 mV | Higher, in the range of 10s or 100s of mVs |
| Structure | Two dissimilar conductors (single pair of wires) | More than one thermocouple arranged in series/parallel along with an IR absorber membrane |
| Mathematical Equation | where is the number of thermocouples used in a thermopile | |
| Application | Contact-based temperature measurement | Non-contact-based temperature measurement using IR (infrared radiation) |
