Magnetic Field Dynamics of Thermo-Emf Generation in the High Temperature Range

This paper presents some results of experimental research addressing the influence of magnetic field dynamics on the Seebeck effect (i.e., performance) of some selected classical thermocouples namely: Cu-Fe, Fe-constantan, constantannichrome, Fe-nichrome and Cu-nichrome. Thermocouples were selected on the basis of their easy availability and low cost with an aim of their (thermocouples) suitability towards the conversion of waste heat into electricity, i.e. as generator thermo-elements. Effect of magnetic field dynamics of thermo-emf generation was investigated in the temperature range from 30°C to 350°C. The generation of thermo-emf for these thermocouples was studied at different values of applied magnetic field for its three (i.e., parallel, anti-parallel and perpendicular) orientations w. r. t. thermocouple. The magnetic field dependence of the Seebeck voltage was found to be large. Results show not only the significant increase in the thermo-emf generation in case of all these thermocouples but also indicate greater stability of thermo-emf generation with temperature variation. This highlights the importance of magnetic field not only in terms of increasing the thermo-emf generation and stability, but also towards the need of accuracy concern about the thermocouple response in temperature measurements.