For the exterior temperature, as long as it doesn't get too hot, I used stick-on TCs from Omega. For the temperature somewhat inside the wall (halfway between the inner and outer walls), I drilled and tapped a hole halfway. Then I drilled out a #6-32 aluminum socket set screw and used it to clamp the TC to the chamber (also aluminum). Since the screw and parent material are the same material, they should theoretically be the same temperature without any gradients (the hole has been filled by the screw). I have no idea how much error it has though. Probably at least some due to the conduction of the TC wires.
See this pic: http://www.watzlavick.com/robert/rocket/testStand/dsc_4842m.jpg -Bob On 10/16/2013 06:25 PM, Graham Sortino wrote:
I’ve been testing out some thermocouples on my revised test stand and I was wondering if there is a best practice for connecting the thermocouple to the object** being measured? I’m assuming the entire surface area of the thermocouple tip (I’m using a type K insulated wire) should be touching the metal in order to get an accurate measurement but what is the best way to do this. Should I tape it to the object, clamp it, etc... /** Note that in this case I’m trying to measure the outer wall temperature of the engine.///For example, one of the tests I did was to heat up a piece of stainless steel using a propane/air mixture. After about 5 minutes I removed it from the heat and quickly touched the tip of the thermocouple wire to my piece of metal. The propane/air mixture is supposed to have a flame temperature of about 2000 Celsius; however, the metal only measured about 400 Celsius. I'm not necessarily saying the results are wrong but I had assumed the temperature of the metal would have been a bit higher as the piece was fairly small and fully engulfed in the flame.Many thanks in advance. Graham
