Thermopower Measurement Probe Design by Using Type-T Thermocouple

The Seebeck effect is a phenomenon by which an electromotive force is generated when a temperature difference is imposed at the ends of a material. This effect can be characterized by the Seebeck coefficient. Understanding the Seebeck coefficient will result in comprehending the physical properties of the material, its normal state behavior, and progress on further applications, such as thermoelectric generators, refrigeration systems, and temperature measurement devices. In our laboratory, a thermopower probe has been developed to ultimately measure the Seebeck coefficient of filled-skutterudite compounds. Before thermopower measurements of these compounds could be started, we had proceeded to test the functionality and resolution of the probe design. Nickel 201 alloy and platinum samples were used to check the accuracy of the measurement probe, and thus it was concluded that our device provides measurements above 100K within a 3% error. Nonetheless, measurements below this point are still yet to be improved. The data is thought to be limited by the operating range of the type-T thermocouple used. For future improvement of the probe, we plan to implement a Cernox thermometer in the hot side, so that the thermocouple can be prescinded from the design.