INL INNOVATION SPOTLIGHT PRECISION ENHANCEMENT FOR THERMOCOUPLES: A LEAP IN MEASUREMENT ACCURACY

INL Innovation Spotlight

Precision Enhancement for Thermocouples: A Leap in Measurement Accuracy

This technology stabilizes thermocouples using ohmic heating, improving their accuracy and lifespan and meeting the need for reliable temperature measurements in various industries.

Overview:        

Thermocouples, the backbone of temperature measurement in virtually every industry, suffer from accuracy drift over time, especially under high temperatures or radiation. This affects the quality and safety of processes and leads to frequent replacements and downtime. The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has developed a groundbreaking method to extend the lifespan and accuracy of thermocouples, addressing these challenges head-on. With a market spanning from manufacturing to aerospace, where precision is paramount, this solution opens the door to unprecedented reliability in temperature monitoring. As industries strive for efficiency and sustainability, the demand for durable, accurate thermocouples is more pronounced than ever, positioning INL's technology as a critical advancement.

Description:   

The technology introduces a precise method of short-range ordering (SRO) on thermocouple wires through ohmic heating. This process rearranges the atomic structure of the thermocouple's alloys to combat drift and instability. This procedure can be performed in situ and post-manufacture, ensuring that thermocouples retain long-term accuracy. Unlike traditional calibration methods, which are often cumbersome and less effective, this approach uniformly treats the entire length of the thermocouple, ensuring consistent accuracy and significantly reducing the potential for drift. This method is a step forward in thermocouple technology and represents a paradigm shift in how temperature is measured and managed across applications.

Benefits:          

• Enhanced Accuracy and Stability: Ensures high precision in temperature measurement over an extended period.
• Increased Lifespan: Reduces the need for frequent replacements, offering substantial cost savings and less environmental waste.
• Time and Energy Efficiency: Offers a 100-300x faster process than traditional heat soak methods, saving significant time and energy in calibration.
• Uniform Treatment: Applies corrections uniformly along the thermocouple length, eliminating discrepancies in measurement.
• Revolutionary Application Potential: This can be retroactively applied to existing thermocouples in the field, enhancing their performance without needing complete replacement.

Applications:    

• Manufacturing and Industrial Processing
• Aerospace and Aviation
• Energy Production, including Nuclear and Renewable Sources
• Scientific Research and Development Laboratories
• Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing.

Development Status: 

TRL 8 - Testing and demonstration were completed, and the system was validated.

IP Status:        

US Patent Application No. 18/525,563, “Methods for Heat Treating Thermocouples Using Ohmic Heating and Related System,” BEA Docket No. BA-1531.

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Learn more about our licensing opportunities and the support we provide at https://inl.gov/technology-deployment/. For specific discussions on how your business can benefit, please contact Andrew Rankin at td@inl.gov.

INL’s Technology Deployment department focuses exclusively on licensing intellectual property and partnering with industry collaborators capable of commercializing our innovations. Our goal is to commercialize the technologies developed by INL researchers. We do not engage in purchasing, manufacturing, procurement decisions, or providing funding. Additionally, this is not a call for external services to assist in the development of this technology.