A device for measuring temperatures, consisting of lengths of two dissimilar metals or alloys that are electrically joined at one end and connected to a voltage-measuring instrument at the other end. When one junction is hotter than the other, a thermal e ...

A device consisting of two dissimilar conductors with their ends connected together. When the two junctions are at different temperatures, a small voltage is generated.

An idealized process in which a working fluid (water, air, ammonia, etc) successively changes its state (from a liquid to a gas and back to a liquid) for the purpose of producing useful work or energy, or transferring energy.

A study of the transformation of energy from one form to another, and its practical application. (see Law(s) of Thermodynamics above).

The amount of work done on or by a system is equal to the amount of energy transferred to or from the system.

Heat cannot, of itself, pass from a colder to a hotter body.

The conversion of heat into electricity by the use of thermocouples.

A type of electrical thermometer consisting of two thermocouples which are series-connected with a potentiometer and a constant-temperature bath. One couple, called the reference junction, is placed in a constant-temperature bath, while the other is used ...

Corrosion resulting from an electrochemical cell caused by a thermal gradient.

A self-recording thermometer.

A building energy auditing technique for locating areas of low insulation in a building envelope by means of a thermographic scanner.

An instrument for measuring temperature by utilizing the variation of the physical properties of substances according to their thermal states. Thermometers may be classified into types according to their construction; deformation thermometer, electrical t ...

Same as instrument shelter.

A device used to hold liquid-in-glass maximum and minimum thermometers in the proper recording position inside an instrument shelter, and to permit them to be read and reset. See Townsend support.

A device where sunlight concentrated onto a absorber heats it to a high temperature, and the thermal radiation emitted by the absorber is used as the energy source for a photovoltaic cell that is designed to maximize conversion efficiency at the wavelengt ...

A transducer for converting thermal energy directly into electrical energy. It is composed of pairs of thermocouples which are connected either in series or in parallel. Thermopiles are used in thermoelectric radiation instruments when the output of a sin ...

A large number of thermocouples connected in series.

Same as instrument shelter.

A device used to switch electrical current at a selectable setpoint temperature.