Google thermocouple slip ring
Lots of hits.
Roy,
If the hot junction touches the rotating part so that the slip ring is part of the hot junction measurement, then yes, the Law of Intermediate Metals applies; like direct hot junction metal contact, solder or brazing on the hot junction.
But, if the hot junction is located wherever and the extension lead wires from that hot junction are connected to the slip ring for connection through the slip ring and the slip rings are not the same metals as the thermocouple metals, then the slip ring location is the T/C's cold junction and the temperature of the cold junction has to be taken into account.
The way I read the statements below, I think the vendor (below)
a) is stating the issue about cold junction at the slip rings, but
b) is offering slip rings made from thermocouple materials
c) assuming copper wire connection at the slip rings so that cold junction measurement and temperature conversion is done there because of the final statement: T/C signals read as mV, and correction for rotating ref temp must be done.
It isn't clear to me why one wouldn't use thermocouple wire or extension wire from the slip ring to a thermocouple input and let the T/C input do the CJ and temp conversion like those things normally do.
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Sensor Considerations
Slip Rings can transmit virtually any type of sensors. No signal transformation or change occurs to the signal inside the slip ring. However, some considerations need to be given to various sensors for accurate signal transmission.
Thermocouples
Thermocouples are commonly used on rotating hardware due to their simplicity and robustness. Any type of thermocouple can be transmitted through a slip ring. However, the user must be aware that the thermocouple alloy material does not continue in the slip ring and that the rotating reference junction is created where the thermocouple alloys are terminated to the slip ring input PCB.
Because thermocouples only measure the difference between the hot junction and rotating reference junction, the temperature at the reference junction must also be measured. This is commonly done using a rotating RTD or thermistor located on the input PCB. Aerodyn PCBs are designed to accommodate these sensors.
These sensors must be considered in the selection of the overall channel count for the application.
Inside the slip ring, Aerodyn uses the same alloy for ring and brush contacts so that no thermoelectric potential is created at this location.
Thermocouple signals are then read as millivolts at the output of the slip ring, and correction for rotating reference temperature must be performed.