Simulation of multipoint contact under thermoelectric testing

Abstract

The article presents the results of modeling a multipoint contact in the thermoelectric method of testing. Sources of thermoelectromotive force (thermoEMF) have shown different influences, according to their type, on the load characteristics of the equivalent source obtained by parallel connection of several thermocouples as shown in the explanatory figures. The presented model is implemented in the NI LabVIEW package, which is freely available. The model was verified on three types of thermocouples (copper-constantan, copper-nichrome, and chromel-alumel), which have been connected in parallel in different quantities. The calculated load characteristics of the equivalent sources differ from the experimental ones by no more than 6%. The results of modeling the load characteristics of the equivalent thermoEMF sources obtained by parallel connection of different quantities of two types of thermocouples are presented. It is shown that in order to obtain reliable data, it is necessary to provide an equivalent source load of at least 1 kOhm.