Temperature Uncertainties for Bare-Bead and Aspirated Thermocouple Measurements in Fire Environments.
Temperature Uncertainties for Bare-Bead and Aspirated
Thermocouple Measurements in Fire Environments.
(439 K)
Pitts, W. M.; Braun, E.; Peacock, R. D.; Mitler, H. E.;
Johnsson, E. L.; Reneke, P. A.; Blevins, L. G.
NISTIR 6242; October 1998.
Combustion Institute, 1st Joint Meeting of the U.S.
Sections: Western States, Central States, Eastern
States. Proceedings. 709-712 pp, March 14-17, 1999
AND National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Annual Conference on Fire Research: Book of Abstracts.
November 2-5, 1998, Gaithersburg, MD, Beall, K. A.,
Editor, 15-16 pp, 1998, 1999.
Available from:
National Technical Information Service
(NTIS), Technology Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161.
Telephone:
1-800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000;
Fax: 703-605-6900.
Website: http://www.ntis.gov
Order number: PB99-102519
Keywords:
fire research; fire science; fire suppression; aspirated
thermocouples; enclosures; fire tests; measurement
uncertainties; temperature measurements; thermocouples
Abstract:
Gas-phase temperature is the most ubiquitous measurement
recorded in fire environments and plays a central role
in understanding of fire behavior. Generally, either
bare-bead or sheathed thermcouples are employed. While
it is recognized that such thermcouples are subject to
significant systematic errors when used in fire
environments, e.g., see, in most fire studies
uncertainties for temperature measurements are not
estimated or reported. The work summarized here has
been undertaken to characterize the uncertainties in
temperature measurements which can occur when bare-bead
thermocouples are used in fire environments and to
assess the potential of two approaches -- aspirated
thermocouples and the use of multiple thermocouples
having different diameters -- to reduce the
uncertainties.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899