Pyrometer

Description

A heat measuring device used at high temperatures, such as found in a furnace, kiln, molten metal, hot springs or volcanos. Pyrometers are used to measure temperatures from 700 C to about 1800 C. Most pyrometers fall into three categories:

--Electrical pyrometer: The electrical resistance of a thermocouple, a unit with wires of two dissimilar metals, is converted to a temperature value.

--Optical pyrometer: A material, called a hot body, that emits light when heated is placed inside the the heat source. The color of the glowing hot body, from dull red to white hot, is measured and converted to a temperature value.

--Radiation pyrometer: Also uses a hot body to emit light. A photo-electric light meter measures the emission and the value is converted to temperature.