Masters Theses
Date of Award
5-1990
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Major
Mechanical Engineering
Major Professor
Roy J. Schulz
Committee Members
Robert L. Young, Lloyd W. Crawford
Abstract
The problem of very high temperatures and particulate loadings in the exhaust streams of coal-fired magnetohydrodynamic power plants makes gas-stream temperature measurements very difficult. Therefore, effort has been expended trying to improve the design of the probe-mounted High Velocity Thermocouple (HVT), which has been used as a temperature sensor. The main problems that appear to affect the recorded temperatures are particulate blockage of the probe and radiation & conduction heat losses from the probe. As the probe must be brought to the gas temperature (the recovery temperature) by convection of the hot gases over the thermocouple, modifications were incorporated to minimize effects of particulate deposition & blockage. The specific purpose of evaluating and redesigning the probe as needed was to obtain more accurate temperature readings in the Secondary Combustor of the U.S. Department of Energy Coal Fired Flow Facility (CFFF) at the University of Tennessee Space Institute. The objective of the research reported in this thesis was to take proper considerations of the aspirated flow velocity and all of the heat transfer mechanisms that establish the thermocouple temperature, thereby obtaining a more accurate measurement. The HVT, when properly calibrated and verified, can be utilized to correct the readings of non-aspirated thermocouples, as well as take a wider range of readings across the width of the exhaust stream.
Recommended Citation
Robinson, Whitney J., "Design and performance of a shieled high velocity thermocouple probe in a high-temperature, seeded-coal-combustion exhaust stream. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 1990.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/12758