What temperature do thermocouples show? Static or Total?

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Thermocouples measure the temperature at their junction, which can be influenced by the flow dynamics around them. Total temperature is defined as the sum of static and dynamic temperatures, with the latter being affected by the flow velocity. In formulas like Q(dot) = m(dot) * C_p * (T2 - T1), the appropriate temperature to use depends on the context of the measurement, particularly in compressible flows. When a thermocouple is placed in a high-velocity flow, it typically measures a temperature higher than the static temperature due to the effects of stagnation. As Mach number increases, the measured temperature diverges from total temperature, often reflecting the recovery temperature instead.
Omish
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What temperature does thermocouples show? Static or Total?
And also in formulas for example Q(dot) = m(dot) * C_p * (T2 - T1) which temperature should be used precisely?
 
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What is the difference between static and dynamic temperature?
 
nasu said:
What is the difference between static and dynamic temperature?

I'm sorry .I should have actually said "Total" and I corrected it. Total temperature is (if I'm not mistaken) Static + Dynamic temperature, and total temperature itself is defined like this:
upload_2016-8-12_21-47-52.png

where gamma is the ratio of specific heats and M_a is Mach number.
 
I think they show the difference in temp between the hot and the cold junction.
 
Omish said:
What temperature does thermocouples show? Static or Total?
And also in formulas for example Q(dot) = m(dot) * C_p * (T2 - T1) which temperature should be used precisely?
How do you contrive to wire up a thermocouple where the hot junction is moving at mach 1 relative to the cold junction?
 
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It will measure whatever temperature it is subjected to at its junction. Exactly what temperature that is in the sense of a compressible flow depends on how you have it situated. If you can find a way to place a thermocouple into a flow without stagnating the fluid, then congratulations on that.

Generally, though, placing an object in the flow bring a its velocity to zero and you measure something higher than static temperature. Unfortunately (for the sake of convenience), as the Mach number increases, the temperature you measure is increasingly different from the total temperature, and is instead going to be the so-called recovery temperature.
 
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