Temperature measurements using a lithium niobate (LiNbO3) pyroelectric ceramic. (November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sarker, Md Rashedul H.; Karim, Hasanul; Martinez, Ricardo; Delfin, Diego; Enriquez, Rodrigo; Shuvo, Mohammad Arif Ishtiaque; Love, Norman; Lin, Yirong
• Is Part Of: Measurement. Volume 75(2015:Nov.)
• Page Start: 104
• Page End: 110
• Publication Date: 2015-11
• Subjects: Pyroelectricity -- Sensor -- Lithium niobate -- Temperature measurement; Weights and measures -- Periodicals; Measurement -- Periodicals; Measurement; Weights and measures; Periodicals; 530.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.measurement.2015.07.044
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0263-2241

Abstract

Abstract: Temperature measurements from a power generation system could improve its overall safety and efficiency. In addition, real time temperature measurement could lead to a qualitative assessment of the health of the energy system. The challenge of real time temperature measurement inside of a power generation unit lies in the sustainability and the reliability of sensing materials in high temperature and corrosive environments. In this paper, a pyroelectric ceramic material (lithium niobate, LiNbO3 ) capable of sustaining high temperatures, is considered as the temperature sensing material. LiNbO3 is a pyroelectric material that generates current proportional to the rate of temperature change with time. This property is sustained by LiNbO3 until it reaches its Curie temperature (1210 °C). The generated current could be used for many applications including temperature sensing and energy harvesting from waste heat recovery. This paper presents the temperature measurement results using a LiNbO3 pyroelectric ceramic. Ceramics with dimensions of 1 cm × 1 cm with two different thicknesses, 2 mm and 1 mm, were used as the temperature measurement sensors. Two samples were heated by a 14.5 W/cm 2 heat flux and cooled with natural convection. Electrodes were made on both surfaces of the samples with high purity silver paint and two electrical leads were connected to a picoammeter to measure the generated current with respect to the rate of temperature change of the material during heating and natural cooling. A K-type surface thermocouple was attached on top of LiNbO3 to compare the temperature measurements and maximum 8% and 6.7% differences were found for 2 mm and 1 mm thick samples, respectively.