THERMOPILE Meaning and
Definition
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A thermopile is a device used to convert thermal energy into electrical energy through the phenomenon of thermoelectric effect. It consists of multiple thermocouples connected in series. A thermocouple is a pair of dissimilar metals that generate a voltage when there is a temperature difference between their junctions. In a thermopile, these thermocouples are arranged in such a way that the heat source raises the temperature of one side, while the other side remains cooler, creating a temperature gradient.
The construction of a thermopile typically involves joining several thermocouples with their hot junctions in contact, creating a common connection called the hot junction or hot end. Correspondingly, their cold junctions are connected together, forming the cold junction or cold end. This arrangement allows the generation of a cumulative output voltage proportional to the temperature difference across the thermopile.
Thermopiles are commonly used as temperature sensors or energy converters in various applications. They can measure temperature variations accurately and are utilized in pyrometry, gas burners, and temperature control systems. Additionally, they are utilized in certain energy-harvesting devices, where they convert waste heat into electrical power. Due to their compact nature and ability to produce electricity from heat, thermopiles have found applications in portable devices, such as thermoelectric generators, where they are used to power electronic components or recharge batteries.
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A thermoelectric battery, consisting usually of a series of bars of antimony and bismuth joined together; used as a thermoscope, heating of the bars at their junctions giving rise to an electric current.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for THERMOPILE
Etymology of THERMOPILE
The word "thermopile" has a Greek origin. It is derived from the combination of two Greek words: "thermo" meaning "heat" and "pilos" meaning "column" or "pile". The term was coined in the early 19th century to describe a device that generates an electric current when subjected to a temperature gradient. The word was formed by analogy with other scientific terms ending in "-pile", such as "voltaic pile" and "galvanic pile", which were named after their inventor Alessandro Volta.
Similar spelling words for THERMOPILE
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