Study of thermocouple degradation through accelerated aging under corrosive environment

In sodium cooled fast reactors, thermocouples (TC) play an important role for measuring the temperature. Understanding the anomalous behavior of these sensors, especially the process of degradation as they are subjected to high temperature or corrosive liquids is important in ensuring its long term reliability. In this paper, life estimation of thermocouples, undergoing accelerated aging through induced metauurgical sheath fracture is presented. The results for the parametric degradation of the thermocouples are discussed in detail.