Laboratory Substantiation of Thermoelectric Method for Monitoring Contact Resistance

The results of modeling the heating of a contact resistance between two conductors during the current flow are presented. It is shown that its temperature can reach values comparable to insulation melting and ignition temperatures. At the same time, the control of contact resistance by modern methods is difficult. A thermoelectric method is proposed for monitoring the contact resistance. Its modeling and laboratory studies are carried out on a contact connection of two types of conductors—aluminum–copper, forming a thermocouple in a power network. Laboratory studies of the thermoelectric properties of a contact joint made of aluminum and copper at a temperature of 300°C have been carried out.