Calculate Seebeck coefficient, induced thermoelectric voltage, or temperature difference from any 2 values, and thermocouple pair voltage. Choose the unknown quantity. This uses a constant or effective coefficient with the sign convention ΔV = S × ΔT; it does not perform thermocouple calibration or cold-junction compensation.

Open-circuit, constant or effective coefficient model: ΔV = S × ΔT. Keep voltage polarity and ΔT = Thot − Tcold consistent. Not calibrated thermometry.

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Seebeck Coefficient Formula

The following formula is used to calculate the Seebeck Coefficient.

S = ΔV / ΔT

Variables:

  • S is the Seebeck Coefficient (μV/K)
  • ΔV is the induced thermoelectric voltage (μV)
  • ΔT is the temperature difference across the material (K)

To calculate the Seebeck Coefficient, divide the induced thermoelectric voltage by the temperature difference across the material. The result is the Seebeck Coefficient, which measures the magnitude of the induced thermoelectric voltage in response to a temperature difference per unit temperature difference.

What is a Seebeck Coefficient?

The Seebeck coefficient, also known as thermoelectric power or thermopower, is a physical property of a material that quantifies the magnitude of an induced thermoelectric voltage in response to a temperature difference across that material, per unit temperature difference. It is named after the German physicist Thomas Johann Seebeck, who discovered the thermoelectric effect in 1821. The Seebeck coefficient is a key parameter in thermoelectric technology for power generation or cooling applications.

How to Calculate Seebeck Coefficient?

The following steps outline how to calculate the Seebeck Coefficient.

  1. First, determine the induced thermoelectric voltage (ΔV) in microvolts (μV).
  2. Next, determine the temperature difference across the material (ΔT) in kelvin (K).
  3. Next, gather the formula from above: S = ΔV / ΔT.
  4. Finally, calculate the Seebeck Coefficient (S) in microvolts per kelvin (μV/K).
  5. After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.

Example Problem:

Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.

Induced thermoelectric voltage (ΔV) = 120 μV

Temperature difference across the material (ΔT) = 50 K

S = 120 / 50 = 2.4 μV/K using the stated polarity. For identical series thermocouples, ΔV = N × S_pair × ΔT. A 1 K temperature difference equals 1 Δ°C or 1.8 Δ°F.