PREDICTING ACTUAL TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTIONS IN A POLYMER STREAM USINGAN ADJUSTABLE-DEPTH, EXPOSED-TIP THERMOCOUPLE ASSEMBLY

Knowledge of melt temperature distributions in transfer lines is neede d for many polymer fabrication processes. Measurement of actual temper atures with melt thermocouples, however, is very difficult because the ir signals are influenced by heat transfer with other equipment. A num erical technique is presented here that uses measurements from an adju stable-depth, exposed-tip thermocouple to predict the actual temperatu re distribution across a polymer stream. This model accounts for heat transfer within the thermocouple assembly and with the polymer stream.