{"id":15170,"date":"2022-05-05T09:32:19","date_gmt":"2022-05-05T14:32:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wika.com\/us\/\/?p=15170"},"modified":"2025-11-07T14:05:30","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T19:05:30","slug":"pyrometer-or-surface-thermocouples-which-is-better-for-tube-wall-temperature-monitoring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wika.com\/us\/products\/temperature-products\/pyrometer-or-surface-thermocouples-which-is-better-for-tube-wall-temperature-monitoring\/","title":{"rendered":"Pyrometer or Surface Thermocouples: Which Is Better for Tube Wall Temperature Monitoring?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Operators of steam methane reformers have various methods at their disposal for measuring tube wall temperature, but the best solution for accurate and continuous temperature measurement are surface thermocouples.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The furnace tubes of a steam methane reformer (SMR) often see temperatures close to their metallurgical limits. For a top-fired reformer, the top temperature is typically around 1,560\u00b0F (850\u00b0C), while for a side-fired or terraced-wall reformer it\u2019s up to 1,650\u00b0F (900\u00b0C). Metal temperatures beyond that can cause irreversible creep, reducing tube lifespan from a typical 10 years to half that \u2013 or even down to a few days at around 2,000\u00b0F (1,090\u00b0C).<\/p>\n

For maximum tube life<\/a>, the tube wall\u2019s temperature should be monitored continuously. Temperature monitoring is also key for catalyst efficiency and plant safety.<\/p>\n

Common Methods of Measuring Tube Temperature \u2013 and Their Drawbacks<\/h2>\n

Several types of instruments can be used to measure steam reformer tube wall temperature (TWT). Non-contact methods include optical pyrometers<\/strong> and laser pyrometers<\/strong>. The gold cup pyrometer<\/strong> is a contact method where the probe is inserted through a port and placed directly on the tube. These methods have their drawbacks for TWT monitoring:<\/p>\n