The theoretical basis of heat flux sensor pen (Q1430403)

Principle of heat flux sensor working in transient state is described. The devise is a thermocouple insulated from the surrounding materials with the hot end mounted at the surface where the heat flux is measured. The dynamic behavior of the sensor is described by 1D transient heat conduction equation with homogeneous initial condition and known temperature at the hot end of the thermocouple. Two geometry models are considered: finite length and semi infinite medium. The problem is solved via Laplace transform. The result of the transformation is approximated by an polynomial of inverse of the transform variables. Inversion of this approximation yields the expression for the temporal variation of the measured heat flux. The solution encompasses both small and large temperature frequencies. A study of the applicability of the 1D model is included.