Heat flux sensor applications: a short review
This short review about heat flux sensor applications provides the reader with a broad overview of all the research and industrial applications where heat flux measurements is key to obtain optimum processing or experimental conditions.
Brief introduction to heat flux and heat flux sensor
Heat Flux is the rate of heat energy that passes through a surface. Depending on the exact definition of heat flux, its unit can be expressed as either W/m2 or W. Temperature gradient in a given environment results in the creation of a heat flux. The Heat flux flows from the hot to the cold side of the given system. Heat Flux is dependent on the temperature gradient and on the thermal transfer coefficient of the given system. Heat flux can be estimated with two different methods:
- Directly with heat flux sensors
- Indirectly using temperature sensors
A Heat Flux Sensor is a Seebeck sensor: When heat passes through the sensor, the sensor generates a voltage signal. This voltage signal is proportional to the heat passing through the sensor. Thus, they can be used for many industrial or research applications implying a temperature gradient throughout a surface. greenTEG provides both heat flux sensors and wearable core body temperature sensors for different fields of application illustrated below.
Research Applications
The following paragraph gives a broad overview of the various heat flux sensor applications employed in Research:
- Calorimetric mass flow measurement
- Heat transfer coefficient of fabrics
- Thermophotovoltaic or thermogalvanic cell efficiency measurement
- Thermal Influences in Precision Instruments
- Calorimetry measurements
Industrial Applications
The following paragraph demonstrates the versatility of heat flux sensor technology through various industrial applications:
- Phase Change Materials (PCM) Evaluation
- Battery Calorimetry
- Solar radiation measurement
- Cryogenic Environment
- Fouling Detection
- Laser Power and Position determination
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