Low heat-flux measurements: Some precautions

Simple experiments are described for the purpose of illustrating measurement errors and their avoidance during use of Gardon or Schmidt-Boelter total heat flux sensors. These errors can assume serious proportions of the observed signal at flux levels below about 15 kW/m 2 . They result from two sour...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Fire safety journal 1995-09, Vol.25 (2), p.109-124
Main Authors: Robertson, A.F., Ohlemiller, T.J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Building technical equipments
Buildings
Buildings. Public works
Detection. Firefighting. Smoke control. Evacuation
Exact sciences and technology
Fire protection
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Summary:Simple experiments are described for the purpose of illustrating measurement errors and their avoidance during use of Gardon or Schmidt-Boelter total heat flux sensors. These errors can assume serious proportions of the observed signal at flux levels below about 15 kW/m 2 . They result from two sources, both a consequence of the flux gage's temperature relative to its surroundings: firstly, convective heating of the gage by the boundary layer from hot surfaces surrounding it and second, heat exchange with the ambient environment by radiation and convection. Some proposals are made for standardizing measurement methods, but it seems unlikely that errors in measurement can be completely eliminated. It thus becomes important for users of experimentally derived data to understand the limitations which may exist in the data reported.
ISSN:0379-7112
DOI:10.1016/0379-7112(95)00036-4