ASTM E459-05
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Measuring Heat Transfer Rate Using a Thin-Skin Calorimeter
Standard Test Method for Measuring Heat Transfer Rate Using a Thin-Skin Calorimeter
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This test method may be used to measure the heat transfer rate to a metallic or coated metallic surface for a variety of applications, including:
3.1.1 Measurements of aerodynamic heating when the calorimeter is placed into a flow environment, such as a wind tunnel or an arc jet; the calorimeters can be designed to have the same size and shape as the actual test specimens to minimize heat transfer corrections;
3.1.2 Heat transfer measurements in fires and fire safety testing;
3.1.3 Laser power and laser absorption measurements; as well as,
3.1.4 X-ray and particle beam (electrons or ions) dosimetry measurements.
The thin-skin calorimeter is one of many concepts used to measure heat transfer rates. It may be used to measure convective, radiative, or combinations of convective and radiative (usually called mixed or total) heat transfer rates. However, when the calorimeter is used to measure radiative or mixed heat transfer rates, the absorptivity and reflectivity of the surface should be measured over the expected radiation wavelength region of the source.
In 4.6 and 4.7, it is demonstrated that lateral heat conduction effects on a local measurement can be minimized by using a calorimeter material with a low thermal conductivity. Alternatively, a distribution of the heat transfer rate may be obtained by placing a number of thermocouples along the back surface of the calorimeter.
In high temperature or high heat transfer rate applications, the principal drawback to the use of thin-skin calorimeters is the short exposure time necessary to ensure survival of the calorimeter such that repeat measurements can be made with the same sensor. When operation to burnout is necessary to obtain the desired heat flux measurements, thin-skin calorimeters are often a good choice because they are relatively inexpensive to fabricate.
FIG. 1 Typical Thin-Skin Calorimeter for Heat Transfer Measurement
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the design and use of a thin metallic calorimeter for measuring heat transfer rate (also called heat flux). Thermocouples are attached to the unexposed surface of the calorimeter. A one-dimensional heat flow analysis is used for calculating the heat transfer rate from the temperature measurements. Applications include aerodynamic heating, laser and radiation power measurements, and fire safety testing.
1.2 Advantages
1.2.1 Simplicity of ConstructionThe calorimeter may be constructed from a number of materials. The size and shape can often be made to match the actual application. Thermocouples may be attached to the metal by spot, electron beam, or laser welding.
1.2.2 Heat transfer rate distributions may be obtained if metals with low thermal conductivity, such as some stainless steels, are used.
1.2.3 The calorimeters can be fabricated with smooth surfaces, without insulators or plugs and the attendant temperature discontinuities, to provide more realistic flow conditions for aerodynamic heating measurements.
1.2.4 The calorimeters described in this test method are relatively inexpensive. If necessary, they may be operated to burn-out to obtain heat transfer information.
1.3 Limitations
1.3.1 At higher heat flux levels, short test times are necessary to ensure calorimeter survival.
1.3.2 For applications in wind tunnels or arc-jet facilities, the calorimeter must be operated at pressures and temperatures such that the thin-skin does not distort under pressure loads. Distortion of the surface will introduce measurement errors.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
General Information
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Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:E459–05
Standard Test Method for
Measuring Heat Transfer Rate Using a Thin-Skin
1
Calorimeter
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E459; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
1.1 This test method covers the design and use of a thin
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
metallic calorimeter for measuring heat transfer rate (also
calledheatflux).Thermocouplesareattachedtotheunexposed
2. Summary of Test Method
surface of the calorimeter.Aone-dimensional heat flow analy-
2.1 This test method for measuring the heat transfer rate to
sis is used for calculating the heat transfer rate from the
a metal calorimeter of finite thickness is based on the assump-
temperature measurements. Applications include aerodynamic
tion of one-dimensional heat flow, known metal properties
heating, laser and radiation power measurements, and fire
(density and specific heat), known metal thickness, and mea-
safety testing.
surement of the rate of temperature rise of the back (or
1.2 Advantages:
unexposed) surface of the calorimeter.
1.2.1 Simplicity of Construction—The calorimeter may be
2.2 After an initial transient, the response of the calorimeter
constructedfromanumberofmaterials.Thesizeandshapecan
is approximated by a lumped parameter analysis:
often be made to match the actual application. Thermocouples
may be attached to the metal by spot, electron beam, or laser dT
q5rC d (1)
p
dt
welding.
1.2.2 Heat transfer rate distributions may be obtained if
where:
metals with low thermal conductivity, such as some stainless
2
q = heat transfer rate, W/m ,
steels, are used.
3
r = metal density, kg/m ,
1.2.3 The calorimeters can be fabricated with smooth sur-
d = metal thickness, m,
faces,withoutinsulatorsorplugsandtheattendanttemperature
C = metal specific heat, J/kg·K, and
p
discontinuities, to provide more realistic flow conditions for
dT/dt = back surface temperature rise rate, K/s.
aerodynamic heating measurements.
1.2.4 The calorimeters described in this test method are 3. Significance and Use
relatively inexpensive. If necessary, they may be operated to
3.1 This test method may be used to measure the heat
burn-out to obtain heat transfer information.
transfer rate to a metallic or coated metallic surface for a
1.3 Limitations:
variety of applications, including:
1.3.1 At higher heat flux levels, short test times are neces-
3.1.1 Measurements of aerodynamic heating when the calo-
sary to ensure calorimeter survival.
rimeter is placed into a flow environment, such as a wind
1.3.2 For applications in wind tunnels or arc-jet facilities,
tunnel or an arc jet; the calorimeters can be designed to have
the calorimeter must be operated at pressures and temperatures
the same size and shape as the actual test specimens to
such that the thin-skin does not distort under pressure loads.
minimize heat transfer corrections;
Distortion of the surface will introduce measurement errors.
3.1.2 Heat transfer measurements in fires and fire safety
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
testing;
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
3.1.3 Laser power and laser absorption measurements; as
only.
well as,
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1.4 X-ray and particle beam (electrons or ions) dosimetry
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
measurements.
3.2 The thin-skin calorimeter is one of many concepts used
1
to measure heat transfer rates. It may be used to measure
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E21 on Space
Simulation andApplications of SpaceTechnology and is the direct responsibility of
convective, radiative, or combinations of convective and ra-
Subcommittee E21.08 on Thermal Protection.
diative (usually called mixed or total) heat transfer rates.
Current edition approved Sept. 15, 2005. Published September 2005. Originally
However, when the calorimeter is used to measure radiative or
approved in 1972. Last previous edition approved in 1997 as E459–97. DOI:
mixedheattransferrates,theabsorptivityandreflectivityofthe
10.1520/E0459-05.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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E459–05
FIG. 1 Typical Thin-Skin Calorimeter for Heat Transfer Measurement
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surface should be measured over the expected radiation wave- couple that is soldered to
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