Optimization of Transient Heat Transfer Measurements Using Thermochromic Liquid Crystals Based on an Error Estimation

An analytical investigation has been made to identify and quantify critical parameters influencing the final result of a transient heat transfer experiment. The aim was to obtain a set of dimensionless parameters, that describe the interaction of the individual measured quantities in a compact form.Among the wide variety of different kinds of heat transfer measurement techniques, the transient method, employing thermochromic liquid crystals, is very useful. It gives much detailed heat transfer information with a minimum effort in experimental time. The present paper focuses on this technique, although it is not the only choice for all kinds of applications, but it is the currently most frequently used one.This paper provides the means to lay out an experiment, so that it yields acceptable results with respect to the constraints for a set of test boundary conditions.Copyright © 1996 by ASME