Heat flux measurement approach for an enhanced thermometric method: preliminary tests

In situ tests are suitable to confirm the real thermal performance of building components, and several significant on-site measurement techniques have been studied in literature. However, among them the Thermometric (THM) method has been poorly examined by the scientific community, thus having opportunities for improvement, being a quite a new and non-standardized technique. The theory behind this technique is the Newton’s law of cooling and the main issue is associated to the heat transfer coefficient for which there is no agreement about the value to use. Here, a simple experimental apparatus characterized by a vertical heated sample, suitably thermally insulated was realized. Sensors were installed and direct heat flux measurements through a heat flux plate were performed and compared with (i) the heat flows obtained through the THM method (test conducted using the internal heat transfer coefficient recommended by the ISO 6946) and (ii) the heat fluxes obtained through the proposal of an enhanced THM method based on dimensionless groups analysis, thus requiring data processing based on convective and radiative components.