TPSYS20 manual v2202 16/75
Where the heater power Q
resistance-per-unit-length RL m) and the electrical current (in A) running through
the heater by
The slope can be determined using a linear regression analysis. Only the linear part of
the curve should be included in the analysis. An initial transient portion of the curve is
affected by factors other than the thermal conductivity λof the specimen, such as the
specimen thermal diffusivity and the diameter and heat capacity of the probe itself. This
initial transient portion of the curve for t< t1should be excluded from the analysis.
Depending on the duration of the measurement and the thermal diffusivity of the
specimen, for long times t> t2edge effects due to the finite diameter Dspecimen of the
specimen and end effects due to the finite length Lheater of the heater may start to affect
the measurement data. If this is the case, then the portion of the data affected by such
edge or end effects should also be excluded from the analysis. Only part of the data
between a certain time t1and a certain time t2should be included in the analysis as
illustrated in Figure 2.3.1.
Figure 2.3.1 Illustration of heating phase data used for analysis. Only data between
time t1and time t2is used in the analysis. The transient period for t <t1and the period
dominated by edge or end effects for t > t2are discarded. In the above illustration
t2 < theat, however this is not necessarily always the case.
If the cooling phase data is recorded in addition to the heating phase data, the heating
time theat must be adjusted such that edge or end effects only become relevant during
the cooling phase. If edge or end effects already dominate during the heating phase, the
cooling phase data must be discarded and only heating phase data can be used. Like the
heating phase, the cooling phase is initially dominated by transient effects. This initial
portion of the cooling phase data should likewise be discarded.