Work

Evaluation of the Reliability of Calibration Constants in Heat Flux Meters Using an ISO 5660-1 Cone Heater

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study evaluates the reliability of calibration constants for heat flux meters (HFMs) using a secondary standard under controlled thermal conditions provided by an ISO 5660-1 cone heater. Six HFMs (three new and three previously used) were examined by comparing manufacturer-provided (MFG) and secondary-standard-based (SEC) calibration constants. The bias between the MFG and SEC calibration constants varied substantially depending on the manufacturer, calibration method, service history, and the coating condition of the sensing surface. When the Bland-Altman limits of agreement were defined with the new HFMs as the reference, an HFM from a different manufacturer or calibrated by a different method was found to fall outside these limits. Although the absolute accuracy of the secondary-standard HFM has not been independently validated, the approach using the cone heater is practical for field implementation in terms of equipment accessibility, cost, and operational simplicity. Recalibration against the same secondary-standard prior to use is recommended to ensure repeatability and reproducibility across experiments and institutions.

Source: Sensors

DOI: 10.3390/s25247406

Authors: Woo-Geun Kim, Cheol-Hong Hwang, Sung Chan Kim

Institutions: Daejeon University, Kyungil University

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Sensor Technologies Research

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137

Funders: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korea Agency for Infrastructure Technology Advancement, Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning