ABSTRACT
Heat transfer is normally described in terms of the heat flux, which is defined as energy per unit area per unit time or power per unit area. This chapter introduces heat flux measurements as a tool to complement temperature measurements and explain the application of various heat flux measurement methods. It focuses on using measurements of temperatures, heat fluxes, and thermal properties to characterize heat transfer. The chapter begins with a brief description of heat flux gauges and heat transfer in electronic components and systems. It presents the basic equations describing conduction, convection, and radiation heat transfer along with some descriptive examples. The chapter discusses the different methods and sensors used for measuring heat transfer along with potential application problems, the evaluation of steady or dynamic measurement errors, and methods of calibration. It also focuses on understanding how different heat flux sensors and measurement methods work, data analysis and validation techniques, and calibration methods.
