HEAT CONDUCTION MICRO-CALORIMETER WITH METALLIC REACTION CELL AND IMPROVED HEAT FLUX SENSING SYSTEM

Abstract

A calorimetric unit was designed, manufactured, assembled, and tested. It consists of a stainless steel cylindrical reaction cell, a thermal sensing system made of 4 thermopiles connected in series, and a spring actuated mechanical device for controlling the reactant's mixing process. The calorimeter measures the energy liberated in the reaction cell by measuring the heat conductive energy flux across the thermal sensing system. The stability and sensibility parameters of each of the 4 thermopiles were determined, and were determined to be 80 μV and 0.010 VM−1, respectively. Similarly, the sensibility of the calorimetric unit was determined for various levels of heat power generation. The sensibility of the calorimetric is 0.020 VW−1 in the 120 to 350 mW range. Results show that the stability and sensibility parameters of the calorimeter are unaffected by the heat energy power generated in the reaction cell of the calorimeter.