Transducer for the Measurement of Thermal Power

Abstract

A transducer has been developed to measure intense, transient heat levels. This transducer was designed to operate at close range in the heat environment generated by the Polaris missile at launch, but its use is readily adaptable to other similar requirements. Its main features as a transducer for measurement of thermal power are: (1) broad spectral sensitivity, (2) fast transient response (less than 1 msec for 63% response for the transducer described, while the inherent response time of the material is less than 12 μsec), (3) ability to withstand intense heat levels for short periods (600 w/in.² for 0.5 sec), (4) continued use for succeeding tests without need for recalibration, and (5) ease of installation, requiring a minimum in circuitry to record the heat levels. The transducer consists of a pyroelectric ceramic disk placed in a shock isolation mount. The ceramic disks used were either barium titanate or lead zirconate‐titanate, depending upon the thermal power level.