Measurement of the cooling capacity of the standard device developed for calibrating calorimeter test rooms requires accurate determination of the heat. flow rate to the circulating coolant. Conventional methods for determining such heat flow to or from a flowing fluid involve simultaneous measurement of mass flow rate and temperature change, as well as detailed fluid property information. The heatmeter represents an alternative to this conventional approach. The heatmeter is actually a special-purpose type of fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger. It performs the same basic-function as a conventional heat exchanger, while at the same time providing an electrical output proportional to the rate of heat flow. The measured performance characteristics of an approximately one-tenth-scale prototype heatmeter device are presented, along with a discussion of the implications of these results on the design of the full-scale device. Advantages and disadvantages of the device are also discussed.

Units: Dual