en/thermal-conductiv ity -test-tool-ep500e/guarded-hot-plate-apparatus-lambda-meter-ep500edesign-and-function.

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Lambda-Messtechnik
Dresden
H O ME T H ERMA L C O NDUC T IV IT Y T EST T O O L -MET ER EP5 0 0 E DESIGN A ND
FUNCT ION

Design and Function of the Guarded Hot Plate Apparatus

The Thermal Conductivity Test Tool -Meter EP500e (guarded hot plate
apparatus) is a test tool based on an Embedded-PC for absolute value
measurements on guarded hot plate method according to ISO 8302, DIN EN
1946-2, DIN EN 12667 and ASTM C177 (DIN 52612). The Thermal
Conductivity Test Tool -Meter EP500e (guarded hot plate apparatus)
measures the sample thickness d of the inserted sample, the temperature
difference T over the sample and the heat flux Q which is equivalent to the
electrical power of the measuring heating P (= U I). The thermal conductivity
is determined based on the defined measurement area A and the onedimensional thermal conduction as follows:

It is not a heat flow meter and therefore it offers a higher accuracy induced by
principle than the most other offered test tools. It is designed for long-term
use and does not require calibration even after years.
The use of modern technologies for designing the sensor plates enables to go
without a measurement chamber environment, which is standard otherwise. It
is therefore easier to handle.
The Thermal Conductivity Test Tool -Meter EP500e (guarded hot plate
apparatus) does not require a thermo stationary controlled measurement
environment. It must be plugged into the regular power supply and can be
used in any room or office.
It makes very little noise (like a PC) and dissipates very little heat. The
advanced control algorithm of the test tool calculates for each measurement
the optimal measurement parameters and reduces the measurement time to a
minimum.

GmbH

The Thermal Conductivity Test Tool -Meter EP500e (guarded hot plate
apparatus) is a compact desktop tool.

Image 1 - Design -Meter EP5 0 0 e

The lower and middle components contain the sensor plates. They are built up
concentric. Centrepiece of these plates are computer optimated aluminium
units, 40 mm in thickness, required for the maintenance of an isothermal
temperature. Air-cooled high-performance Peltier modules are responsible for
bringing the temperature of the sensor plates to any temperature between
-15C and 65C so that thermal conductivity measurements within the
temperature range of 10C and 40 C at a temperature difference of the sensor
plates of 5 K and 15 K can be made. Contrary to other conventional test tools,
the temperature measurements on both sample surfaces is done not spotty
with thermocouples but cover integrally the entire measurement surface. It
ensured such a high measurement accuracy also for inhomogeneous samples.
Ideal specimens are sheets of 500 x 500 mm in size. The actual testing area of
the tool is located right in the centre of the specimen. Its size depends on the
type of tool (e.g. 200 x 200 mm). For a specimen 500 x 500 mm in size the
tool will measure the thermal conductivity that applies to the central area. The
adjacent outer material will not be considered for the test result. It is however
necessary to have an outer layer. It is needed to bring about thermal
conditions that will ensure a one-dimensional, stationary temperature field.
The upper component contains the whole electronic modules, the electrical
hoist cylinder for driving the middle component, the measuring instrument for
sample thickness and test pressure as well as all display and control units.
Handling of the tool is surprisingly convenient and simple. The electric hoist
mechanism is managed by the two pushbuttons on the front plate. It will lift
the upper sensor plate so that the sample can be inserted. To allow easy
insertion, the test tool is sidewise opened. During lowering of the upper sensor
plate the hoist mechanism will slow down to a crawl mode occurred by
bottom out of the little pin respectively the coupled light barrier on the lower

side of the upper sensor plate. This mode provides higher precision and
prevents possible damage. The mechanism is automatically cut-off if the
desired test pressure is reached. Measurement of the sample's thickness
complies with standards DIN 18164 and DIN 18165 which stipulate the
requirement of a specific surface pressure (ranging from 0.05 to 2.5 kN/m
resp. 50 2500 Pa) exerted on the sample.

Design and Functions of Sensor Plates

Conditions within the Specimen by a 10 -test

Thermal

A single-sample apparatus must have an additional heating plate, a so-called

counter heater, situated above the upper sensor plate. This counter heater
provides a thermal barrier and makes sure that all heat will dissipate into the
sample. The Thermal Conductivity Test Tool -Meter EP500e (guarded hot
plate apparatus) also includes a highly sensitive heat flux plate used for
detection of possible heat convection between heating plate and counter
heater. Precise thermal sealing can be achieved, this would not be possible
with thermocouples. Deflection of transverse heat between the measurement
zone and the protective heating ring is highly advanced and managed as
follows: The protective heating ring is not controlled by measurement of
temperature difference with only a few thermocouples, but more than 100
thermocouples forming a chain are evenly spread over the gap between the
measurement zone and protective heating ring. They can detect even the
smallest transverse heat flows. The protective ring will then compensate those
unwanted heat flows. It is surrounded by another protective heating ring and
again by a cooling resp. tempering ring. Heat flows between the two rings are
measured by thermocouple chains (heat flow sensors). The absolute
temperature will be measured at various locations. The Thermal Conductivity
Test Tool -Meter EP500e (guarded hot plate apparatus) will calculate from
these data, including the programmed test regime, the sample's thickness and
room temperature, the temperature field in the sample and also the control
variables for the protective heating rings and the cooling resp. tempering ring.

Image 2 - c onv entional temperature field of a guarded hot plate

The principle figures shown below (Image 3 and Image 4) shall illustrate the
thermal conditions within a measured sample for a 1 0 -measurement of a 120
mm sample taken with two different conductivity measurement tools both

according to ISO 8302. The first figure (Image 3) shows the pattern for a
conventional guarded hot plate apparatus according to ISO 8302 para. 2.1.3
figure 5 a. The second figure (Image 4) illustrate the temperature field which is
induced within the present Thermal Conductivity Test Tool -Meter EP500e
(guarded hot plate apparatus). It would be the same field, which is induced, if
the design according to ISO 8302 para 2.1.3 figure 5 c isupgraded with an
additional heating and cooling ring.
An even, one-dimensional and stationary temperature field only exists if the
temperature in the lateral zones equals the sample's mean temperature (see
Image 3). The another set-up (Image 4) where additional heating and cooling
rings on either side of the sample provide a heat barrier and creates such a
temperature field that is independent of the lateral conditions (i.e. room
temperature) one-dimensional and stationary.

Image 3 - ex emplary temperature field of -Meter EP5 0 0 e

For the presented device construction of the Thermal Conductivity Test Tool
-Meter EP500e (guarded hot plate apparatus) in accordance to ISO 8302,
para 2.1.3., fig. 5-c. during a 1 0 -measurement, the test tool cools down the
border area of the sample from both sides in this way that the higher border
front surface temperatures (room temperature) will not permeate the inside of
the sample. Within the specified ranges of measurement temperature and
sample thickness for the test tool, an exact one-dimensional, stationary
temperature field will be built up for the range of the measuring heating and
protective heating zone. A thermostatic measuring chamber is not necessary
for it!
The additional cooling ring functions like a humidity sink. Air humidity and
eventual humidity in the border area of the sample shift towards the cooling
ring and has in this way no influence to the measurement result. Additionally
the measurement time will be decrease both an more decisive advantage in
comparison with conventional guarded hot plate apparatus.
An intelligent control mechanism can determine the ideal parameters for a
measurement and reduce runtimes. The Thermal Conductivity Test Tool -

Meter EP500e (guarded hot plate apparatus) can be used in any room and
does not require a constant temperature environment.
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