Apparatus and method for measuring the thermal conductivity of insulating material

Claim 1

The method of measuring the rate of heat transfer through a material for determining the thermal conductivity of the material comprising: placing a layer of substantially uniform thickness of a sample material around and in contact with an essentially solid heat sink of known size and heat capacity having an external surface, and inside and in contact with the internal surface of a surrounding metal shell to fill the space between the surface of the heat sink and the surface of The shell; the surface of the heat sink being equally spaced from, and perpendicular to, the surface of the shell; bringing the metal heat sink and the shell to essentially the same temperature; raising the temperature of the shell above the temperature of the metal heat sink; simultaneously measuring the temperature of the shell and the metal heat sink during measured time periods; and calculating the rate of heat transfer for the material.

Claim 2

The method of measuring the rate of heat transfer through a material for determining the thermal conductivity of the material comprising: placing a layer of substantially uniform thickness of a sample material around and in contact with an essentially solid heat sink of known size and heat capacity having an external surface, and inside and in contact with the internal surface of a surrounding metal shell to fill the space between the surface of the heat sink and the surface of The shell; the surface of the heat sink being equally spaced from, and perpendicular to, the surface of the shell; bringing the metal heat sink and the shell to essentially the same temperature; raising the temperature of the shell above the temperature of the metal heat sink; simultaneously measuring the temperature of the shell and the metal heat sink during measured time periods; and calculating the rate of heat transfer for the material.

Claim 4

An apparatus for use in determining the thermal conductivity of a material comprising: an essentially solid heat sink of metal of known heat capacity with an external surface; a shell surrounding, and having an internal surface equally spaced in a perpendicular direction away from, the metal heat sink surface thus providing a space which can be filled with a sample material, the thermal conductivity of which is to be determined, all around and in contact with the metal heat sink and in contact with the shell; means for inducing a temperature differential between the shell and the heat sink with the shell at a higher temperature than the heat sink; and means for measuring the temperature of the metal heat sink, and means for directly measuring the temperature of the shell, during measured time periods, whereby using such measurements the thermal conductivity of the material can be calculated.

Claim 5

An apparatus for use in determining the thermal conductivity of a material comprising: an essentially solid heat sink of metal of known heat capacity with an external surface; a shell surrounding, and having an internal surface equally spaced in a perpendicular direction away from, the metal heat sink surface thus providing a space which can be filled with a sample material, the thermal conductivity of which is to be determined, all around and in contact with the metal heat sink and in contact with the shell; means for inducing a temperature differential between the shell and the heat sink with the shell at a higher temperature than the heat sink; and means for measuring the temperature of the metal heat sink, and means for directly measuring the temperature of the shell, during measured time periods, whereby using such measurements the thermal conductivity of the material can be calculated.

Claim 8

An apparatus for use in determining the thermal conductivity of a material comprising: an essentially solid heat sink of metal of known heat capacity with an external surface; a shell surrounding, and having an internal surface equally spaced in a perpendicular direction away from, the metal heat sink surface thus providing a space to be filled with a sample material, the thermal conductivity of which is to be determined, all around and in contact with the metal heat sink and in contact with the shell; an external heating means mounted on the shell to apply heat to the shell; means for measuring the temperature of the metal heat sink and means for directly measuring the temperature of the shell, during measured time periods, to thereby determine the temperature difference through the sample whereby using such measurements the thermal conductivity of the material can be calculated.

Claim 9

An apparatus for use in determining the thermal conductivity of a material comprising: an essentially solid heat sink of metal of known heat capacity with an external surface; a shell surrounding, and having an internal surface equally spaced in a perpendicular direction away from, the metal heat sink surface thus providing a space to be filled with a sample material, the thermal conductivity of which is to be determined, all around and in contact with the metal heat sink and in contact with the shell; an external heating means mounted on the shell to apply heat to the shell; means for measuring the temperature of the metal heat sink and means for directly measuring the temperature of the shell, during measured time periods, to thereby determine the temperature difference through the sample whereby using such measurements the thermal conductivity of the material can be calculated.