Title:
Experimental Plasmatron Heat Flux Measuring Techniques Study
Experimental Plasmatron Heat Flux Measuring Techniques Study
Author(s)
Vaden, Sarah
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Abstract
Ground testing for hypersonic re-entry vehicles is an invaluable methodology to vehicle conception.
The Von Karman Institute plasmatron is a facility that can duplicate the localized aerothermodynamic
properties and conditions experienced on atmospheric reentry. Because of its relevance to design
oriented testing activities, accurate heat flux measurements are crucial. Therefore this study addressed
the heat flux measuring capabilities of two different temperature sensors. Experimentally, two
calorimeters, (one with type K thermocouple only and the other with both thermocouple and PT100),
were tested under a range of typical Plasmatron operating conditions. An inversion of the calorimeters
was also performed for comparison and cross checking within the facility. Namely increased air mass
flow had a thinning effect on the error differences between the two sensors. Further, there were no
systematic differences between the two calorimeters (i.e. thermocouple heat flux from calorimeter A
compared to calorimeter B). For the main experiment, thermocouple heat flux measurements were
always higher than PT100. The inversion of the two calorimeters, however, showed a reversal of heat
flux ordering as a result of aggravated the inlet thermocouple sensor readings. A case study was
performed to test for grounding effects on sensor behavior, concluding that direct sensor grounding is
not a source of increased temperature readings
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Date Issued
2009-11-09
Extent
06:58 minutes
Resource Type
Moving Image
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Resource Subtype
Presentation