Modelling of heat conduction calorimeters. Case of a non-differential skin calorimeter

Abstract

In non-differential calorimeters, the ambient temperature, the thermostat temperature, and the thermostat cooling system affect the measured heat flux. For this reason, the modelling and calibration procedures should take into account all the variables that affect the heat flux transmitted through the calorimeter. In this work, we present the complete calibration of three non-differential skin calorimeters designed to measure the heat flux, the heat capacity and the thermal resistance of a localized skin surface. In addition, the incorporation of the skin into the calorimetric model allows the determination of the core temperature of the tissue where the measurement is performed. The electrical calibration is validated with measurements with the three calorimeters on the volar and dorsal areas of the wrist of a healthy 30-year-old male subject