Apparatus development for measuring heat flux in a direct coal-liquefaction preheater

A device is evaluated for determining heat flux in a direct coal liquefaction preheater. The heat fluxmeter determines heat flux from measurements of temperature difference across the preheater tube wall at a given plane perpendicular to the tube axis. Six fluxmeters were installed in a 5.08 m length of nominal 1 1/2 inch diameter, schedule XX pipe enclosed in stacked electric furnaces. Heat flux to a heat transfer fluid flowing through the pipe was measured and compared to values predicted by the fluxmeters. Fair agreement was observed, and the method can be used as an empirical calibration procedure for fluxmeters. A number of apparatus improvements were identified that will be incorporated in the planned experimental program.