The NPL Thermal Performance Team is undertaking research that focuses on resolving traceability issues with transient thermal measurement techniques used in industry and academia. These techniques are currently used up to 2800 °C, but the reference materials are only available up to 500 °C.

Current Project: Thermal Conductivity Design Data for Higher Temperature Metals, Alloys and Graphite – Phase I

Next generation of power plants and turbines will be operating at higher temperatures to increase energy efficiency, reducing CO₂ emission and other environmental impact. Higher operating temperature requires the qualification of materials and parts at higher temperatures. Although transient methods including laser flash technique are widely used in industry and academics to measure thermophysical properties at temperatures up to 2800 °C, the thermal conductivity reference materials for metals/alloys that are used to check the calibrations of transient methods are only up to 500 °C. This big temperature gap has raised concerns on the reliability of the thermal conductivity data at higher temperatures.

The current research project is to develop a new higher temperature national standard facility for thermal conductivity measurements of metals/alloys and graphite at temperature up to 1000 °C and thermal conductivity up to 200 W/m·K. This will enable NPL to provide reliable high-temperature thermal conductivity design data to industry via measurement services and research projects. The phase II of this project is to develop new higher temperature thermal conductivity reference materials to provide traceability for industry in the UK and worldwide.

Reliable thermal conductivity design data will enable suppliers and manufacturers of next generation power plants and aerospace turbines to confidently select high temperature materials for their design and optimisation. This will reduce their safety risks due to under engineering and cost due to over engineering.

For more information, please contact Jiyu Wu.