Modelling of surface temperature measurement errors in vertical natural convection cooled channels

This paper describes a methodology and numerical procedure for calculation of surface temperature measurement errors in buoyant channel flow applied to the case of surface-mounted thermocouples. Heat transfer calculations within the channel are based on initial measurement information and performed via a marching numerical procedure. The results of these calculations are in turn utilized for the determination of surface measurement errors modelled with emphasis on the thermocouple-induced local heat sink and convective stray losses. The influence of measurement location and channel width on the surface measurement error is numerically investigated for a group of air-cooled channels with results presented in graphical form.