Complete thermal characterization of liquids by front photopyroelectric configuration using the reference sample method

Abstract

We explored the use of the front photopyroelectric (FPPE) configuration and the reference sample method to determine the thermal properties of liquid samples such as extra virgin olive oil and aqueous glycerol (GL), ethylene glycol (EG), and sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions. The thermal diffusivity (α) and thermal conductivity (k) were determined from photopyroelectric phase and amplitude signals, respectively, using water as a reference. The thermal effusivity (e) and volumetric heat capacity (ρc) were also determined based upon both obtained thermal properties. All thermal properties of GL and EG in aqueous solutions decrease as their volume fraction increases at an average rate of 5% for concentrations higher than 20% and between 23% and 10% for concentrations less than 20%. The Matvienko and Mandelis’ model for α and our proposed expression for ρc described this trend with a reliable approximation to the experimental data with R 2 about 0.97 and 0.99, respectively. Moreover, the frequency of a specific angle is proportional to α as established by the theory for the phase signal for thermally thick samples. In the case of aqueous NaCl solutions, the α and k values were slightly below 4.6% and 3% from water values reported at room temperature. The proposed method allows the simultaneous determination of α and k by using only the FPPE configuration with test and reference liquid samples, reducing time and uncertainties from the use of more than one experimental setup, and providing the complete thermal characterization.