Measuring time-resolved heat transfer fluctuations on a heated-thin foil in a turbulent channel airflow

Abstract We present an experimental set-up to perform time-resolved convective heat transfer measurements in a turbulent channel flow with air as the working fluid. We employ a heated thin foil coupled with high-speed infrared thermography. The measurement technique is challenged by the thermal inertia of the foil, the high frequency of turbulent fluctuations, and the measurement noise of the infrared camera. We discuss in detail the advantages and drawbacks of all the design choices that were made, thereby providing a successful implementation strategy to obtain high-quality data. This experimental approach could be valuable for studies employing wall-based measurements of turbulence, such as flow control applications in wall-bounded turbulence.