Abstract
The limit of heat flux estimation by 3-D inverse heat conduction was investigated for a system in which constant annular heat flux moving from the center to the periphery is removed from the end surface of a columnar block. Temperatures of sensor positions were calculated through axi-symmetric situation and 76 temperatures at an equilateral 2-D locations are used to estimate heat flux distribution across the surface. The product of heat flux and width can be accurately estimated independent of the transverse velocity of heat flux pulse. Heat flux estimation is valid when the width of heat flux pulse is less than twice of temperature sensor depth and the pitch of two neighboring sensors.
