Integration of a Liquid Crystal Thermography System into Undergraduate Heat Transfer Instruction

本提案寻求资金，用于购买一个液晶热成像系统，包括：（1）一个液晶图像处理系统，（个人计算机、图像处理板、CCD摄像机、照明系统和基于Windows的软件）记录、处理和存储热图像，并进行定量温度测量;（2）处理热致变色液晶并将其施加到传热表面的液晶制备套件;以及（3）校准液晶的液晶校准单元。PI建议将LC热成像系统整合到联合学院从大一到大四的机械工程课程中，作为教授传热基础知识和激发对传热应用的好奇心的工具。学生将学习如何使用高科技设备来可视化传热过程，机械工程系将取代示范型，烹饪书实验室练习，动手学习传热。具体而言，LC热成像系统将允许全领域，准确，定量的温度测量与电子记录和存储热图像的方法。这些能力将提高学生进行传热设计的能力，培养学生对边界条件对温度分布影响的直觉，并激发学生对传热的兴趣。所有设备将用于本科工程实验室，并促进本科研究。该项目是令人兴奋的超越联合学院，因为它提出了一个模型，将使用LC热成像系统纳入四年制本科课程。

This proposal seeks funds to purchase a Liquid Crystal (LC) Thermography system consisting of (1) a liquid crystal image processing system (personal computer, image processing board, CCD camera, lighting system and Windows based software) to record, process and store thermal images and perform quantitative temperature measurement; (2) a liquid crystal preparation kit to process thermochromic liquid crystals and apply them to heat transfer surfaces; and (3) a liquid crystal calibration unit to calibrate liquid crystals. The PI proposes to integrate the LC Thermography system into the mechanical engineering curriculum at Union College from freshman year to senior year as a tool for teaching heat transfer fundamentals and for stimulating curiosity about heat transfer applications. Students will learn how to use hi-tech equipment to visualize heat transfer processes and the mechanical engineering department will replace demonstration type, cook-book lab exercises with hands on learning about heat transfer. Specifically, the LC Thermography system will permit full-field, accurate, quantitative temperature measurement with a method for electronically recording and storing thermal images. These capabilities will improve students ability to perform heat transfer design, develop students intuition about the effects of boundary conditions on temperature distribution and it will excite students about heat transfer. All equipment will be used in undergraduate engineering labs and to promote undergraduate research. The project is exciting beyond Union College because it presents a model for integrating the use of a LC Thermography system into a four year undergraduate curriculum.