Thermal simulation and evaluation for non-uniformity detection of electrode

Thermal non-destructive detection is inherently related to some methods and technical means of thermal stimulation. Electrode non-uniformity can result in quality control defectively. The infrared thermograph or thermal imaging technique is explored as a thermal non-destructive detection to detect the electrode non-uniformity during the manufacturing processes quantitatively. In order to assess the feasibility of this technique, the numerical simulation is used based on finite volume method (FVM). A heat conduction model has been developed to provide the numerical study. The results of numerical model are in good agreement with the published experimental data. The effects of convection heat transfer coefficients (2, 5, and 10 W/m(2) K) at electrode surface, electrode surface areas (100 and 1000 cm(2)), and bubbles on detecting validation are examined in detail. It is found that temperature changes are independent of convection heat transfer coefficients and electrode surface areas. The bubbles are observed inside the electrode through the temperature signals. Therefore, thermal imaging is a further prospected method to detect non-uniformity. The values, evaluated here for the practical conditions, indicate that thermal imaging technique is promising for investigating the non-uniformity behavior of electrode. Analogically, the method can also be used in other thermal related equipment or products as a valuable and robust reference. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.