SELF-CALIBRATED FLOW METER

The present invention relates to a method for estimating the thermophysical properties of a material (Ω) that incorporates at least one temperature sensor (1, 2, 3) and one point heat source (4), the distance between the at least one temperature sensor (1, 2, 3) and the point heat source (4) being known. The method includes the steps of: expression of the theoretical temperature as a function of time at the at least one temperature sensor (1, 2, 3) when the point heat source (4) is activated, said expression depending on the thermophysical parameters of the material (Ω); acquisition of a plurality of temperature measurements by the at least one temperature sensor (1, 2, 3) over a time period during which the point heat source (4) is activated; and determining of the values of the thermophysical parameters of the material (Ω), such that the difference between the theoretical temperatures obtained via said expression and the temperatures that are actually measured is minimal. The present invention also relates to a method for measuring a heat flow (φ(t)) across a surface (Γ) of a material (Ω) and a flow meter (10) designed for this purpose.