CALORIMETER

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve thermal isolation between a combustion vessel and the surrounding environment to achieve a more accurate result for a calorific value of a combustible substance.SOLUTION: A calorimeter includes a bucket cover 30 which is used to reconfigure an isothermal water reservoir 70 to provide temperature equilibration prior to sample analysis and subsequently define a fixed volume of water during analysis in which high precision temperature measurements can be recorded. The apparatus includes mechanisms for sealing and controlling the cover and for coupling a combustion vessel 20 to the cover while minimizing the thermal contact between them. Improved thermal isolation between the fixed volume of water and the surrounding environment is also achieved.