We performed a numerical analysis of the material parameters required for realizing a heat flux sensor exploiting the anomalous Nernst effect (ANE). The results showed the importance of high thermopower of ANE ($S_{text{ANE}}$) and small saturation magnetization. This motivated us to investigate the effect of Al substitution of Fe on ANE and found $S_{text{ANE}} =$ 3.4 $mu$V/K in Fe$_{81}$Al$_{19}$ because of the dominant intrinsic mechanism. Using this material, we made a prototype ANE-based heat flux sensor on a thin flexible polyimide sheet and demonstrated accurate sensing with it. This study gives important information for enhancing sensor sensitivity.
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