MEASURMENT OF EMISSIVITY OF SURFACES AIM: To measure the emissivity of a surface.

EXPERIMENTAL APPARATUS: Two vertical aluminum plates 25 cm2, one blackened and the other polished (the sample plate) are electrically heated to identical temperatures (measured by thermocouples). Since they are identica1ly oriented their surface temperatures (film temperature and hence properties) are same, heat transferred by natural convection will be identical for them. Then, the difference in heat input is due to the difference in the heat lost by radiation. PRINCIPLE & CALCULATIONS: Heated bodies exposed to cold air lose heat by radiation and by natural convection. It is difficult to estimate the heat transferred by natural convection accurately. Hence a comparison method should be used for this purpose. The calculations involved are: If Qb and Qs are the heat input into the black and sample (polished) plates respectively. Then, Qb = Ab(Twb4 Ta4) and, Qs = As (Tws4 Ta4) since, the plate areas as well as temperatures are same Qb-Qs =As (1-) (Twb4 Ta4) from this, the emissivity of the sample plate can be calculated. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE: (1) Check that all thermocouples indicate room temperature. (2) Switch the heaters of both plates on. (3) Since the black plate loses more heat adjust the heat input accordingly. (4) Note down all the readings every 10 minutes till steady state is reached. (5) Make final adjustments to bring the plate temperature at steady state. RESULT: The emissivity of the surface =

INFERENCE:

OBSERVATIONS: Area of the plates, Ab = m2 AS = m2 Ambient temperature, Ta = .......... oC

Sl No.

Time

Voltage across the thermocouples of black surface.

Voltage across the thermocouples of polished surface.

Power I/P to black body

Power I/P to polished body

B1 Unit sec mV

B2 mV

B3 mV

B4 mV

Avr temp C

S1 mV

S2 mV

S3 mV

S4 mV

Avr temp C