Linear/Radial Heat Conduction

MEEN 464 Heat Transfer Laboratory

J. Mike Walker '66 Department of Mechanical Engineering
Texas A&M University
Spring 2020
Dr. Haejune Kim

*This document is reproduced with permission from TD1002 User Guide by TecQuipment Limited.
Introduction
Engineers learning about thermodynamics and heat transfer need to know how different materials
and shapes conduct heat. They can use this information to predict how heat energy will move through
their own designs. TecQuipment's Heat Transfer Experiments show students how heat transfers by
different methods.

Figure 1 The Base Unit (TD1002), shown fitted with the Optional Linear Heat Conduction Experiment
(TD1002A)

The main part is the Base Unit. This is a compact frame with a cold water circuit and instruments to
measure temperatures from the thermocouples of the experiments. You also need at least one of the
optional Heat Transfer Experiments (For example - the TD1002A). Each experiment fits on the front
of the Base Unit and connects to its water circuit, heater and thermocouple sockets where needed.
To automatically record your experiment results and save time, the Base Unit works with
TecQuipment's Versatile Data Acquisition System (VDAS®).
VDAS is a registered trademark of TecQuipment Ltd.
Description

Figure 2 The Base Unit (TD1002), and an Optional Experiment (TD1002A)

The Base Unit is the main part of the Heat Transfer Experiments. It is a compact bench- mounting
frame that connects to a suitable electrical supply and a cold water supply and drain.
It supplies safe, low voltage electrical power to the heater (heat source) in the optional experiments
and shows the temperature of the thermocouples in each optional experiment. The cold water circuit
is simply the incoming mains cold water supply, that passes through the optional experiment unit and
then out to drain. A hand-operated valve in the water circuit allows you to control its flow.
Two displays show the heater power and the temperatures of the thermocouples in the optional
experiments. Flexible pipes with quick-release, self-sealing connectors on some optional experiments
connect to the water circuit on the Base Unit.
The display panels each have a socket for connection to TecQuipment's optional VDAS for data
acquisition from this equipment, with the use of a suitable computer.
Linear Heat Conduction Experiment (TD1002A)

Figure 3 The Linear Heat Conduction Experiment (TD1002A)

This experiment unit shows how heat conducts along a solid brass bar of uniform circular cross section.
It has an electric heater at one end to generate heat energy (the 'heat source') and a small chamber at
the other end ('the heat sink'). The cold water supply from the Base Unit flows through the heat sink to
remove the heat energy. A thermal switch next to the heater works with the Base Unit to switch off
the electrical supply to the heater if it becomes too hot.
Seven thermocouples equally-spaced along the bar measure the temperature gradient between the
heat source and heat sink. The bar includes an interchangeable middle section to allow you to fit
different metals and study how they affect the temperature gradient along the bar.
Insulation surrounds the bar to reduce heat loss by radiation and convection, giving you more accurate
results to compare with theory.
Figure 4 How the Linear Heat Conduction Experiment (TD1002A) Works
Radial Heat Conduction Experiment (TD1002B)

Figure 5 The Radial Heat Conduction Experiment (TD1002B)

This experiment unit shows how heat conducts radially outwards from a central heat source through
a metal disc of uniform dimensions. It has an electric heater at its center to generate heat energy (the
'heat source') and a circular cooling tube around the circumference of the disc ('the heat sink'). The
cold water supply from the Base Unit flows through the cooling tube to remove the heat energy.

Figure 6 How radial heat conduction works.

Seven thermocouples are at equally-spaced radii around the disc. The temperatures of the
thermocouples show the temperature gradient around the disc between the heat source and heat sink.
An insulating material surrounds the disc to reduce heat loss by radiation and convection, giving you
more accurate results to compare with theory.
A thermal switch next to the heater works with the Base Unit to switch off the electrical supply to the
heater if it becomes too hot.
Thermal Conductivity (k) of Common Materials
Some materials are better heat conductors than others; their material has an effect on the rate of heat
transfer. This effect is its thermal conductivity. It is a measure of how quickly heat energy travels
along a unit length of material of a unit cross-sectional area.
Table 1 shows the thermal conductivity of some common materials, note that metals (electrical
conductors) have a higher conductivity than most other materials (electrical insulators) at the same
temperature. This suggests a link between electrical and thermal conductivity.
Note that temperature affects thermal conductivity, its value changes with temperature, but the effect
is normally greater with liquids and gases than metals.
The figures in Table 1 are based on materials tested at near to room temperature.

Table 1 Thermal Conductivity of a Selection of Materials at Room Temperature

Linear Thermal Conductivity Equations
As mentioned earlier, thermal conductivity is a measure of how quickly heat energy travels along a
unit length of material of a unit cross-sectional area. So for the solid bar of circular cross-section in
Figure 4, the equation includes the area (A) of the cross-section and the length between the two
measured temperatures:
𝑇1 − 𝑇2 (1)
𝑞 = 𝑘𝐴
𝐿

To calculate the thermal conductivity of a material, the equation must rearranged to give:
𝑞𝐿
𝑘= (2)
𝐴(𝑇1 − 𝑇2 )

These equations assume ideal conditions where all heat transfer is by conduction and no heat is lost
to the surroundings by convection or radiation.

However, the actual heat transfer rate in the specimen 𝑞𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛 is smaller than the heat transfer rate
q in the hot bar supplied by the electric heater. This is due to heat loss as a result of the limited
thickness of the thermal insulation of the bars and heat dissipation through the gaps without insulation
at the interface between the hot bar and the specimen.
Comparative Cut-Bar method for Thermal Conductivity Measurements
The disadvantage of the absolute technique is that it is hard to accurately determine the amount of heat
flow in the specimen. Assuming a standard material for the hot bar with known thermal conductivity,
a comparative cut-bar technique can be applied to determine the thermal conductivity of the specimen
without measurement of heat flow (i.e. heater power), as used in the absolute technique (equation 2).
This can reduce errors of power measurement.

Figure 7 Schematic Diagram Showing The Comparative Cut-bar Technique

The energy balance for the cut-bar method for the determination of thermal conductivity is as
follows:

𝑞𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛 = 𝑞ℎ𝑜𝑡 𝑏𝑎𝑟

Substitute

∆𝑇
q = kA
𝐿

and re-arrange the above equations, the thermal conductivity of the specimen is calculated:

𝐴ℎ𝑜𝑡 𝑏𝑎𝑟 ∆𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑡 𝑏𝑎𝑟 𝐿𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛

𝑘𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛 = 𝑘ℎ𝑜𝑡 𝑏𝑎𝑟 × ×
𝐴𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛 ∆𝑇𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛 𝐿ℎ𝑜𝑡 𝑏𝑎𝑟

Since 𝐴𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛 = 𝐴ℎ𝑜𝑡 𝑏𝑎𝑟 ; 𝐿𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛 = 𝐿ℎ𝑜𝑡 𝑏𝑎𝑟

∆𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑡 𝑏𝑎𝑟
𝑘𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛 = 𝑘ℎ𝑜𝑡 𝑏𝑎𝑟 ×
∆𝑇𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛

The thermal conductivity of brass or 𝑘ℎ𝑜𝑡 𝑏𝑎𝑟 is estimated to be 123 ± 0.8 𝑊/𝑚𝐾.
Due to TD1002A's hot bar and specimen fitted with two and three thermocouples respectively,
thermal conductivity measurement under the comparative cut-bar method is entirely achievable.
Radial Heat Conduction

Figure 8 Radial Heat Conduction

The equation for radial heat transfer is similar to that for linear heat transfer, except that it calculates
the area and thickness of the ring-shaped pieces of material between the temperature measurement
points. This of course needs their inner and outer radii (r1 and r2 in Figure 8) and the thickness of the
disc (L), so:
2𝜋𝑘𝐿
𝑞= 𝑟 (𝑇1 − 𝑇2 )
ln 𝑟2
1

And also, by rearrangement:

𝑟 𝑟
𝑞∙ln 2 𝑞∙ln 2
𝑟1 𝑟1
𝑘 = 2𝜋𝐿(𝑇 −𝑇 ) and 𝑇1 − = 𝑇2
1 2 2𝜋𝐿𝑘

The piece of disc between each thermocouple is a ring of material. The rings become larger in area
(and volume) as their radius increases, so the temperature gradient of the disc is not a (linear) straight
line as in the linear heat transfer experiment. The line is a curve that obeys the X2 polynomial function
(see Figure 9).
Figure 9 Comparison of Linear and Radial Heat Transfer
Experiment 1 - Linear Heat Conduction Experiment

Aims
To show how heat conducts linearly along a solid bar of uniform dimensions and material.
To show how different materials in contact can affect linear heat transfer.
To show how you can calculate the experimental thermal conductivity of the material in a solid bar.

Procedure
1. Connect and set up the Linear Heat Conduction Experiment (TD1002A).
2. Fit the brass middle section using the heat transfer paste.

Figure 10 Fit the Middle Section

3. Open the water outlet valve to start the water flowing, then switch on the heater and set to 50 Watts
power.
4. Wait for the temperatures to stabilize and then record temperatures using VDAS for 1 minute.
5. Repeat the above procedure with the different available materials in the middle section.
Results Analysis
Plot charts of temperature against distance along the bar, with respect to the first thermocouple, T1.
You should be able to draw a good best-fit line through your results. Calculate the thermal
conductivity of the specimen. Compare it with the typical value given in Table 1. Can you explain
the cause of any errors - if any?
Calculate the uncertainties associated with the thermal conductivity of each sample using Kline-
McClintok method.

Figure 11 Temperature Gradient along the cylindrical rods.

Experiment 2 – Radial Heat Conduction Experiment

Aims
To show how heat conducts around a solid disc of uniform dimensions and material.
To show how you can calculate the experimental thermal conductivity of the material in a solid
disc of uniform dimensions.

Procedure
1. Connect and set up your experiment.
2. Open the water outlet valve to start the water flowing, then switch on the heater and set to 30 Watts
power.
3. Wait for the temperatures to stabilize and then record the temperatures using VDAS for 1 minute.

Results Analysis
Plot a chart of predicted and experimental temperatures against radial distance on the disc, with
respect to the first thermocouple (T1).

Figure 12 Temperature Gradient along radial direction in a solid disc

The overall gradient of the curve is not important, but the shape should prove the non-linear
relationship between radial distance and temperature for radial heat transfer.
Use the equation in the theory section and the actual value of T1 at its radial position to calculate T2 at
its radial position. Use the calculated value of T2 to find T3 and continue in this way to find the
theoretical values of the other thermocouples. Add the theoretical curve to your chart to see how well
it predicts the results.
Use the two farthest actual readings of T1 and T7, the radii at these positions, the disc thickness, and
the heater power to calculate the thermal conductivity of the brass disc. Compare it with the typical
value given in Table 1. Can you explain the cause of any errors - if any?