1.

Thermal Engineering Experiments

熱工實驗
Fourier's law

Edlin Variste 方以良 4080H114

Date experiment was performed: April 15th, 2021

Date report was submitted: May 27th, 2021
 1. Objectives (will be provided by instructor)
The purpose of the experiment is to prove Fourier's law.

2. Theoretical background
o What principle is this experiment designed to illustrate?
Fourier’s law states that the negative gradient of temperature and the time
rate of heat transfer is proportional to the area at right angles of that gradient
through which the heat flows. Fourier’s law is the other name of the law of
heat conduction.
Newton’s law of cooling and Ohm’s law are a discrete and electrical analog
of Fourier’s law.
o Describe the theory and any relevant equations/derivations.
Consider a function T(x, y, z) which describes the temperature at a given
point (x, y, z) of the three-dimensional space of an object. The daily
experience of each of us is that the temperature is transmitted and distributed
throughout the surrounding space. At this point we ask ourselves how the
temperature is transmitted to the closest and most distant points and what
evolution occurs over time. The heat equation is exactly the description of
these spatial and temporal variations given certain initial
conditions and boundary conditions.
As we know, the heat diffuses from the hottest parts of the
object towards the colder parts (as shown in the image on
the side) and over time the temperature tends
to level out. The point, however, is to know
how to calculate the temperature at a specific
point and at a certain point in time given the
initial distribution of the temperature (initial
conditions), the external conditions (boundary
conditions) and the material of which the
object is composed. To do this it is necessary
to know the equation that regulates the whole
phenomenon.
Fourier Equation
The experimental law of heat conduction (Fourier’s law) establishes that the
speed of heat transmission through a material is proportional to the
temperature gradient and to the (orthogonal) surface through which the heat
flows.
In a simplified situation where the heat flow is only unidirectional (for example
a long bar with minimum transverse dimensions) we can write the Fourier
law in the following terms:
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑞𝑞 = −𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

Where:
q: is the heat transfer rate (W)
A: is the surface area (m2)
k: is the thermal conductivity of the material (W/m-K or W/m- oC)

In three dimensions the equation is expressed in vector terms:

𝑞𝑞 = −𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
Where:
q: is the heat flow vector (heat that flows through a unit surface in the unit of
time)
∇T: is the temperature gradient vector defined with the partial derivatives:
𝜕𝜕𝑇𝑇 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕
𝛻𝛻𝛻𝛻 =( , , )
𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕
3. Experimental Apparatus
4. Experimental Method and Procedure

1) Keep the cooling water at a suitable volume flow rate.

2) Set Tc at three different temperatures, which correspond to three
different values of heating power.
3) Record the temperatures at different positions (T1-T7) in the Table
(see Table 1).
4) Plot the graph of Temperature vs Axial Position for three different
values of Tc (see Fig. 4).
5) Calculate the heat transfer rate q corresponding to each Tc.

5. Results and Discussions

o Raw data should be arranged in tabular form. Some data

may be tabulated in the Appendix.
distance Temp L1 Temp L2 TempL3

0 70 80 90 Tc

4 72.2 83.6 95.4 T1

6 68.8 79.6 90.7 T2

8 66.4 76.7 87.1 T3

10 63.5 73 83.1 T4

12 60.7 69.6 78.9 T5

14 58.3 66.8 75.4 T6

18 53.4 60.6 68.1 T7

 o A completely worked-out sample calculation is required for
repetitive calculations.
Calculate heat transfer rate q.
1) 𝑻𝑻𝑻𝑻 = 𝟕𝟕𝟕𝟕 ℃
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑞𝑞 = −𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
(𝑇𝑇6 − 𝑇𝑇1)
𝑞𝑞 = −𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
𝐿𝐿
Where:
𝑘𝑘 = 372 𝑊𝑊/𝑚𝑚 − 𝐾𝐾
A is the cross-section area (d = 0.02 m)
L = 10 cm = 0.1 m
𝜋𝜋 58.3 − 72.2
𝑞𝑞 = −(372 𝑊𝑊/𝑚𝑚 − 𝐾𝐾) × ( × (0.02)2 )
4 0.1
𝑞𝑞 = 16.24 𝑊𝑊

2) 𝑻𝑻𝑻𝑻 = 𝟖𝟖𝟖𝟖 ℃
𝜋𝜋 66.8 − 83.6
𝑞𝑞 = −(372 𝑊𝑊/𝑚𝑚 − 𝐾𝐾) × ( × (0.02)2 )
4 0.1
𝑞𝑞 = 19.62 𝑊𝑊

3) 𝑻𝑻𝑻𝑻 = 𝟗𝟗𝟗𝟗 ℃
𝜋𝜋 75.4 − 95.4
𝑞𝑞 = −(372 𝑊𝑊/𝑚𝑚 − 𝐾𝐾) × ( × (0.02)2 )
4 0.1
𝑞𝑞 = 23.36 𝑊𝑊
 o Use MS Excel (or any other spreadsheet program) for
tabulation and plotting graphs.

Temperature vs Axial position

120

100

80
TEMPERATURE (OC)

60

40

20

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
DISTANCE(CM)

Temp L1 Temp L2 TempL3

Fig. 4 Graph of Temperature vs Axial Position for three different values of

Tc.
o Finish Problems 1 and 2 as follows:
6. Analysis
(a) For case A recognize that half the heater power will pass through each
of the samples which are presumed identical. Apply Fourier’s law to a
sample
The total temperature drop across the length of the sample is ∆T1 (L/∆x) =
25 ℃ (60 mm/15 mm) = 100℃. Hence, the heater temperature is Th = 177℃.
Thus the average temperature of the sample is
𝑇𝑇𝑜𝑜 + 𝑇𝑇ℎ
₸= = 127 ℃ = 400 𝐾𝐾
2
We compare the calculated value of k with the tabulated value (see above)
at 400 K and note the good agreement.
(b) For case B, we assume that the thermal conductivity of the SS316
sample is the same as that found in part (a). The heat rate through the
Armco iron sample is
 60
The total temperature drop across the iron sample is 15℃ � � = 60℃; the
15
heater temperature is (77+60)℃ = C. Hence, the average temperature of the
iron sample is
137 + 77
₸= ℃ = 107 ℃ = 380 𝐾𝐾
2
We compare the computed value of k with the tabulated value (see above)
at 380 K and note the good agreement.

The principal advantage of having two identical samples is the assurance

that all the electrical power dissipated in the heater will appear as equivalent
heat flows through the samples. With only the sample, heat can flow from
the backside of the heater even though insulated.
7. Appendices

o Group members present:

 Edlin Variste 方以良 4080H114
 Nathanael Boncoeur 彭乃 升 4080H124
 Redas Mondray 鄧瑞得 4080H127
 Ruan Wiltshire 4080H129

o Date:
 May 27th, 2021