Mapua Institute of Technology

CHE151L/A31
EXPERIMENT 2
RADIATION
Petiza, Alfred Kenneth S.

Instructor: Engr. Emma E. Ordoño

ABSTRACT
In heat transfer analysis, the ratio of thermal conductivity to heat capacity is an important property
known as thermal diffusivity, α, which measures the rate at which heat diffuses through a material. In
the experiment, two steel balls (big and small) were used in the study of unsteady state heat transfer to
evaluate factors affecting the thermal diffusivity of steel ball and to prepare and interpret temperature
profile for heated steel ball quenched in a water bath. For the determination of the thermal diffusivity of
the steel ball, the following procedures were followed. The outer radius of the steel ball was measured
using a vernier caliper. The steel ball was heated in the water bath at 95⁰C. The quench tank was set at
temperature equal to 45⁰C. The steel ball was then transferred to the quench tank when it reached 95⁰C.
After 30 seconds, the temperature reading at the center hole was determined. It was assumed that there
is no thermal resistance between the quenched fluid (water) and the surface of the steel ball, the
parameter m is equal to zero. The thermal diffusivity of the big steel ball and the small steel ball were
determined as 6.9 x 10-6 m2/s, and 2.985 x 10-6 m2/s. For the preparation of the temperature profile of
each steel ball, same procedures were done. But the readings of temperature were done after every 5
seconds. The measurements were stopped after 3 consecutive constant temperature readings were
noted. The factors that affect the thermal diffusivity of the steel ball are unaccomplished change,
relative time, relative position, and relative resistance.

Keywords: Heat transfer, Thermal diffusivity, Thermal conductivity, Heat capacity

Introduction Since no system starts at steady state ahead,

unsteady state conditions are precursor to
Heat transfer is the transfer of thermal energy
steady state condition. When unsteady state
from a body, at a high temperature, to another
happens, it may be cause by unstable boundary
at a lower temperature. This transfer of thermal
temperatures at startup, sudden temperature
energy may occur under steady or unsteady
fluctuations during steady state conditions, or
state conditions. The focus of this experiment is
internal generation of heat. Therefore, clearly,
unsteady state heat transfer, where the
no system can remain under unsteady state
temperature within the system does vary with
conditions perpetually. The temperature of the
time.
system will eventually reach the temperature of
the heat source, and once this happens, the
system will be at steady state. Even if the The experiment started by submerging the big
amount of heat being transferred into the steel ball with thermocouple into the water bath
system is increased, at some point the system while maintaining its initial temperature. When
reaches its critical temperature and the energy the temperature stabilized, the steel ball was
transferred into it the starts causing phase transferred into the quench tank. After 30
changes within the system rather than seconds, temperature readings were measured
temperatures increases. A perfect example of with every 5 seconds interval until the reading
this scenario is boiling of potato, due to internal is constant.
resistance, at first the distribution of heat is not
For thermal diffusivity, the radius of each steel
uniform within the potato where its center is not
ball must be known, also the distance of the
heating up at the same rate of its skin. But when
thermocouple from the center of the ball. The
the potato equilibrates, the temperature inside
value of the unaccomplished change (Y) is first
would not change anymore with time.
measured by using Equation 4.2. In this
Another parameter evaluated in the experiment equation, T is given to be the temperature at
is thermal diffusivity (α) which is used to any point from center, Tf and Ti are the final
examine the rate at which heat diffuses though and initial temperatures, respectively. All
a material. Also, it measures the ability of a temperature units are in °C. Afterwards, the Y
material to conduct thermal energy relative to computed was used to determine the relative
its ability to store thermal energy. Thermal time (or Fourier number), X using the empirical
diffusivity is the ratio of thermal conductivity equation given in Equation 4.3, with the values
to density and specific heat capacity at constant of the constants, a and b, are given in Table 4.1.
pressure as shown in Equation 4.1.
T f −T
k Y= [Equation 4.2]
α= T f −T
[Equation 4.1] i
ρ Cp
log Y =aX +b [Equation 4.3]
Substances with high thermal diffusivity
rapidly adjust their temperature to that of their
surroundings, because they conduct heat m n a b
quickly in comparison to their volumetric heat 0.0 0.0 -4.172 0.2666
capacity or 'thermal bulk'. In a sense, thermal 0.2 -4.194 0.2443
diffusivity is the measure of thermal inertia. 0.4 -4.251 0.1694
0.6 -4.320 0.0142
Thus, the aim of this experiment is to evaluate
0.8 -4.376 -0.3032
the factors affecting the thermal diffusivity of 1.0 ∞ 0.0000
steel ball and to interpret the temperature Table 4.1. Coefficients for Transient Temperature for
profile for heated steel ball quenched in a water sphere
bath.
The values of m and n, relative resistance and
Materials and Methods relative position, respectively, are computed
using the equations 4.3 and 4.4.
The experimental set-up is consisted of a
quench tank, water bath, a thermocouple unit
and two different size steel balls. Before
r
performing the experiment, the water bath was n= [Equation 4.3]
r1
heated to a constant temperature of 95°C and
the quench tank is maintained at 45°C.
 k It was assumed that there is no thermal
m= [Equation 4.4]
h r1
Since the relative time, X is known the thermal
diffusivity can be computed using equation 4.5.
θ in this equation is 30 seconds.
αθ
X= 2 [Equation 4.5]
r1
A temperature profile was also evaluated after
the experiment to see how the process of
varying temperature is affected by time.
resistance between the quenched fluid (water)
and the surface of the steel ball, the parameter
m is equal to zero. As determined, the thermal
diffusivity of the big steel ball and the small
steel ball were 6.9 x 10-6 m2/s, and 2.985 x 10-6
m2/s. Materials with large values of α will
respond quickly to changes in their thermal
environment, whereas materials with small
values of α will respond slowly to changes in
their thermal environment, taking longer to
reach a new equilibrium condition.

Results and Discussion

BIG STEEL BALL
Two steel balls (big and small) were used in the Tf = 45⁰C
study of unsteady state heat transfer. The steel r1 = 3.72 cm
balls have a center hole in which the ϴ = 30 sec
measurements were done and evaluated. The Center Hole (C)
scope was about one-dimensional conduction Ti 95⁰C
where temperature varies temporally and in one T 65⁰C
YC 0.4
spatial direction, i.e., temperature varies with
r 0.88
time and distance. Through the experiment, the nC 0.24
factors affecting the thermal diffusivity of steel XC 0.149
ball were evaluated. A temperature profile for αC 6.9 x 10-6
heated steel ball quenched in a water bath was αave 6.9 x 10-6
prepared and interpreted. Table 4.2. Results for Big Steel Ball

For the determination of the thermal diffusivity

of the steel ball, the following procedures were
SMALL STEEL BALL
followed. The outer radius of the steel ball was
Tf = 45⁰C
measured using a vernier caliper. The steel ball r1 = 2.65 cm
was heated in the water bath at 95⁰C. the ϴ = 30 sec
quench tank was set at temperature equal to Center Hole (C)
45⁰C. The steel ball was then transferred to the Ti 95⁰C
quench tank when it reached 95⁰C. After 30 T 55⁰C
seconds, the temperature reading at the center YC 0.2
r 1.85
hole was determined. The thermal diffusivity
nC 0.7
was determined using an empirical equation XC 0.12752
and notations for the use of the modified αC 2.985 x 10-6
Gurney-Lurie chart for sphere. αave 2.985 x 10-6

Table 4.3. Results for Small Steel Ball

For the preparation of the temperature profile of
each steel ball, same procedures were done. But
the readings of temperature are done after every
5 seconds. The measurements were stopped
after 3 consecutive constant temperature
readings were noted.

BIG STEEL BALL

Temperature Temperature
Time, Reading, ⁰C Time, s Reading, ⁰C Figure 4.1. Temperature Profile for Big & Small Steel
s Ball
5 95 55 51
10 91 60 50 The graph (Figure 4.1) generated shows that the
15 84 65 49 small steel ball lost its heat faster than the big
20 76 70 48 steel ball as time progressed. It was also the
25 70 75 48 first to have 3 consecutive constant temperature
30 65 80 47 readings. The temperature profile made
35 61 85 47 opposed the results of the calculation of the
40 58 90 46 thermal diffusivity. In the calculation, the big
45 55 95 46 steel ball has a higher value of thermal
50 53 100 46 diffusivity which tells that it will respond
quickly to changes in its thermal environment.
Table 4.4. Temperature Reading for Big Steel Ball
But in the temperature profile, the small steel
SMALL STEEL BALL ball was the one that responded quickly to
Temperature Temperatur changes in its thermal environment.
Time, s Reading, ⁰C Time, s e
Reading, ⁰C Conclusion
0 95 50 47
5 88 55 46 The factors affecting the thermal diffusivity of
10 79 60 46 steel ball were evaluated. A temperature profile
15 71 65 46 for heated steel ball quenched in a water bath
20 64 was prepared and interpreted.
25 59
30 55 Thermal diffusivity measures the rate at which
35 52 heat diffuses through a material. In a substance
40 50 with high thermal diffusivity, heat moves
45 48 rapidly through because the substance conducts
Table 4.5. Temperature Reading for Small Steel Ball heat quickly relative to its volumetric heat
capacity or 'thermal bulk'. The substance
generally does not require much energy transfer
to or from its surroundings to reach thermal
equilibrium.

As determined, the thermal diffusivity of the

big steel ball and the small steel ball were 6.9 x
10-6 m2/s and 2.985 x 10-6 m2/s. Materials with
large values of α will respond quickly to
changes in their thermal environment, whereas
materials with small values of α will respond
slowly to changes in their thermal environment,
taking longer to reach a new equilibrium
condition.

The factors that affect the thermal diffusivity of

the steel ball are unaccomplished change,
relative time, relative position, and relative
resistance.

References

Gutierrez, C., De Guzman, M., 2005. Chemical

Engineering Laboratory Manual Part 2,
9-15.

Lide, David R. (2009). Handbook of Chemistry

and Physics (90 ed.). Boca Raton,
Florida: CRC Press.

Venkanna, B.K. (2010). Fundamentals of Heat

and Mass Transfer. New Delhi: PHI
Learning.

POINT SYSTEM:
ABSTRACT---------------------------------20
INTRODUCTION--------------------------10
MATERIALS AND METHODS---------10
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION----------30
CONCLUSION-----------------------------20
REFERENCES------------------------------10

TOTAL: 100