EXPERIMENT No:-

(Thermal Conductivity of a Metal Rod)

1. AIM: - To determine the thermal conductivity of a metallic rod.

2. APPARATUS: - Measuring flask, stop watch, thermocouples with temperature indicator

3. THEORY:-
Thermal conductivity is an important thermo physical property of conducting materials, by the virtue of which
the material conducts the heat energy through it. From Fourier’s law of heat conduction, thermal conductivity is
defined as
Qdx
K 
AdT
where Q= heat transfer rate,W
q= heat flux,W/𝑚2
A= area normal to heat transfer,𝑚2
𝑑𝑇
𝑑𝑥
= temperature gradient in the direction of heat flow.

The thermal conductivity for a given material depends on its state, and it varies with 0the direction, structure,
humidity, pressure, and temperature change.
The bar is analyzed at two sections along its length .According to the first law of thermodynamics, at any
section the rate of incoming energy must be equal to the rate of outgoing energy.
Rate of heat gain by circulating water = Rate of heat conduction at the free end of the rod The rate of heat
energy that reaches the circulating water is-
𝑄 𝑚 𝐶 𝑇 𝑇
𝑤= 𝑤 𝑝𝑤( 12- 11).............................................(1)

𝑐𝑝𝑤 = specific heat of water in J/kg.K,

𝑇
12- 𝑇
11=temperature difference of circulating water, ℃

The rate of heat conduction through section B-B

2𝜋𝐿1 𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑠 (𝑇8 −𝑇(9) )
𝑄𝐵𝐵 =𝑄𝑊 + …...........(2)
𝑟𝑜
In ( 𝑟𝑖 )

Where 𝐿1 =spacing between section B-B and the cooling end

𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑠 = conductivity of the insulating material packed around the test section

𝑟0 = radius at which thermocouple 10is embedded

𝑟𝑖 =radius at which thermocouple 9 is attached

𝑇9 = inner temperature of insulation at section B–B

𝑇8 = inner temperature of insulation at section B–B

Further, the conduction rate at section A–A is expressed as-

𝑑𝑇
𝑄𝐵𝐵 =- 𝐾𝐵 𝐴 (𝑑𝑥 ) 𝐵𝐵

Where 𝐾𝐵 =Thermal conductivity of the bar at section B-B,

A= cross-sectional area of the bar, 𝑚2
𝑑𝑇
𝑑𝑥
{ }𝐵𝐵 = temperature gradient at section B–B

From Eqs. (2) and (3), we get

2𝜋𝐿1 (𝑇8 −𝑇9 )

𝑄𝑤 + 𝑟𝑜
𝐼𝑛( )
𝐾𝐵𝐵 = 𝑑𝑇
𝑟𝑖
….............................(4)
𝐴{ }
𝑑𝑥 𝐵𝐵
Similarly at section A–A we have
2𝜋𝐿2 𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑠 (𝑇6 −𝑇7 )
𝑄𝐴𝐴 =𝑄𝐵𝐵 + 𝑟 ...................................(5)
𝐼𝑛( 𝑜 )
𝑟𝑖

Where L2= length of bar between section A-A and B-B

The thermal conductivity of the bar material at section A–A in terms of the heat conduction rate is expressed as-

2𝜋𝐿2𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑠 (𝑇7 −𝑇8 )

𝐾𝐴𝐴 =𝑄𝐵𝐵 + 𝑟 …................................................(6)
𝐼𝑛( 𝑜 )
𝑟𝑖

𝑑𝑇 …................................................(6)
𝐴{ }
𝑑𝑥

SPECIFICATIONS:-
1. Total length of the bar =200mm
2. Test length of the bar L = 160mm
3. Diameter of the bar d =25mm
4. Temperature of the bar = 25
5. Thermocouple type = Chromel Alumel
6. Measuring flask capacity = 0 to 2000ml
7. Spacing between thermocouples =mm
8. Specific heat of the water = 4187 J/kg•K
9. Thermal conductivity of insulating material = 0.15 W/m•K
10. Insulation along the test length of rod Glass wool.

4. PROCEDURE:-
1. Start the water supply through the water jacket and regulate its uniform flow rate.
2. Turn on the heater switch and adjust the heater input through the dimmer-stat.
3. Wait until the steady-state condition is reached.
4. Note the reading of all thermocouples through the selector switch, voltmeter, and ammeter.
5. Plot the temperature against the location of the thermocouples along the test section of the Bar.
 5. OBSERVATION TABLE:-

SR.NO:- MASS FLOW Heater input- Thermocouple reading,℃

(kg/s):-
v I 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

6. CALCULATION:-

7. RESULT:-
Take the average of the two values of thermal conductivity and use it as the outcome of the experiment. The
average thermal conductivity of the brass =….......... W/m·K

8. CONCLUSIONS:-
1. Compare the value of thermal conductivity obtained by experimentation with a standard value. State the
reason for any deviation.
2. From the experiment, it is concluded that the temperature goes on decreasing along the length of the rod.
3. The thermal conductivity of brass decreases with the increase in temperature. This is due to an obstruction in
the flow of free electrons caused by the increase in the amplitude of the lattice vibration.

9. PRECAUTIONS:-
1. Wait until perfect steady state is reached.
2. Input supply must be constant.
3. Handle the change-over switch of temperature gently.