(1)

Calculation Of Thermal Conductivity

‫علي قاسم صاحب علي‬

The third

Refrigeration And Air Conditioning Engineering

Heat Transfer Laboratory

1.OBJECTIVE :
Measure the thermal conductivity of two materials using a heat
conduction apparatus.
2. THEORY :
Fouriers law of heat conduction states that the local heat flux is
proportional to the local temperature gradient .Fouriers law can be
written as :
𝑄̇ 𝑑𝑇
𝑞̇ = = −𝐾 ………………(1)
𝐴 𝑑𝑥
Where :
K: the constant of proportionality is the thermal conductivity ,
W/(m.℃) .
Steady one-dimensional conductio along a bar with constant cross
sectional area (A) is shown in Figure (1). If the temperatures (T1)
and (T2) are known at two locations spaced a distance L apart
(𝑇1−𝑇2)
𝑄̇ = 𝐾𝐴 ...........................(2)
𝐿

Figure 1
Q = V.I = watt
Q = m . Cp . ∆𝑇 = KW

PROCEDURE :
1. Place the aluminum and stainless steel specimens together in the
apparatus, Check that all four thermocouples are in place and cover the
apparatus with the insulating jacket
2. Turn on the cooling water supply and switch the heater to full
power.Set the flow rate of cooling water. Wait for the hot end (T4) to
reach 180 ° C, then reduce the power to about 1amps.
3. Allow the apparatus come to sleudy - state. Monitor the specimen and
cooling water temperatures to confirm that steady conditions have been
achieved.
4. Once at steady - state, time the collection of the cooling water in the
container provided. Record the specimen temperatures (T1 to T4), and
the coo ling water temperatures (Tin, Tout) every 5 minutes. At the fourth
reading stop collecting the cooling water. Scale the volume of water
collected.

Calculation :
𝑄 = 𝑚 ∗ 𝐶𝑝 ∆𝑇
𝑚 = 𝜌 ∗ 𝑉 = 1000 ∗ 2010 ∗ 10−6 = 2.01𝐾𝑔
𝑚 2.01
𝑚̇ = = 180 = 1.67 ∗ 10−6 𝑘𝑔/𝑠
𝑇

∆𝑇 = 20.9 − 20 = 0.9℃
𝐽
𝐶𝑝𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 4.185 .𝐾
𝐾𝑔
𝜋 𝜋
Area= 4 𝑑 2 = 4 0.0052 =1.964∗ 10−5 𝑚2
∆𝑥 =L-x = (0.06)-(0.005*2)=0.05m
𝑄𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 1300 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑡
1).For (AL):
𝑇𝑎𝑣𝑔 = 𝑇4 − 𝑇3 = 164.6 − 151.2 = 13.4℃
Q = -kA ∆𝑇/∆𝑋
13.4
1300= -k (1.964*10−5 ) = 246983.0 w/m.c
0.05

2).For (Copper) :
𝑇𝑎𝑣𝑔 = 𝑇2 − 𝑇1 =104.2-70.8=33.4℃
∆𝑇
𝑄 = −𝑘𝐴
∆𝑋
33.4
1300 = −𝑘(1.964 ∗ 10−5 ) =99089.0 w/m.c
0.05

Discussion :
What is the cause of a different value to the ( K )?
- 1. Not smooth .
- 2. Loss of heat .
- 3. Error in the experiment .
-
Is the coefficient (K) proportional to direct or inverse with (dT)(dx) ?
Engrave it?
- Forer, the scientist created a law by which he observed that the heat
transmitted through a certain medium is proportional to all the
difference in temperature and the area perpendicular to the direction of
the flow of heat (A), and inversely with the length of the distance
traveled by the heat .