LAB 2

LINEAR AND RADIAL HEAT CONDUCTION APPARATUS

1.0 OBJECTIVES
1.0 To investigate the thermal conductivity and thermal contact resistance of
brass in linear direction.
1.2 To investigate the thermal conductivity of brass in radial direction.

2.0 INTRODUCTION
The Linear and Radial Heat Conduction Apparatus is designed for students to study
the principles of conduction heat transfer. The student is able to determine the
relationship between the rate of heat transfer and temperature gradient, the cross-sectional
area and length of the conducting path and thermal conductivity of the material.

2.1 Unit Assembly

The equipment comprises two heat-conducting specimens, a multi-section

bar for the examination of linear conduction and a metal disc for radial
conduction. A control panel supplies electrical power to the heaters and
shows readings for all relevant measurements.

A small flow of cooling water provides a heat sink at the end of the
conducting path in each specimen.

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1
7
2
3 8

4
9
5

Figure 1: Unit Assembly for Heat Conduction Study Bench (Model: HE

105)

1. Control Panel 6. Thermocouple Connectors

2. Heater Power Indicator 7. Thermocouples
3. Heater Power Regulator 8. Radial Module
4. Temperature Indicator 9. Linear Module
5. Temperature Selector

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2.2 Specifications

a) Linear Module
Consists of the following sections:
i) Heater Section
Material : Brass
Diameter: 25 mm
ii) Cooler Section
Material : Brass
Diameter: 25 mm
iii) Interchangeable Test Section
- Insulated Brass Test Section with Temperature Sensors Array
(Diameter = 25mm, Length = 30 mm)
- Insulated Brass Test Section
(Diameter = 13mm, Length = 30 mm)
- Insulated Stainless Steel Test Section
(Diameter = 25mm, Length = 30 mm)

b) Radial Module
Material : Brass
Diameter : 110 mm
Thickness : 3 mm

c) Instrumentations
Linear module consists of a maximum of 9 type K thermocouple
temperature sensors at 10 mm interval. For radial module, 6 type K
thermocouple temperature sensors at 10 mm interval along the radius
are installed.
Each test modules are installed with a 100 Watt heater.

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2.3 Overall Dimensions

Test Modules Assembly

Height : 0.20 m
Width : 0.34 m
Depth : 0.30 m

Panel
Height : 0.20 m
Width : 0.30 m
Depth : 0.55 m

2.4 General Requirements

Electrical : 240 VAC, 1-phase, 50Hz

Water : Laboratory tap water, 20 LPM @ 20 m head
Drainage point

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2.5 Linear Module

Fourier's Law of Heat Conduction is most simply demonstrated with the

linear conduction module. This comprises a heat input section fabricated
from brass fitted with an electrical heater. Three temperature sensors are
installed at 10mm intervals along the working section, which has a
diameter of 25mm. A separate heat sink section also of brass is cooled at
one end by running water while its working section is also fitted with
thermistor temperature sensors at 10mm intervals.

The heat input section and the heat sink section may be clamped directly
together to form a continuous brass bar with temperature sensor at 10mm
intervals, alternatively any one of three intermediate sections can be fitted
between these two.

The first of these is a 30mm length of the same material (brass) and is the
same diameter as the heat input and heat sink sections and is again fitted
with temperature sensors at 10mm intervals. This section is clamped
between the two basic sections forms a relatively long uniform bar with
nine regularly spaced temperature sensors.

The second center section, which may be fitted, is again brass and 30mm
long but has a diameter of 13mm and is not fitted with temperature
sensors. This section allows a study of the effect of a reduction in the
cross-section of the heat-conducting path.

The third center section, which may be fitted, is of stainless steel and has
the same dimensions as the first brass section. No temperature sensors are
fitted. This section allows the study of the effect of a change in the
material while maintaining a constant cross-section.

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The mating ends of the sections are finely finished to promote good
thermal contact although heat- conducting compound may be smeared
over the surfaces to reduce thermal resistance. The heat-conducting
properties of insulators may be found by simply inserting a thin specimen
between the heated and cooled metal sections. An example of such an
insulator is a piece of paper.

Heat losses from the linear module are reduced to a minimum by a heat-
resistant casing enclosing an air space around the module. The
interchangeable center sections have their own attached casing pieces,
which fit with those of the heat input and heat sink sections.

The temperature sensors come with miniature thermocouple plugs. There

are to be connected to the panel for temperature measurement readings.
Therefore temperature gradients can be readily plotted from rapidly
acquired data on the computer.

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2.6 Radial Module

The radial conduction module comprises a brass disc 110mm diameter and
3mm thick heated in the center by an electrical heater and cooled by cold
water in a circumferential copper tube. Temperature sensors are fitted to
the center of the disc and at 10mm intervals along a radius there being six
in all. Again heat losses are minimized by preserving an air gap around the
disc with a heat-resistant casing. As in the linear module, the temperature
sensors are to be connected to the panel for temperature displays.

2.7 Control Panel

Either of the heat-conduction modules may be connected to a control

panel which allows the heater input power to be set and the temperature at
any of the sensors to be shown in C on the computer. Heater power is
controlled by a variable autotransformer and displayed on a digital
indicator. Power outputs from 0 to 100 watts may be obtained.

Note:
The insulation material of the test modules can withstand up to 100 C
only. Reduce the heater power immediately if the temperature nearest to
the heater is too high.

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 3.0 SUMMARY OF THEORY
3.1 Linear Conduction Heat Transfer

dx

dx

Q
dT

Figure 2: Linear temperature distribution

It is often necessary to evaluate the heat flow through a solid when the
dT
flow is not steady e.g. through the wall of a furnace that is being heated or
cooled. To calculate the heat flow under these conditions it is necessary to

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 find the temperature distribution through the solid and how the distribution
varies with. Using the equipment set-up already described, it is a simple
matter to monitor the temperature profile variation during either a heating
or cooling cycle thus facilitating the study of unsteady state conduction.

kH kS kC
THS

THI

TCI

TCS
XH XS XC

Figure 3: Linear temperature distribution of different materials

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Fouriers Law states that:

dT
Q kA (1)
dx

where,

Q = heat flow rate, [W]

W
k = thermal conductivity of the material,
Km
A = cross-sectional area of the conduction, [m2]
dT = changes of temperature between 2 points, [K]
dx = changes of displacement between 2 points, [m]

From continuity the heat flow rate (Q) is the same for each section of the
conductor. Also the thermal conductivity (k) is constant (assuming no
change with average temperature of the material).

Hence,
AH (dT ) AS (dT ) AC (dT )
(2)
(dx H ) (dx S ) (dx C )

i.e. the temperature gradient is inversely proportional to the cross-sectional

area.

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 AC

AH AC
Q AC

XH XS XC

Figure 4: Temperature distribution with various cross-sectional areas

3.2 Radial Conduction Heat Transfer (Cylindrical)

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 Ti Temperature
Distribution

To
Ri Ro

Ri Ro
Figure 5: Radial temperature distribution
When the inner and outer surfaces of a thick walled cylinder are each at a
uniform temperature, heat rows radially through the cylinder wall. From
continuity considerations the radial heat flow through successive layers in
the wall must be constant if the flow is steady but since the area of
successive layers increases with radius, the temperature gradient must
decrease with radius.
The amount of heat (Q), which is conducted across the cylinder wall per
unit time, is:
2Lk (Ti To )
Q
R (3)
ln o
Ri

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 where,
Q = heat flow rate, [W]
L = thickness of the material, [m]
W
k = thermal conductivity of the material,
Km
Ti = inner section temperature, [K]
To = outer section temperature, [K]
Ro = outer radius, [m]
Ri = inner radius, [m]

Linear Heat Conduction

A = D2/4, D = 0.025 m

Measuring Point Distance from Heater (mm)

1 10
2 20
3 30
4 40
5 50
6 60
7 70
8 80
9 90

Radial Heat Conduction

L = 0.003 m

Measuring Point Radius, (mm)

1 0
2 10
3 20
4 30

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 5 40
6 50
4.0 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES

4.1 Experiment 1: To investigate the thermal conductivity and thermal contact

resistance of brass in linear direction.
i. Set the power of the heater.
ii. Wait for 25 to 30 minutes until the temperature achieved at every measuring
point is stable.
iii. Record the respective final temperature values at every point.
iv. Record temperatures for power input from 0 to 20 watts

4.2 Experiment 2: To investigate the thermal conductivity of brass in radial

direction.
i. Set the power of the heater.
ii. Wait for 25 to 30 minutes until the temperature achieved at every measuring
point is stable.
iii. Record the respective final temperature values at every point.
iv. Record temperatures for power input from 0 to 20 watts

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6.0 RESULTS AND CALCULATIONS

6.1 Data table for experiment 1

Power, Q TT1 TT2 TT3 TT4 TT5 TT6 TT7 TT8 TT9
(W) (C) (C) (C) (C) (C) (C) (C) (C) (C)
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
Distance
0.010 0.020 0.030 0.040 0.050 0.060 0.070 0.080 0.090
from
heater end, x
(m)

6.2 Data table for experiment 2

Heater Power, Q TT1 TT2 TT3 TT4 TT5 TT6

(Watts) (C) (C) (C) (C) (C) (C)
5
10
15
20
Distance from 0.010 0.020 0.030 0.035 0.065 0.070
heater end, x (m)

6.3 Determine the thermal conductivity of both experiments.

6.4 Determine the thermal contact resistance for experiment 1.
6.5 Show the temperature profile (graph) of both experiments.

7.0 CONCLUSIONS

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7.1 Discuss /compare the thermal conductivity values obtained for linear and radial
heat conduction.

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