Aim

1. Understand the process of steady-state heat conduction.

2. Experimentally test the thermal conductivity of different metals.

Introduction
Heat conduction:-
It’s transfer of heat (internal energy) by microscopic collisions of
particles and movement of electrons within an organ. The
microscopically colliding particles, that include molecules, atoms and
electrons, transfer disorganized microscopic kinetic and potential
energy, jointly known as internal energy. Conduction takes place in all
phases of matter including solids, liquids, gases and waves. The rate at
which energy is conducted as heat between two bodies is a function of
the temperature difference (temperature gradient) between the two
bodies and the properties of the conductive medium through which the
heat is transferred.
Wl 900
Heat conduction is the transport of heat between the individual molecules in solid, liquid and
gaseous media under the influence of a temperature difference. Steady heat conduction is the
term used when heat transport is maintained permanently and uniformly by adding heat. In
transient heat conduction, the temperature distribution in the body is dependent on location
and time.
Thermal conductivity λ is a temperature-dependent property of a material that indicates how
well the heat propagates from a point in the material.
WL 900 can be used to study both steady and transient heat conduction. The trainer consists of
a heat source and a heat sink, between which cylindrical samples made of different metals are
inserted. Each sample is fitted with 12 temperature measurement points. The temperature
measurement points are designed to has as little influence on the temperature as possible and
the core temperature of the sample is measured.
The heat source consists of an electrically heated hot water circuit. An electronic controller
ensures the heating water is kept at a constant temperature. The heat sink is realised by means
of a water cooling system. An elevated tank ensures a constant cooling water flow rate.
A temperature jump can be generated by appropriate regulation of the cooling water flow. A PC
can be used to display the transient temperature distribution in the sample over time and
place.
The temperatures of the sample, heating and cooling water, as well as the electrical heating
power and the cooling water flow rate are displayed digitally on the switch cabinet and can be
transmitted simultaneously via USB directly to a PC where they can be analysed using the
software included. The thermal conductivity λ can be calculated from the measured data.

Discussion
Q1 Plot the temperature profile along the length of specimen for (Cu ,
Al , Ms)
Q2
The spacemen is heated indirectly via water bath, why?
Because the heat applied to spacemen have to distribute on all
spacemen equally and wont concentrated on area on it.

Q3
What is the principle methods of thermal conductivity measurement?

The steady state technique, performs a measurement when

material that is analyzed is in complete equilibrium. This
makes the process of signals analysis very easy (steady state
implies constant signals). The disadvantage generally is that it
takes along time to reach the required equilibrium.
The non-steady state technique performs a measurement during
the process of heating up. The advantage is that measurement
can be made relatively quickly.

Q4
Why we use elevated tank ?
To resupply the water in device in case there is any losses in water .

Q5
Discuss source of error
Impurity of metal , lack of water , impurity of water ,defects in the
device , discontinuous heat flux on the metal, observer error.
 Page 1/2
12/2012

WL 352 Free and Forced Convection Unit

This experimental unit is designed for free and forced convection. Air is fed through a duct and
heated at heater elements with different shaped surfaces. Three interchangeable heater elements
are provided. A fan can be switched on for experiments on forced convection. The temperature
and air velocity are measured using sensors.
The measured values can be read on digital displays. At the same time, the measured values
can also be transmitted directly to a PC via USB.
The data acquisition software is included.
- free and forced convection
- heat transfer at different surfaces: flat plate, pipe bundle, fins
- temperature distribution in the heat exchanger - determination of the Reynolds and Nusselt numbers
- calculation of
heat transfer coefficient * efficiency
heat transfer rate
1 temperature sensor, 2 air duct, 3 thermocouple type K, 4 display and control unit, 5 "flat plate" heating element, 6 "finned" heating
element, 7 flow sensor, 8 "pipe bundle" heating element, 9

*
 Page 2/2
12/2012

WL 352 Free and Forced Convection Unit

Specification
[1] demonstration of convective heat transfer
[2] air duct with axial fan
[3] recording of measured data using electronic
sensors
[4] LabVIEW software for data acquisition via USB
under Windows XP or Windows Vista

Technical Data
Air duct
- flow cross-section: 120x120mm²
- length: 1m
- max. air velocity: 3,0m/s
- max. flow rate: 160m3/h
Heating elements
- temperature limiting using bimetallic strip at 120°C
- max. heating capacity: 170W

G.U.N.T Gerätebau GmbH, Hanskampring 15-17, D-22885 Barsbüttel, Phone +49 (40) 67 08 54-0, Fax +49 (40) 67 08 54-42, E-mail sales@gunt.de, Web http://www.gunt.de We
reserve the right to modify our products without any notifications.

Objective

1. Calculate convection characteristic values.

2. To recognize how the heater surface affects heat transfer.
3. To recognize the relationship between surface temperature to
heat transfer.
Introduction
Natural convection is a mechanism, or type of heat transport, in which
the fluid motion is not generated by any external source (like a pump,
fan, suction device, etc.) but only by density differences in the fluid
occurring due to temperature gradients. In natural convection, fluid
surrounding a heat source receives heat and by thermal expansion
becomes less dense and rises. The surrounding, cooler fluid then moves
to replace it. This cooler fluid is then heated and the process continues,
forming a convection current; this process transfers heat energy from
the bottom of the convection cell to top. The driving force for natural
convection is buoyancy, a result of differences in fluid density. Because
of this, the presence of a proper acceleration such as arises from
resistance to gravity, or an equivalent force (arising from acceleration,
centrifugal force or Coriolis effect), is essential for natural convection.
For example, natural convection essentially does not operate in free-fall
(inertial) environments, such as that of the orbiting International Space
Station, where other heat transfer mechanisms are required to prevent
electronic components from overheating.

Discussion
Q1 what technical device also transfer heat to air ?
Q2 How solid differs to gasses, liquids in heat transfer?
Time being, I will assume liquid to be stagnant. Because in case of liquid, both
conduction and convection takes place depending upon whether it is moving or
stagnant. If liquid is in stagnant or in not moving condition, conduction heat
transfer takes place. And in solid, conduction takes place always. Taking length of
heat transfer, area and temperature difference as same between solid and liquid,
the only parameter that matters in conduction heat transfer is THERMAL
CONDUCTIVITY (k). The thermal conductivity (k) is the ability of the material to
conduct heat. It is a material property. So if I have to compare heat transfer
between solid and liquid, i should know thermal conductivity at first, then only i
can say. So which ever solid or liquid is having higher value of k, heat transfer will
be greater for the one having higher k .Most of the solids have higher thermal
conductivity than liquids, so solids have higher heat transfer rate than that of
liquid in most of the case. Liquids have thermal conductivity of below 1 W/mK
except liquid mercury while most of the solids have higher k value than unity. So
you can say heat transfer rate is more in solids than that of liquid most of the time

Q3 What property change in the air is the reason for flowing through the air duct?
Changing of pressure inside the duct also the movement of flow would be harder
due to the friction between flow and the duct walls and that increase turbulence
Just like moving in crowded space.

Q4 Explain the improvement of heat transfer when comparing the flat plate to the
fin heater and pipe bundle ?
In pipes bundle the flow will face area of many pipes the would increase the
amount of heat transfer and the less sharps and rounded fillet wont causes
problem by heat concertation like flat plate
Q5 The electric power applied is fully converted into heat when calculating
efficiency only one of three heat transfer mechanism is considered what does
mean the efficiency ?
Q5 discuss source of error
Thermos couples problems , small amount of forced flow occurs , power issues
observer error
 AL- Nahrain University
College of Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Department

Heat Transfer Lab.

Name: Karar Hussein Khazaal

Stage: Third

Experiment’s Name: Steady – State Thermal

Conduction