CL 351: Heat Transfer and Thermodynamics Lab

Name: Mayuresh More

Roll no.: 14110077

Date: 24-Oct-16

Experiment: Conductivity of metal rod

Abstract: The experiment is designed to determine the conductivity of a metal rod. The thermal
conductivity of a material is its ability to allow the propagation of thermal energy through it
given that there exists a temperature gradient within the material. The conductivity of a
material is the characteristic property of the material. In this experiment we assume that
temperature has negligible effects on conductivity. The experiment uses Fourier’s law to
determine the conductivity of the material.
Introduction: The transfer of thermal energy in a material can be quantified using the flux of
thermal energy flow. This flux of thermal energy, also known as heat flux, is the total thermal
energy flowing through a cross section of the material in unit time. The flux of this thermal
energy is related to the temperature gradient in the material. This is known as the “Fourier Law
of Heat Conduction”. According to the Fourier Law, the flux of thermal energy flow in a
particular direction is directly proportional to the negative gradient of the temperature in that
direction. It is stated as –
q” = -k.∇T
Where,
q” = The flux of thermal energy flow
k = Thermal conductivity of the material
∇T = Temperature gradient
The situation for the metal rod involves a system where a one-dimensional thermal energy flow
can be assumed. Also, we assume that the conductivity of the metal rod as also properties like
geometric length remain constant.
The temperature gradient can thus be represented as –
∇T = dT/dx
Thus we have,
q” = -k.dT/dx
The band heater heats one end of the rod while the other end is been cooled by water stream.
The resulting opposing effects of the band heater and the cooling water consequently leads to a
state of equilibrium. The equilibrium is established as a steady state after a long time. The heat
generated by the band heater is made to flow into one end of the metal rod and propagates
through it because of the temperature gradient that exists. This heat energy is then dumped
into the water stream which maintains the other end at a temperature nearly equal to the
water’s temperature.
The flux of thermal energy flow can be calculated using the fact that heat energy is
flowing only in one direction and all the heat delivered to the rod is eventually dumped into the
water stream at steady state. The heat given out to the water stream at steady state is
equivalent to the heat absorbed by the water stream per unit time to raise its temperature
through a temperature difference of T. This can be stated as –

q = ṁCpT
The heat flux can thus be calculated as –
q” = q/A
Where, ‘A’ is the area of cross section of the test piece
‘q’ is the rate of heat transfer through the test piece.
Thus we have –

q” = (ṁCpT/A) = -kdT/dx
The trend seen in the temperature profile inside a material of uniform conductivity and density,
in a one-dimensional heat flow without internal heat generation, at steady state, is a linear one.
Thus, calculating the temperature gradient should ideally give the same value at all points.
However, this is not a truly ideal experiment and thus we need to account for discrepancies and
thus we use several thermocouples to ensure a higher accuracy.
The temperature gradient is found as a ratio of differences and the value of heat flux
and thermal conductivity is associated with it.
Procedure: The setup consists of a metal rod which is heated using an electric current through a
band heater. The rod is simultaneously cooled using a cold water stream. The metal rod is
embedded with thermocouples that determine the temperature at various points along the
rod. A thermocouple is also set at each end of the cold water stream. The heater is switched on
and a voltage of 120 V is used to heat the rod. The cold fluid is also made to flow over the rod.
The system is allowed to attain a steady state and the temperatures at steady state at the
various points are noted. The cold water temperature at the inlet and outlet are also
determined. The same procedure is then repeated for a voltage of 140 V. A temperature vs.
distance graph is plotted.
Observations:
Distance between
Thermocouple temperature Constant voltage
thermocouples
96.7 0.035 121 V
93 0.07 121 V
85 0.105 121 V
77 0.14 121 V
69.4 0.175 121 V
61.3 0.21 121 V
52.6 0.245 121 V

Table 1.1: Temperature readings at 121 V

Temperature vs. Distance (121 V)

110

100
Temperature

90

80

70

60

50
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3

Distance y = -215.61x + 106.61

Fig 1.1: Temperature vs. Distance at 121 V

Distance between
Thermocouple temperature Constant voltage
thermocouples
113.5 0.035 141 V
108.6 0.07 141 V
98.4 0.105 141 V
88.2 0.14 141 V
78.2 0.175 141 V
67.7 0.21 141 V
56.7 0.245 141 V
Table 1.2: Temperature readings at 141 V
 Temperature vs. Distance (141 V)
120

110

Temperature 100

90

80

70

60

50
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3

Distance y = -277.96x + 126.24

Fig 1.2: Temperature vs. Distance at 121 V

Calculations:
For voltage = 121 V
Inlet temperature of water stream = 30.1 oC
Outlet temperature of water stream = 32.9 oC
Specific heat of water = 4.18 J/g-oC
Mass flow rate of water = 7.46 g/sec

Rate of disposing of heat in water at steady state = 87.34 W

Thus,
q = 87.34 W

 q” = q/A = 17,793.43 kW/m2

The linear approximation of the temperature vs. distance graph gives the trend-line –
y = -215.61x + 106.61
The slope of this curve gives us the gradient of temperature inside the metal rod. Thus gradient
is equal to –
dT/dx = -215.61 K/m
Thus,
k1 = -q”/(dT/dx) = 82.53 W/m2-K
For 141 V
Inlet temperature of water stream = 28.9 oC
Outlet temperature of water stream = 31.4 oC
Specific heat of water = 4.18 J/g-oC
Mass flow rate of water = 7.46 g/sec

Rate of disposing of heat in water at steady state = 77.99 W

Thus,
q = 87.34 W

 q” = q/A = 15886.99 kW/m2

The linear approximation of the temperature vs. distance graph gives the trend-line –
y = -277.96x + 126.24
The slope of this curve gives us the gradient of temperature inside the metal rod. Thus gradient
is equal to –
dT/dx = -277.96 K/m
Thus,
k2 = -q”/(dT/dx) = 73.68 W/m2-K
Thus, the average value of k is = (k1 + k2)/2 = 78.11 W/m2-K
Thus, the average conductivity of the rod is 78.11 W/m2-K
Conclusion:
The graph of temperature vs. distance is almost linear. The slope of the graph gives the value
of temperature gradient in the material. The temperatures of the inlet and outlet streams of
cold water are used to find the rate of heat energy dumped in the cooling water. This value is
then used in association with the temperature gradient value to find the thermal conductivity.
The thermal conductivity of the rod in the two cases is found to be slightly varying. The average
thermal conductivity of the rod is 78.11 W/m2-K.
Margin of error:
The difference in the values of thermal conductivity at two different voltages could be caused
due to various assumptions that were made. Also, the time required for the temperatures to
reach a steady state may’ve been inadequate. The conductivity and density of the metal rod is
assumed constant which might not be the case. Also, the thermal expansion in the rod is not
considered. There could be significant losses in the thermal energy through lateral surfaces
which are not accounted for in the equations. The heater may also have certain variations as
per the different voltages.