Experiment No.

3
EMISSIVITY

1. Objective:
To determine the emissivity of different surfaces (polished, anodized and matt black)
2. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):
The students shall be able to:
2.1 understand the Stefan-Boltzman law.
2.2 observe the influence of different materials in the irradiation.
2.3 understand the Kirchoff‟s law.
3. Discussion:

Heat transfer through radiation occurs in the form of electromagnetic waves mainly in the infrared region. Above
absolute zero temperature, all objects emit thermal radiation in all directions over a wide range of wavelength.
Emissivity of an object's surface plays a huge role in determining the amount of thermal radiation emitted. The
emissivity of a surface is not only dependent on the material but also on the nature of its surface. In this experiment,
the radiation of heat transfer was observed through the use of radiometer together with black plate and test plates.
The main objective of this experiment is to study and determine the emissivity of three different test plates such as
polished plate, silver anodized plate, and matte black plate. An ideal radiator, otherwise known as black plate, is a
perfect emitter and absorber of radiation. It is a body that emits and absorbs the maximum possible radiation at any
given wavelength and at any temperature. Since the type of surface affects the amount of radiation, the polished
plate and silver anodized plate are both utilized in order to determine which type of surface reflects or absorbs more
radiation. This is done by varying the power input of the heat source. Once the steady state temperature is achieved,
it is then recorded together with the radiometer reading.

4. Resources:
Equipment/Appratus: Thermal Radiation Unit

5. Procedure:

During the experiment, we have set-up and installed the polish plate in the carrier. The power to the heat source
were varied and we recorded the temperature of the metal plate (TS) and radiometer (R) at various settings. It was
recommended that we must place the reflective disc in the radiometer aperture while waiting for the black plate
temperature to stabilize so that in between each increase of the heater power control, occurrence of heating effects
and zero drift were prevented. We then repeated the procedures for silver anodized plate and matt black plate. The
initial distance we used for measuring from the radiometer to the black plates (X) and from the heat source to the
nearest metal plate was 100 mm and 50 mm, respectively.

6. Data and Results:

Subject: Unit Operations 1 Experiment No: 3

Group No: 2 Section: 51102
Group Members: Almarez, Alonde, Date Performed: September 25, 2018
Coritana, Sison, Tan Date Submitted: October 1, 2018
Instructor: Engr. Robert Delfin
Polished Plate:

Temperature Temperature Radiometer Qb = 3.519 * R E = Qb / [σ [(Ts 4 - TA4 )]

Reading (Ts) Reading (TA) Reading (R)
K K W/m2 W/m2 W/m2
307 293 23 80.937 .944
303 293 20 70.38 1.17
301 293 16 50.544 1.06

Silver Anodized Plate:

Temperature Temperature Radiometer Qb = 3.519 * R E = Qb / [σ [(Ts 4 - TA4 )]

Reading (Ts) Reading (TA) Reading (R)
K K W/m2 W/m2 W/m2
343 293 143 503.217 1.37
337 293 133 468.027 1.49
311 293 35 123.165 1.09

Matte Black Plate:

Temperature Temperature Radiometer Qb = 3.519 * R E = Qb / [σ [(Ts 4 - TA4 )]

Reading (Ts) Reading (TA) Reading (R)
K K W/m2 W/m2 W/m2
340 293 157 552.483 1.625
321 293 79 278.001 1.51
307 293 32 112.608 1.31
7. Calculations:
Polished Plate:

Qb = 3.519 * R
Qb = 3.519 * 23 = 80.937 W/m2
Qb = 3.519 * 20 = 70.38 W/m2
Qb = 3.519 * 16 = 50.544 W/m2

E = Qb / [σ [(Ts 4 - TA4 )]
=
80.937 W/m2(5.67×10−8)(3074−298.154)= 1.46
W/m2
E=
70.38 W/m2(5.67×10−8)(3034−298.154)= 2.36
W/m2
E=
50.544 W/m2(5.67×10−8)(3014−298.154)= 2.91
W/m2

Silver Anodized Plate:

Qb = 3.519 * R
Qb = 3.519 * 143 = 503.217 W/m2
Qb = 3.519 * 133 = 468.027 W/m2
Qb = 3.519 * 35 = 123.165 W/m2

E = Qb / [σ [(Ts 4 - TA4 )]
=
503.217 W/m2(5.67×10−8)(3434−298.154)= 1.49
W/m2
E=
468.027 W/m2(5.67×10−8)(3374−298.154)= 1.65
 W/m2
E=
123.165 W/m2(5.67×10−8)(3114−298.154)= 1.50
W/m2
Matte Black Plate:

Qb = 3.519 * R
Qb = 3.519 * 157 = 552.483 W/m2
Qb = 3.519 * 79 = 278.001 W/m2
Qb = 3.519 * 32 = 112.608 W/m2

E = Qb / [σ [(Ts 4 - TA4 )]
=
552.483 W/m2(5.67×10−8)(3404−298.154)= 1.78
W/m2
E=
278.001 W/m2(5.67×10−8)(3214−298.154)= 1.81
W/m2
E = 112.608 W/m2(5.67×10−8)(3074−298.154)= 2.01
W/m2

8. Conclusion:

Emissivity is the effectiveness of a material in emitting energy as thermal radiation which has a value ranging from
0 to 1. From our data above, it can be concluded that errors were made since none of our calculated values for
emissivity satisfied this condition. The average emissivities for polished, silver anodized, and matte black plate were
2.24, 1.55, and 1.85, respectively. Theoretically matte black plate must possess the highest emissivity among the
three however, it can be clearly observed that polished plate has greater emissivity than matte black plate. Thus,
invalidating more the data gathered. Sources of error may have resulted from: human error since the stabilization
time was shortened; and instrumental error because the apparatus used was not calibrated properly, and the plates
used were thin. Therefore, the state of the apparatus to be used must be considered so as to get a precise and
accurate data.
9. Pictures:

10. Questions / Problems:

1. Two large parallel plates with gray surfaces are placed 75 mm apart. One has emissivity of 0.8 and at T=350
K; and the other has emissivity of 0.4 and at T=300 K. Calculate the net heat transfer by radiation in W/m 2.
2. A bare horizontal pipe of 50 mm outside diameter is placed in a room where the air temperature is 290 K.
Saturated steam at 415 K flows through the pipe. Using emissivity of 0.9
(a) Estimate the heat transfer coefficient due to convection from the pipe to the room.
(b) What is the total heat loss per meter length of pipe from the steam to the room?
3. A space satellite in the shape of a sphere is travelling in outer space, where its surface temperature is held
at 283.2 K. The sphere sees only outer space, which can be considered as a black body with a temperature
of 0 K. The polished surface of the sphere has an emissivity of 0.1. Calculate the heat loss per m 2 by
radiation?
11. Answers:

1.

A1F12 = A2F21
F12=F22 = 0
1
F= 1 1 𝐴1 1 = ε1
( )+ ( −1)+ ( −1)
𝐹12 ε1 𝐴2 ε1
q12/A = F12σ (T14- T24)
1
f12 = 1 1 (5.67x10-8) (3504-3004)
( )+ ( −1)
0.4 0.8
q12/A = 142.39 W/m2

2.
3.
T = Ts = 283.2 K

T2 = 0 K
ε1 = 0.10
q12 = f12 A1 σ (T14- T24)
1
f12 = 1 1 𝐴1 1
( )+ ( −1)+ ( −1)
𝐹12 ε1 𝐴2 ε1
F12=F21
A1 / A2 = 0
1
f12 = 1 1 𝐴1 1 = ε1
( )+ ( −1)+ ( −1)
𝐹12 ε1 𝐴2 ε1
q12/A = ε1 σ (T14- T24)
= (0.10) (5.676x10-8) [(283.2)4-(0)4]
q12/A = 36.5 W/m2
12. Further Readings:

Cao, E. (2010). Heat transfer in process engineering. Boston: McGraw-Hill Professional.

Cengel,Y.A. and Ghajar, A.J. (2011). Heat and mass transfer: fundamentals and applications (4th ed.). New York:
McGraw-Hill.
Hellemans, M. (2009). The safety relief valve handbook: design and use of process safety valves to ASME.
Massachusetts: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Kakac,S., Liu, H., and Pramuanjaroenkij, A. (2012). Heat exchangers: selection, rating and thermal design. Boca
Raton, Florida: CRC Press.
Kothandaraman, C.P. and Rudramoorthy, R.(2011). Fluid mechanics and machinery (3rd ed.). United Kingdom:
New Academic Science.
Strathmann, H. (2011). Introduction to membrane science and technology. Germany: Wiley-VCH Verlag & Co.

13. Assessment (Rubric for Laboratory Performance):