Linear Heat Conduction

Objectives:

This experiment aims to determine the thermal conductivity of different materials and to learn
about linear conduction heat transfer.

Theory:

When a temperature gradient exists in a body, an energy transfer from high temperature region to
low temperature region takes place. It is said that the energy is transferred by conduction and the
heat transfer rate per unit area is proportional to the temperature gradient.

(1)

Where:

The heat transfer rate [W].

: The temperature gradient in the direction of heat flow.

Equation (1) can be represented mathematically in the form:

(2)

Where is the thermal conductivity of the material. [W/m.k].

Apparatus:

The apparatus is a compact bench-mounting frame that connects to a suitable electrical supply
and a cold water supply and drain. The unit shows how heat conducts along a solid brass bar of
uniform cross section. It has an electrical heater at one end to generate heat energy (the ‘heat
source’) and a small chamber at the other end (the ‘heat sink’). The cold water supply from the
base unit flows through the heat sink to remove the heat energy, and there is a hand-operated
valve in the water circuit that allows the user to control its flow.

Seven thermocouples equally-spaced along the bar measure the temperature gradient between the
heat source and heat sink. The bar includes an interchangeable middle section to allow the user
to fit different metals and study how they affect the temperature gradient along the bar.

There are two displays that show the heater power and the temperatures of the thermocouples.

1
Insulation surrounds the bar to reduce heat loss by convection and radiation in order to give more
accurate results.

Figure 1: The Apparatus.

Figure 2: How the Apparatus works.

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Procedure:

1. Switch on the base unit and turn the heater control to minimum and switch on the heater.
2. Fit the brass middle section using the heat transfer paste (the paste helps to make good
thermal connection).
3. Use an accurate thermometer to record the local ambient air temperature for reference.
4. Open the water inlet valve to start the water flowing, then switch on the heater and set to
20 Watts power.
5. Wait for the temperatures to stabilize and then record T1 to T7 in Table (1). The results
will be more accurate if you wait for the temperature to stabilize; this is when the
experiment reaches thermal equilibrium and can take at least 30 minutes.
6. Repeat for heater powers greater than 20 W.
7. Repeat steps from 1 to 6 but use different materials in the middle section, Table (2) &
(3).

Table 1: Data for the Brass Middle Section.

Middle Section Material: Brass.

Ambient Temperature: °C
Power (W) T1 (°C) T2 (°C) T3 (°C) T4 (°C) T5 (°C) T6 (°C) T7 (°C)

20

30
Distance 0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.10 0.12
from T1
(m)

Table 2: Data for the Copper Middle Section.

Middle Section Material: Copper.

Ambient Temperature: °C
Power (W) T1 (°C) T2 (°C) T3 (°C) T4 (°C) T5 (°C) T6 (°C) T7 (°C)

20

30
Distance 0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.10 0.12
from T1
(m)

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Calculations:

For the solid bar of circular cross section, the equation includes the area ( ) of the cross section
and the length between the two measured temperatures:

(3)
Therefore, to calculate the thermal conductivity the equation is arranged to give:

(4)

Results:

From the results for each power setting, plot charts of temperature against the distance along the
bar, with respect to the first thermocouple (T1). You should be able to draw a good best-fit line
through your results. If the middle temperature value (T4) is not near the line, you have not
correctly fitted the middle section. Use the furthest readings T1 and T7, the given distance
between them, the heater power and the bar area with equation (4) to calculate the thermal
conductivity of the metal bar (Brass), and fill in Table (4) for different heater powers. Compare it
with the typical value given in Table (5).

For the other materials of the middle section (Copper), again plot your results of temperature
against position. Add a best-fit line through all the results to find the overall thermal gradient.
Find the total thermal resistance for the whole bar using the following equation:

(5)

Then use the thermal resistances in series method (equation (6)) to find and then value for
the middle section. For the brass use the values you found before.

∑ (6)

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Table 3: Thermal Conductivity for the three different materials at different heater powers.

Material Brass Copper

Thermal conductivity Thermal conductivity
Power (W) [W/m.K] [W/m.K]

20

30

Useful data:

Bar material: Brass (type CZ121)

Diameter: 30 mm
Thickness of the middle section: 20 mm thick
Thermocouple positions: 20 mm equally-spaced centers

Thermal Conductivity ( ) of Common Materials:

Table 4: Thermal Conductivity of Common Materials.

Thermal Conductivity
Material (at 24.85 °C)
[W/m.K]
Metals Aluminum (pure) 205 to 237
Aluminum (grade 6082) 170
Brass (type CZ121) 123
Brass (63% copper) 125
Brass (70% copper) 109 to 121
Copper (pure) 353 to 386
Copper (type C101) 388
Mild steel 50
Stainless Steel 16
Gases Air 0.026
Carbon Dioxide 0.0146
Hydrogen 0.172
Others Asbestos 0.28
Castor Oil 0.18
Glass 0.8
Water 0.6
Wood (softwood to
0.07 to 0.2
hardwood)