CHE-391 Unit Operations Lab

Experiment No # 10

Title: Thermal Conductivity of Insulating Slab

Instructors:
Dr. P.K. Bhattacharya
Dr. Shiva Kumar

Submitted By:
Rahul Gupta (Y8386)
Utsav Kumar (Y8546)
Vikas Mishra (Y8564)

Date of Experiment: 02.04.2011

Date of Submission: 06.04.2011
 CONTENT

INTRODUCTION 1

OBJECTIVE 1

AIM 1

THEORY 1

EQUIPMENT AND APPARATUS 2

UTILITIES REQUIRED 2

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE 2

OBSERVATIONS 3

SAMPLE CALCULATIONS 4

ERROR ANALYSIS 4

CONCLUSION 4

SOURCES OF ERROR 4

NOMENCLATURE 5

PRECAUTIONS 5

REFRENCES 5
INTRODUCTION:

The thermal conductivity of a material is a property that defines how effectively heat will
be transmitted by the material. A high thermal conductivity generally implies lots of free
electrons, and thus good thermal conductors are generally good electrical conductors as
well. These free electrons form an electron cloud, and the movement of this cloud aids in
heat transfer. Metals are, in general, good conductors of heat. Insulating materials include
wool, glass, asbestos-magnesia powder, foam etc.The insulators and are extensively used in
a furnaces and lagging to reduce the heat losses to the surroundings. Thermal conductivity
of these insulators has to be determined to estimate the required insulation thickness and
heat loss to surroundings.

OBJECTIVE:

1. To study heat transfer through insulating slab.

2. To study the variation of thermal conductivity of the material with temperature.

AIM:

1. To find the thermal conductivity of insulating slab.

THEORY:

From Fourier Law of Heat Conduction in spherical co-ordinates, at steady state:

Q = -kA ΔT/Δx
Or we can write as
k = Q*L/2A (Th-Tc)
Where
Th = (T1+T2)/2
Tc = (T5+ T6)/2
Q = heat conducted per unit time = V*I (V = voltage in volts and I = current in amperes)
k = Thermal Conductivity
Ti = Temperature of different faces in Kelvin
A = cross-sectional area of the path normal to the direction of heat flow.
Th = Average Temperature of Hot side.
Tc = Average Temperature of Cold Side.
F = cooling water flow rate.
EQUIPMENT AND APPARATUS:

The apparatus consists of main central heater and ring guard heater, sandwiched between
the specimens. Cooling plates are provided on the either side of the specimen. Two
identical specimens are clamped between heater ensures unidirectional heat flow through
specimen. The whole assembly is kept in chamber and insulated by ceramic wool insulation
around the set-up.

UTILITIES REQUIRED:

1. Electricity Supply: Single Phase, 220 V AC, 50 Hz, 5-15 Amp socket with earth
connection.
2. Water Supply: Continuous @ 1.5 L/min. at 1 bar
3. Drain
4. Bench area required: 1m x 1m

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:

STARTING PROCEDURE:
 Continuous water supply was connected to the inlet of water chamber and water
outlet of chamber was connected to drain.
 It was ensured that Mains ON/OFF switch given on the panel were at OFF position &
Dimmer stat was at zero position.
 Electric supply was connected to the set up.
 Mains ON/OFF switch was switched on.
 The central heater input was set by the dimmer stat, voltmeter in the range 40 to
100 V.
 Guarded heater input was set by dimmer state, voltmeter, 5 V above than central
heater.
 After 1.5 hrs. the readings of voltmeter, ampere meter and temperature sensors
were noted down in the observation table after every 10 minutes interval till
observing changed in consecutive readings of temperatures (more than + 0.20C)

CLOSING PROCEDURE:
 After experiment was over the dimmer stat was set to zero position.
 The Mains ON/OFF switch was switched OFF
 Electric supply to the set up was switched OFF
 Water flow was stopped by closing the valve provided.
SPECIFICATIONS:

x = 0.012 m, d = 0.18 m
A = πd2/4 =0.0254 m2
F = 2.0 L/min

OBSERVATIONS:

Central Heater: Vc =50 V, Ic=0.33 A

Guarded Heater: Vg=55 V, Ig=0.42 A

Sr. Central heater Guarded Heater Cooling Plate

No.
T1(0C) T2(0C) T3(0C) T4(0C) T5(0C) T6(0C)
1 109.5 109.8 87.8 90.0 42.1 32.7
2 110.7 111.0 88.7 90.8 42.4 32.8
3 111.4 111.6 89.5 91.5 42.7 32.8
4 112.6 112.8 90.3 92.4 42.5 33.0
5 112.9 113.1 90.7 92.7 42.5 32.9
6 113.2 113.3 91.0 93.0 42.8 33.1
7 113.3 113.5 91.2 93.1 43.0 33.1
8 113.7 114.0 91.5 93.5 43.3 33.1
9 114.2 114.5 91.9 93.8 42.8 33.3
10 114.6 114.8 92.2 94.2 43.2 33.3
11 114.8 114.9 92.4 94.3 43.0 33.5

Sr. No. Th (0C) Tc (0C) Qc (W) (Th –Tc) (0C) k (W/m/0C)

1 109.65 37.4 16.5 72.25 0.053946544
2 110.85 37.6 16.5 73.25 0.053210072
3 111.5 37.75 16.5 73.75 0.052849326
4 112.7 37.75 16.5 74.95 0.052003173
5 113 37.7 16.5 75.3 0.051761458
6 113.25 37.95 16.5 75.3 0.051761458
7 113.4 38.05 16.5 75.35 0.051727111
8 113.85 38.2 16.5 75.65 0.05152198
9 114.35 38.05 16.5 76.3 0.051083064
10 114.7 38.25 16.5 76.45 0.050982836
11 114.85 38.25 16.5 76.6 0.050883
Average Value of k = 0.05197 W/m/0C

k vs 1/(Th-Tc)
0.0545
0.054 y = 3.8976x - 3E-14
0.0535
k (W/m0C)

0.053
0.0525
0.052
0.0515
0.051
0.0505
0.013 0.0132 0.0134 0.0136 0.0138 0.014
1/(Th-Tc) (0C-1)

SAMPLE CALCULATIONS:

Cross-sectional area of specimen

A = π * d2 / 4
For d = 0.18 m
A = 0.0254 m2

Taking observation no. 5

Heat flow rate
Q = Vc * Ic
Q = 16.5 W

T1 = 112.90C and T2 = 113.1 0C,

So Th = (T1+T2)/2 = 113 0C

T5 = 42.5 0C and T6 =32.9 0C,

So Tc = (T5+T6)/2 = 37.70C

Putting in equation

k = Q*L/2A*(Th-Tc)
Hence,
k = 0.0518 W/m-K
ERROR ANALYSIS:

Error in calculating Q:
∆Q/Q = ∆V/V + ∆I/Iavg
= 1/50 + 0.01/0.33
= 0.0503 = 5.03 %

Error in measuring K:
∆K/K = ∆Q/Q + (∆Th + ∆Tc) / (Th -Tc)avg
= 0.0503 + 0.2/75.01
= 0.0530 = 5.3 %

CONCLUSION:

1. As is expected, the value of k is very low for the insulating material. If we just take
the average values of the conductivity of wooden slab, we get
k= 0.05197 W/m/0C.
2. The value of the thermal conductivity coefficient for the given wooden insulating
material decreases with the increase in temperature.

SOURCES OF ERROR:

1. The thermocouples showed fluctuating readings. As a result, there are likely to be

errors in the noted value of temperature.
2. The heating coil may not be centrally placed, so the temperature of the inner side of
the slab may not be uniform.
3. One very important accident that happened while performing experiment was the
leakage in continuous water supply. Due to which the readings at the end were
severely affected. This shows that disturbances can greatly affect the conditions at
steady state.
4. The tragic minor incident that led to leakage in cooling water supply was crucial to
affect the values of ‘k’, which were then calculated.
NOMENCLATURE:

A = Area of the specimen

D = Diameter of the specimen
Ic = Central heater current, amp
Ig = Guarded heater current, amp
K = Thermal conductivity of slab, W/m0C
Q = Heat flow rate in the specimen, W
Th = Hot plate temperature, 0C
Tc = Cold plate temperature, 0C
T1,T2 = Temperature of upper heater slab, 0C
T3,T4 = Temperature of side guarded heater, 0C
T5,T6 = Surface temperature of the cooling plate, 0C
Vc = Central heater voltage, Volts
Vg = Guarded heater voltage, Volts
X = Thickness of specimen, m

PRECAUTIONS:

1. Take care of the fluctuations in the reading display of the temperature.

2. The total wattage should not exceed 60W as it may cause excessive heating of the
thermocouple.
3. Enough time must be provided for steady state to be achieved before taking the final
readings.

REFERENCES:

1. Lab Manual, ChE391.

2. Holman J.P., “Heat transfer”, 9th edition.
3. R. A. Mischke and J.M. Smith, “THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF ALUMINA CATALYST
PELLETS”, I & EC Fundamental.