1

OBJECTIVES
To investigate Fouriers Law for the linear conduction of heat along a simple bar.
To investigate the influence of thermal insulation upon the conduction of heat between adjacent metals.




The mechanism of the heat transfer design principles would be subsequently treated according to
the modes of heat transfer, conduction, convection, and radiation. In this experiment the principle of
conduction heat transfer based on Fourier's law would be associated with the rate of heat transfer,
thermal conductivity, and thermal resistance. The heat conduction topic would be treated according to
some geometry such as plane or cylindrical wall or bar. In this experiment the heat conduction study
bench consists of two electrically heated modules mounted on a bench support frame. One module
contains a cylindrical metal bar arrangement for a variety of linear conduction experiments while the
other consists of a disc for radial conduction experiment. Both test modules are equipped with an array
of temperature sensors. Cooling water, to be supplied from a standard laboratory tap is fed to one side of
the test pieces in order to maintain a steady temperature gradient.


1. INTRODUCTION

This experiment will study data from two type of heat conduction configuration i.e. linear
and radial module. The heat conduction study bench consists of two electrically heated modules mounted
on a bench support frame. One module contains a cylindrical metal bar arrangement for a variety of linear
conduction experiments while the other consists of a disc for radial conduction experiment. Both test
modules are equipped with an array of temperature sensors. Cooling water, to be supplied from a
standard laboratory tap is fed to one side of the test pieces in order to maintain a steady temperature
gradient. Computer will display the direct reading of the temperature sensors and power input to the
heater for ease of monitoring and data acquisition.

HEAT CONDUCTION
KEYWORDS
Heat Conduction, Fourier's Law, Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient

OVERVIEW
EXPERI M EN T 1

2

2. THEORY

2.1 Linear Conduction Heat Transfer











Figure 1: Linear temperature distribution
It is often necessary to evaluate the heat flow through a solid when the flow is not steady
e.g. through the wall of a furnace that is being heated or cooled. To calculate the heat flow under these
conditions it is necessary to find the temperature distribution through the solid and how the distribution
varies with. Using the equipment set-up already described, it is a simple matter to monitor the
temperature profile variation during either a heating or cooling cycle thus facilitating the study of
unsteady state conduction.



dx
dT

3

Figure 2: Linear temperature distribution of different materials

Fourier's Law states that:

dx
kAdt
Q =


Hence :
where,
Q = heat flow rate, [W]
k = thermal conductivity of the material,
A = cross-sectional area of the conduction, [m
2
]
dT = changes of temperature between 2 points, [K]
dx = changes of displacement between 2 points, [m]
From continuity the heat flow rate (Q) is the same for each section of the conductor. Also the
thermal conductivity (k) is constant (assuming no change with average temperature).
X
H
X
S
X
C
T
HS
T
HI
T
Cl
K
H
K
s
K
c
1

4
) dx (
) dT ( A
) dx (
) dT ( A
) dx (
) dT ( A
C
C
S
S
H
H
= = .. (2)
i.e. the temperature gradient is inversely proportional to the cross-sectional area.










Figure 3: Temperature distribution with various cross-sectional areas


2.2 Radial Conduction Heat Transfer (Cylindrical)




















Figure 4: Radial temperature distribution

When the inner and outer surfaces of a thick walled cylinder are each at a uniform
temperature, heat rows radially through the cylinder wall. From continuity

X
H
X
s
X
c
Q
A
c

A
c
AH
Ri Ro

TemperatureDistribution
Ri Ro

Ti
To

5
considerations the radial heat flow through successive layers in the wall must be constant
if the flow is steady but since the area of successive layers increases with radius, the
temperature gradient must decrease with radius.

The amount of heat (Q), which is conducted across the cylinder wall per unit time, is:

i
o
o i
R
R
ln
) T T ( Lk
Q
t
=
2
. (3)

where,

Q = heat flow rate, [W]
L = thickness of the material, [m]
k = thermal conductivity of the material,
(

Km
W

Ti = inner section temperature, [K]
To = outer section temperature, [K]
Ro = outer radius, [m]
Ri = inner radius, [m]


2.3 Heat Conduction with Insulation

When two surfaces are in contact, paths of thermal conduction exist only across those
points where actual physical contact accursed on the microscopic scale and the degree of
thermal contact depends on the respective surface finishes. Air trapped in the gaps
between each surface acts as a thermal insulator resulting in a temperature step in the
conduction path. This can be reduced by the use of conducting compound, which fills the
air spaces and provides improved thermal contact.







6












Figure 5: Material with insulation material

2.4 Unsteady State Heat Conduction

Many heat transfer problems are time dependent. Such unsteady or transient problems
typically arise when the boundary conditions of a system changed. For example, if the
surface temperature system is altered, the temperature at each point in the system will
also begin to change. The change will occur until a steady state temperature distribution
is reached.

3. SAFETY PRECAUTION
1. You must familiarize yourself with the electrical control before start of experiment.
2. Water MUST flow at all time during the experiment.
3. Make sure that the power is on OFF position before start of experiment.







Brass Brass
Insulation
Material

7
4. EXPERIMENTS
The apparatus is shown in figure 6.





Figure 6 Schematic of the Heat Conduction Apparatus


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Experiment No 1 :
To investigate Fouriers Law for the linear conduction of heat along a simple bar.


Figure 7

1. Connect one of the water tubes to the water supply and the other to drain.
2. Connect the heater supply lead for the radial conduction module into the power supply socket on the
control panel.
3. Connect the 9 sensors (TT1- 9) lead to the radial module, with the TT1 connected to the innermost plug
on the radial.
4. Rotate the heater power control knob control panel to the fully anticlockwise position.
5. Set the power to the Auto position.
6. Set the heater power to 20 Watts and allow sufficient time for a steady state condition.
7. Record the temperature at all 9 sensor points and the input power reading on the wattmeter (Q).
8. This procedure should be repeated for other input power up to the maximum permitted (when
T=100
o
C).
9. After each change, sufficient time must be allowed to achieve steady state conditions.
10. Plot of the temperature, T versus length, x. Calculate the value for thermal conductivity, k.



9
Results:



Experiment No 2:
To investigate the influence of thermal insulation upon the conduction of heat between adjacent
metals.

Figure 9
1. Make sure that the power is in the OFF position.
2. Insert a brass conductor (30mm diameter) section into the linear module and clamp together.
3. Place an insulating material (eg. paper and cork) in between the specimen section and cold
section.
4. Connect one of the water tubes to the water supply and the other to drain.
5. Connect the heater supply lead for the line conduction module into the power supply
socket on the control panel.
6. Connect the six sensor leads (TT1, 2, 3 & 7, 8, 9) to the plugs on top of the linear conduction
module.
Test
No.
Wattmeter
Q watts
TT1 C TT2 C TT3 C TT4 C TT5 C TT6 C TT7 C TT8 C TT9 C
1 10
2 15
3 20

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7. Rotate the heater power control knob control panel to the fully anticlockwise position.
8. Set the power to the Auto position.
9. Set the heater power to 20 Watts and allow sufficient time for a steady state condition.
10. Record the temperature at all six sensor points and the input power reading on the Wattmeter
(Q).
11. This procedure should be repeated for other input power up to the maximum permitted
(When T= 100C).
12. Plot the temperature profile in the heater and cooler to determine the temperature gradient
across the insulating disc. Determine the thermal conductivity of paper and cork.
Results:

Test No. Materials Wattmeter Q
watts
TT1 C TT2 C TT3 C TT7 C TT8 C TT9 C
A
Paper 10
B
Cork 10
C
Blank 10

Tutorial:
1. Comment the influence of insulators upon the conduction of heat transfer between the heater and
the cooler.
2. How this material can inhibit conduction?
3. Suggest practical uses for insulating materials.


REFERENCES
1. Holman, J.P., Heat Transfer, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1992.
2. Incropera, F.P., and Devvitt, D.P., Fundamentals of heat and mass transfer, J. Wiley and
sons, New York, 1996.
3. Kern, D.Q., and A.D. Kraus, Extended surface heat transfer, McGraw-Hill book Co., New
York, 1972.