L2 Plumbing Unit 4 Apply scientific principles within mechanical services engineering

Learning outcome 3 Know the relationship between energy, heat and power in the mechanical services industry

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L2 Plumbing Unit 4 Apply scientific principles within mechanical services engineering

Specific heat capacity Heat is different from temperature and is a measure of the amount of energy in a substance. The standard unit of measurement of heat is the joule. In order to work out the amount of heat required to heat a substance we need to be able to measure the amount of heat required over time or the power required. This is a measure of the energy divided by the time taken to heat the substance and is expressed in in kW/h.

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L2 Plumbing Unit 4 Apply scientific principles within mechanical services engineering

Specific heat values

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L2 Plumbing Unit 4 Apply scientific principles within mechanical services engineering

Thermal expansion and contraction (1) Most materials expand when heated. This is because all substances are made up of molecules (groups of atoms), which move about more vigorously when heated. This causes the molecules to move further apart from each other resulting in the material taking up more volume.

As the material cools, the molecules slow down and move closer together; thus the material gets smaller or contracts.

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L2 Plumbing Unit 4 Apply scientific principles within mechanical services engineering

Thermal expansion and contraction (2) The amount that the material expands in length when heated can be calculated using the following formula: length (m) temperature rise (C) coefficient of linear expansion

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L2 Plumbing Unit 4 Apply scientific principles within mechanical services engineering

Heat transfer There are three methods of heat transfer: conduction convection radiation

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L2 Plumbing Unit 4 Apply scientific principles within mechanical services engineering

Conduction Conduction is the transfer of heat energy through a material. It takes place as a result of the increased vibration of molecules, which occurs when materials are heated. The vibrations from the heated material are passed on to the adjoining material, which then heats up in turn.

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L2 Plumbing Unit 4 Apply scientific principles within mechanical services engineering

Convection (1) Convection is the transfer of heat by means of the movement of a locally heated fluid substance (usually air or water). As a fluid is heated, it expands, which causes a lowering of density. The less dense warm fluid begins to rise, and is replaced by cooler, denser fluid from below. Eventually, convection currents are set up, which allow a continuous flow of heat upwards from the source.

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L2 Plumbing Unit 4 Apply scientific principles within mechanical services engineering

Convection (2) Gravity circulation taking place owing to the effects of convection.

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L2 Plumbing Unit 4 Apply scientific principles within mechanical services engineering

Radiation (1) Radiation is the transfer of heat from a hot body to a cooler one without the presence of a material medium (other than air), by means of heat waves. Heat radiation can be felt as the glow from a fire or the heat from the Sun. Heat radiation is better absorbed by some materials than others; in these instances colour can be an important factor. Dull, matt surfaces will absorb radiated heat more efficiently than shiny, polished surfaces.

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L2 Plumbing Unit 4 Apply scientific principles within mechanical services engineering

Radiation (2)

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