UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

HEAT TRANSFER LAB (MEP-307)

Experiment No.1

1. OBJECTIVE: Study of conduction heat transfer in metal rod.

2. AIM: To determine the thermal conductivity of metal bar.

3. INTRODUCTION:
Thermal conductivity of a substance is a physical property, defined as the ability of a
substance to conduct heat. Thermal conductivity of material depends on chemical composition;
state of matter, crystalline structure of a solid, the temperature, pressure and weather or not it is
a homogeneous material.

4. THEORY:
The heater will heat the bar on its one end and heat will be conducted through the bar to
the other end. Since the rod is insulated from outside, it can be safely assumed that the heat
transfer along the copper rod is mainly due to axial conduction and at steady state the heat
conducted shall be equal to the heat absorbed by water at the cooling end. The heat conducted at
steady state shall create a temperature profile within the rod. (T = f (x))The steady state heat
balance at the rear end of the rod is:
Heat absorbed by cooling water,
Q  MC p T

Heat conducted through the rod in axial direction:

dT
Q   kA
dX
at steady state
dT
Q   kA  MC p T
dX

So thermal conductivity of rod may be expressed as,

 UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
HEAT TRANSFER LAB (MEP-307)

MC p T
k
 dT 
 A 
 dX 
5. DESCRIPTION:
The apparatus consists of a metal bar, one end of which is heated by an electric heater
while the other end of the bar projects inside the cooling water jacket. The middle portion of the
bar is surrounded by a cylindrical shell filled with the asbestos insulating powder. The
temperature of the bar is measured at different section. The heater is provided with a dimmerstat
for controlling the heat input. Water under constant head conditions is circulated through the
jacket and its flow rate and temperature rise are noted by two temperature sensors provided at
the inlet and outlet of the water.

6. UTILITIES REQUIRED:
Electricity Supply: 1 Phase, 220 V AC, 2 Amps.
Water supply.
Drain.
Table for set-up support (optional)

7. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:
Starting Procedure:
1. Connect cold water supply at inlet of the Cooling Chamber.
2. Connect outlet of the Cooling Chamber to drain.
3. Ensure that all on / Off Switches given on the Panel are at OFF position.
4. Ensure that Variac Knob is at ZERO position, given on the panel.
5. Start water supply at constant head.
6. Now switch on the Main Power Supply (220 V AC, 50 Hz).
7. Switch on the Panel with the help of Mains On/Off Switch given on the Panel.
8. Fix the Power Input to the Heater with the help of Variac, Voltmeter and Ammeter
provided.
9. After 30 Minutes start recording the temperature of various points at each 5 Minutes
interval.
 UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
HEAT TRANSFER LAB (MEP-307)

10. If Temperatures readings are same for three times, assume that steady state is
achieved.
11. Record the final temperatures.
12. Record then flow rate of cooling water with the help of measuring cylinder and
stopwatch.
Closing Procedure:
1. When experiment is over, Switch off heater first.
2. Adjust Variac at Zero.
3. Switch off the Panel with the help of Mains On/Off Switch given on the Panel.
4. Switch off Power Supply to Panel.
5. Stop cold water supply.

8. SPECIFICATION:
Length of the Metal Bar : 450mm
Dia of the Metal Bar : 25mm
Effective Test length of the bar : 231mm
Total no. of temperature sensors in the setup : 9 Nos.
No. of Temp. Sensors mounted on bar : 7 Nos.
No. of Temp. Sensors mounted on water jacket : 2 Nos.
Type of Temperature Sensors : RTD PT-100
Heater : Nichrome heater
Cooling Jacket Dia : 100mm
Length of cooling jacket : 75mm
Dimmer stat for heater coil : 2Amp, 230VAC
Digital Voltmeter : 0 to 500 Volts
Digital Ammeter : 0 to 2.0 Amps.
Temperature indicator : Digital Temperature
Indicator 0°C to 199.9°C and
least count 0.1oC with multi-
channel switch.
 UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
HEAT TRANSFER LAB (MEP-307)

9. FORMULAE:

1. Heat gained by water,

 
Q  MCp T9  T8 , Watt

2. Thermal conductivity of metal rod,

MC p T
K
 dT  , Watt/m-OC
 A 
 dX 

10. OBSERVATION & CALCULATION

OBSERVATION TABLE:
Temp. 9
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Sensor No.
Steady
state temp

Temp Sensor No. Distance from leading edge

along the axis (hot end) of the rod , X (mm)
T1 33
T2 66
T3 99
T4 132
T5 165
T6 198
T7 231
T8 is the inlet temp. Of cold water
T9 is the outlet temp. Of cold water
CALCULATIONS:
Heat gained by water (at Steady state) Q = M x Cpx (T8 – T7) Kcal/hr.
Heat transfer area for axial conduction A = ( /4) D2
D is the diameter of copper rod
 UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
HEAT TRANSFER LAB (MEP-307)

Plot T vs X. Draw a smooth curve through all the points and obtain the slope dT/dX at
x=L or using least square method fit the T vs X data to a polynomial (Express the data as T = A 0
+ A1x +A2x2) and thus obtain the slope dT/dX at x=L. Express the slope in oC /m. Calculate the
value of thermal conductivity of metal bar, k from:
k = M.CpT / [-A {dT/ dX}]

11. NOMENCLATURE:
k = thermal conductivity of metal bar
M = mass flow rate of cooling water
Cp = Specific heat of water at mean temp. Of inlet & outlet of cooling water,
J/kg-OC
T = temp. rise of cooling water = (T9 – T8)
A = X-sectional area of the metal bar
dT/ dX = slope of the graph b/w temp. Vs length of the bar

12. PRECAUTIONS & MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Use the stabilize A.C. Single Phase supply only.
2. Never switch on mains power supply before ensuring that all the ON/OFF switches
given on the panel are at OFF position.
3. Voltage to heater should be increased slowly.
1. Never run the apparatus if power supply is less than 180 volts and above than 230 volts.
4. Operate selector switch of temperature indicator gently.
5. Always keep the apparatus free from dust.
There is a possibility of getting abrupt result if the supply voltage is fluctuating or if the
satisfactory steady state condition is not reached.

13. TROUBLESHOOTING:
1. If electric panel is not showing the input on the mains light. Check the fuse and also
check the main supply.
2. If D.T.I displays “1” on the screen check the computer socket if loose tight it.
 UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
HEAT TRANSFER LAB (MEP-307)

3. If temperature of any sensor is not displays in D.T.I check the connection and rectify
that.

Review Questions
Q1. How metals having higher thermal conductivity
Q2. What are the units of thermal conductivity
Q3 What is copper's thermal conductivity?
Q4 Why does thermal conductivity decrease with temperature?
Q5 Does thermal conductivity depend on pressure?

Prepared By Reviewed By Approved By

Harpreet Singh Gurpinder Singh HOD- ME