FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

LINEAR HEAT CONDUCTION EXPIREMENT(TD1002A)

HEAT TRANSFER LAB 1

MMB421

KABO BUSANANG

201502946

Contents
1
 OBJECTIVES.........................................................................................................................................3

INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................3

THEORY.................................................................................................................................................3

APPARATUS..........................................................................................................................................4

PROCEDURE.........................................................................................................................................4

RESULTS................................................................................................................................................5

RESULTS ANALYSIS...........................................................................................................................5

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS.................................................................................................................8

CONCLUSION.......................................................................................................................................8

REFERENCE..........................................................................................................................................8

2
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this experiment is to get to understand how heat is transferred in one-dimensional set
up, along a solid bar. Other objectives of this experiment are to appreciate how different
materials can affect heat transfer and also to under the thermal conductivity of different
materials.

INTRODUCTION
Conduction is characterized as the exchange of energy from more energetic particles to adjacent
less energetic particles as a result of interaction between the particles. In solids, conduction is the
combined results of molecular vibrations and free electron mobility [ CITATION Cra70 \l 1033 ].
Metals typically have high free electrons mobility, which explains why they are good heat
conductors. Conduction can be easily understood if we imagine two blocks, one very hot and the
other cold. [ CITATION Afz80 \l 1033 ]If we put these blocks in contact with one another but
insulate them from the surroundings, thermal energy will be transferred from the hot to the cold
block, as evidenced by the increase in temperature of the cold block. This mode of heat transfer
between the two solid blocks is termed conduction[ CITATION Gup77 \l 1033 ].

THEORY
Linear conduction of heat along a simple bar. If a plane wall of thickness (ΔX) and area (A),
Support a temperature difference (ΔT) then the heat transfer rate per unit time (Q) by conduction
through the wall is found to be: In more general cases, Fourier's Law becomes a vector
relationship, which includes all directions of heat flow[ CITATION Kay62 \l 1033 ]

dT
Q=kA ………(1)
dx

3
Given that the material of the wall is homogeneous and has a thermal conductivity (k)

∆T
QαA
∆X

The thermal conductivity k varies between different materials and can be a function of
temperature. Because of the enhancement of heat transfer by free electrons, thermal conductivity
is analogous to electrical conductivity and hence, metals that are good conductors of electricity
are also good conductors of heat.[ CITATION Bai94 \l 1033 ] Heat flow is positive in the direction of
temperature fall. Heat flow through a material cannot be evaluated at steady state for example
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 varies with time. Using the
equipment set-up describe below, it is a simple matter of monitoring the temperature profile
variation during either a heating or cooling cycle thus facilitating the study of unsteady state
conduction.[ CITATION Joh \l 1033 ]

APPARATUS
 Display and control unit
 Thermometer ;for measuring ambient temperature
 Experimental set up for linear heat conduction(The Base Unit TD1002)
 Three specimen(copper,aluminium and steel)

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PROCEDURE
First thing first the base unit was switch off and its heater. The experiment was put onto the front
of Base Unit using the thumbscrews to hold it in position. Water pipes were connected correctly
to avoid taking wrong readings as they can affect the results. We switched on the water supply to
allow water to pass through the experiments for several minutes while checking for leaks. A
thermometer was used to check the local ambient air temperature for reference and it was
recorded. Water outlet valve was opened to start the water flowing, then the heater was switch on
the heater and set to 30 watts power. We waited for the temperature to stabilize and then we
recorded T1 and T7,the test was repeated using greater value of which is more than 30W.

RESULTS
The tables below contain all results that were taken from the experiments for the three different
provided specimen;

Experiment:1
Middle section material: steel
Ambient Temperature:

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 Power (W) T1(⁰K T2(⁰K) T3(⁰K) T4(⁰K) T5(⁰K) T6(⁰K) T7(⁰K)
)
30 356.7 354.2 351.6 306.7 297.6 295.2 294.9
50 370.1 365.8 362 308.1 298.9 297.2 295.7
Distance from 0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.10 0.12
T1(m)
Table 1; power and temperature of steel specimen

Experiment:2
Middle section material: Aluminum
Ambient Temperature:
Power (W) T1(⁰K T2(⁰K) T3(⁰K) T4(⁰K) T5(⁰K) T6(⁰K) T7(⁰K)
)
30 334.3 329.6 324.8 314.5 305.8 302 298.6
50 363.4 355.6 347.5 330.5 315.3 308.6 302.5
Distance from 0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.10 0.12
T1(m)
Table 2; power and temperatures of Aluminum specimen

Experiment:2
Middle section material: Copper
Ambient Temperature:
Power (W) T1(⁰K T2(⁰K) T3(⁰K) T4(⁰K) T5(⁰K) T6(⁰K) T7(⁰K)
)
30 341.2 335.6 329.6 320.3 310.9 305.5 300.6
50 364.8 356.3 347.2 333.6 319.4 311.4 304.1
Distance from 0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.10 0.12
T1(m)
Table 3; power and temperatures of copper specimen

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RESULTS ANALYSIS
Graph for steel

TEMP VS DISTACE FOR STEEL

350 f(x) = − 756.25 x + 373.63

250

200

150

100

50

0
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14

DIstance (m)

Q=30W Linear (Q=30W)

Graph 1

Graph of Aluminum

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 Temperature VS distance of Aluminium
400
350 f(x) = − 551.61 x + 365.01
300 f(x) = − 323.75 x + 335.08
Temperature(⁰K)

250
200
150
100
50
0
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14
Distance(m)

Q=30W Linear (Q=30W)

Graph 2

Graph of copper

Temperature VS distance of copper

250
200
150
100
50
0
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14
Distance(m)

Q=30W Linear (Q=30W)

Graph 3

CALCULATIONS

For graph 1

8
∆T ⁰K
=756.25
∆X m

For Q=30W

п π
A= d2= x (0.03)2=0.0007069m2
4 4

Q ∆X 50 W
K= ( )= =93.529
A ∆T 0.0007069 X 756.25 m⁰ K

Metal ∆T W
(slop K( ¿ (thermal condactivity)
∆X m⁰ K
e from graph)
Steel
50W 756.3 93.5
30W 638.2 66.5
Aluminum
50W 551.6 128.2
30W 323.8 131
Copper
50W 535.18 132.2
30W 358.39 118.4

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
From results analysis we have found that temperature difference(ΔK) and distance heat travel
(ΔX)affect the value of thermal conductivity (K).The thermal conductivity of an object is
dependent on its compositions(cross-sectional area and length),when two objects are connected
to hot and cold reservoirs the higher the temperature drop, the lower the thermal conductivity.

CONCLUSION
In this experiment we manage to calculate all values of thermal conductivity(K) for different
materials at different heat rate, calculated values of K were compared to theoretical values we
have found that precision between calculated and theory values is poor this have resulted from
error we encountered during the experiment.
9
References
Afzal, N. V. (1980). I. S.: The cooling of a low heat resistance stretching sheet moving through a fluid. .
289–293.

Bailyn, M. ((1994)). A Survey of Thermodynamics, American Institute of Physics, New York, ISBN 0-
88318-797-3.

Crane, L. J. (1970). Flow past a stretching plat. 645–647.

Gupta, P. S. (1977). Heat and mass transfer on a stretching sheet with suction or blowing. 744–746 .

John H Lienhard IV and John H Lienhard V. (n.d.). Third Edition, Phlogyston Press, Cambridge
Massachusetts.

Kays, W. M. (p. 362). Convective heat and mass transfer. 1966.

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