YESHWANTRAO CHAVAN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

HEAT TRANSFER LABORATORY ME:1304
EXPERIMENT No. : 8 DATE(s) OF PERFORMANCE:
NAME OF EXPERIMENT: : EMISSIVITY MEASURMENT
___________________________________________________________________

AIM: To determine the emissivity of the test plate (gray body) at

different temperature and plot the variation of emissivity with
surface temperature.

APPARATUS: Experimental set up for determining the emissivity of the test plate.

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND:

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 YESHWANTRAO CHAVAN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
HEAT TRANSFER LABORATORY ME:1304
EXPERIMENT No. : 8 DATE(s) OF PERFORMANCE:
NAME OF EXPERIMENT: : EMISSIVITY MEASURMENT
___________________________________________________________________

DISCRIPTION OF EXPERIMENTAL SET UP:

The experimental sets up consist of a small closed cabin containing two
vertical circular copper plates. The plates are identical in shape and size, one of which
is a black plate and other is the test plate of which the emissivity is to be determined.
Separate heating coils are embedded in each plate with separate electrical circuits &
separate dimmer stat. The thermocouples are provided on the surface of each plate to
measure the surface temperature. One thermocouple is hanging in the cabin to
measure the air temperature. The voltmeter is provided on the panel to measure the
electrical potential across the heating element and the ammeter measures the current.
Thus the heat generated can be calculated. The digital temperature indicator displays
the temperature at the location selected by the thermocouple-selector switch. The
dimmer stat is provided to adjust the required wattage across the heating element.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:
Initially the set up is adjusted at a particular wattage and allowed to attain the
steady state such that the surface temperature of both the plates is same. The steady
state is confirmed by observing the constant temperatures (steady w.r.t. with time) at
different locations. At steady state the readings are taken as per the trail-observation
table and the average surface temperature is evaluated which should be same for both
the plates. If the surface temperatures are not equal then the wattage is altered as pre
requirement and the steady state is allowed to attain. Again the steady state is
confirmed and the readings are taken as per the trail-observation table and the average
surface temperature is evaluated. If both the surface temperatures are equal then the
readings are taken as per the observation table.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
Diameter of both the plates: 10 cm
Electrical dimmer stat: 1.5 KW ( separate for each plate )
Ammeter: 0 to 2 A (common for both plates-selected through selector-switch)
Voltmeter: 0 to 300 V (common for both plates-selected through selector-switch)
Thermocouple: Fe-Constantan

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 YESHWANTRAO CHAVAN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
HEAT TRANSFER LABORATORY ME:1304
EXPERIMENT No. : 8 DATE(s) OF PERFORMANCE:
NAME OF EXPERIMENT: : EMISSIVITY MEASURMENT
___________________________________________________________________

OBSERVATION TABLE:

R Heater input to black Surface Temperature Heater input to test Temp. of

No. plate plate air
Black Plate Test Plate
Voltage Current T1 T2 Voltage Current T3
V I oC oC V I oC

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 YESHWANTRAO CHAVAN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
HEAT TRANSFER LABORATORY ME:1304
EXPERIMENT No. : 8 DATE(s) OF PERFORMANCE:
NAME OF EXPERIMENT: : EMISSIVITY MEASURMENT
___________________________________________________________________

METHOD OF CALCULATION:

Qb = Vb Ib = εb σAsTb abs
4
 Ta abs
4
 + Qconv .+ Qcond.

Qg = Vg Ig = εσAsTg abs
4
 Ta abs
4
 + Qconv .+ Qcond

When Tb = Ta ; the conduction and convection losses will be same

Thus , from the above equations we get

Qb – Qg = [ εb σAsTb abs
4
 Ta abs
4
 ] – [ εσAsTg abs
4
 Ta abs
4
]

Qb – Qg = σ As Tg abs
4
 Ta abs
4
 ( εb - ε )

(Vb Ib) – (Vg Ig) = σ As Tg abs

4
 Ta abs
4
 ( εb - ε )

Therefore,

ε = εb – { [(Vb Ib) – (Vg Ig)] / [ σ As Tg 4

abs  Ta abs
4
])

ε=

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 YESHWANTRAO CHAVAN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
HEAT TRANSFER LABORATORY ME:1304
EXPERIMENT No. : 8 DATE(s) OF PERFORMANCE:
NAME OF EXPERIMENT: : EMISSIVITY MEASURMENT
___________________________________________________________________
Graph: Plot emissivity Vs temperature

CALCULATION TABLE:

Average Average Heater input to Heater input to Emissivity of test

R No. Temperature of Temperature of black plate test plate plate
black plate test plate
Qg
Tb Tg Qb =VbxIb Qg = VgxIg  =
Qb
oC oC W W

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 YESHWANTRAO CHAVAN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
HEAT TRANSFER LABORATORY ME:1304
EXPERIMENT No. : 8 DATE(s) OF PERFORMANCE:
NAME OF EXPERIMENT: : EMISSIVITY MEASURMENT
___________________________________________________________________

RESULT:

PRECAUTIONS:

1. Black plate should be perfectly blackened.

2. Never put your hand or papers over the holes provided at the top of
enclosure.
3. Keep at least 200 mm distance between the backside of unit and
the wall.
4. Operate all the switches and knobs gently.

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 YESHWANTRAO CHAVAN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
HEAT TRANSFER LABORATORY ME:1304
EXPERIMENT No. : 8 DATE(s) OF PERFORMANCE:
NAME OF EXPERIMENT: : EMISSIVITY MEASURMENT
___________________________________________________________________

Schematic Diagram: ( this type of figure is expected )

(1) Enclosure (2) Test Plate (3) Test Plate Heater (4) Black Plate

(5) Black Plate Heater (6) Thermocouple Socket (7) Acrylic Cover

T 1 to T 3 Thermocouple Position

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