Heat Transfer through Composite Walls Aim: To determine total thermal resistance and thermal conductivity of composite walls. Introduction: Many engineering applications of practical utility involve heat transfer through a medium composed of two or more materials of different thermal conductivities arranged in series or parallel, Consider for example the walls of a refrigerator, hot cases, cold storage plants, hot water tanks etc., which always have some kind of insulating materials between the inner and the outer wall. A hot fluid flow inside the tube covered with a layer of thermal insulation is an example of composite system because in this case the thermal conductivities of tube metal insulation are different. The problem of heat transfer through the composite system can be solved by the application of thermal resistance concept. The procedure for solving one dimensional, steady state heat conduction problems for composite system comprising parallel plates, co-axial cylinders or concentric spheres are dealt her Description: The apparatus consists of three slabs of different materials namely Mild Steel, Wood and Bakelite. The heater is provided to supply heat input across these composite walls. Total heater assembly comprises of a heater bound between two aluminium plates, on both side of these heater identical structures of composite walls are placed. Thermocouples are provided at proper positions in the composite walls to record desired inside temperature of composite wall. Multi-channel temperature indicator is used to measure this temperature. Small hand press provided to press the wall on each other and ensure that no air gap remaining between two plates. Heat input to heater is given through a dimmerstat variac and measured by Voltmeter and Ammeter. By varying heat input & combination of the composite structure, wide range of experiment can be performed Specifications: (1) Diameter of slabs (4) Wood —: 0.3m Bakelite: 0.3m Mild Steel : 0.3m (2) Thickness of slab (b) :0.036m (3) Heater 2 400W (4) Thickness of wood plate: 0.012m (5) Thickness of Bakelite plate: 0.012m (6) Thickness of Mild Steel plate : 0.012m (7) Temperature Indicator: - 300°C (8) Ammeter :0-SA (9) Voltmeter :0-300VPrecautions: Procedure: (1) Keep the dimmerstat at zero position before switch on the power supply. (2) Increase the voltage gradually. (3) Operates selector switch of temperature indicator gently. (4) Do not exceed 120V so as to avoid the fluctuating result, (1) Arrange the plates in proper fashion (symmetrical) on both sides of the heater plates. (2) See that plates are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the heater plates. (3) Operate the hand press properly to ensure perfect contact between the plates. (4) Close the box by cover sheet to ac steady environmental conditions. (5) Switch on the supply of heater. (6) Give known steady input to the heater with the help of dimmerstat. (7) Keep initially 100 V for 20 minutes almost and than reduce to 80 V till steady state is reached so that steady state can be reached within less time (8) Check the input to the heater with selector switch, voltmeter & ammeter. (9) Note down the temperature every 10 minutes till a steady condition is reached, (10)Calculate the thermal resistance of the material based on the steady state condition readings. Observation table: - Calculations: ‘Voltmeter reading (V): ‘Ammeter reading (I): Thermocouple Time (min) Readings (°C) T Te Ts Ts Te Tr Ts (1) Rate of heat supply Q= Vx W (For calculating the thermal conductivity of composite walls, it is assumed that due to large diameter of the plates, heat flowing through the central portion is unidirectional i.e. axial flow. Thus for calculating central half diameter area where unidirectional flow is considered. Accordingly thermocouples are fixed at closed to center of the plates.)Conclusion: (2) Total thermal resistance of composite slab: Tel wi G7 (3) Thermal conductivity of composite slab: K. b= total thickness of the slab in m (4) Thermal conductivity of individual materials HIRD vos HIRD sac a (5) Draw the temperature distribution along wall thickness oa) ix