Mechanical Engineering Dep. Dr. Eng.

Kamel Guedri Heat Transfer: Lab Manual

EXPERIMENT #1
FOURIER'S LAW: CONDUCTION ALONG A SIMPLE BAR

OBJECTIVE
The objective of this experiment is to investigate and verify Fourier’s Law for linear heat
conduction along a simple bar.

INTRODUCTION
Conduction is defined as the transfer of energy from more energetic particles to adjacent
less energetic particles as a result of interactions between the particles. In solids,
conduction is the combined result of molecular vibrations and free electron mobility.
Metals typically have high free electron 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. 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’.

THEORY
In this experiment we will investigate conduction in an insulated long slender brass bar
like the one in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Schematic of a Long Cylindrical Insulated Bar

Experiment#1 Page 1/6

Mechanical Engineering Dep. Dr. Eng. Kamel Guedri Heat Transfer: Lab Manual

We will assume that the bar is of length L, a uniform hot temperature Th is imposed on
one end, and a cold temperature Tc is imposed on the other. We will also assume,
because the bar is insulated in the peripheral direction, that all the heat flows in the axial
direction due to an imposed temperature differential along the bar.

The equation that governs the heat flow is known as Fourier's Law, and in the axial
direction it is written as

(1)

where qx is the rate of heat conduction in the x-direction, k is the thermal conductivity of
the material, Ax is the cross-sectional area normal to the x-direction, and dT/dx is the
temperature gradient in the x-direction. The negative sign indicates that heat is
transferred in the direction of decreasing temperature. More generally, Fourier's Law is a
vector relationship which includes all directions of heat transfer:

⃗ ⃗ ( ⃗) (2)

The thermal conductivity k varies between different materials and can be a function of
temperature, but it can be treated as a constant over small temperature ranges. Because of
the enhancement of heat transfer by free electrons, thermal conductivity is analogous to
electrical conductivity and as a result, metals that are good conductors of electricity are
also good conductors of heat.

In this experiment we will investigate Fourier's Law by finding the thermal conductivity
k for brass and comparing this value to the actual value from one or more references. To
do so we will calculate the cross sectional area Ax of the bar and the slope dT/dx from a
plot of measured temperatures vs. length. We can then use these values in a rearranged
version of Fourier's Law to find the thermal conductivity, k:

(3)

Experiment#1 Page 2/6

Mechanical Engineering Dep. Dr. Eng. Kamel Guedri Heat Transfer: Lab Manual

APPARATUS
The apparatus we will be using in this experiment is the P.A. Hilton H940 Heat
Conduction Unit, which consists of three items. The first item is a transformer equipped
with a circuit breaker. The transformer has two cords which connect it to an AC outlet
and to the second item, the calibration unit (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Front View of Calibration Unit and Transformer

The calibration unit has two basic functions. It delivers power to the heater element
within the test unit and it calibrates and displays the temperatures at nine locations along
the test unit. The amount of power delivered to the test unit is controlled by the power
control knob on the right side of the calibration unit; to its left is the temperature selector
knob which is used to select one of the nine thermocouple temperatures for display on the
digital readout, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Experiment#1 Page 3/6

Mechanical Engineering Dep. Dr. Eng. Kamel Guedri Heat Transfer: Lab Manual

Figure 3: Rear View of Calibration Unit

Figure 4: Front View of the Test Unit

The third item is the test unit, which consists of two test geometries: an insulated brass
bar which allows a sample to be placed between the two ends, and an insulated disk. Both

Experiment#1 Page 4/6

Mechanical Engineering Dep. Dr. Eng. Kamel Guedri Heat Transfer: Lab Manual

geometries are equipped with a power supply, but we will only use the insulated bar for
this experiment. The test unit is also equipped with a cooling water hose. The purpose of
the cooling water running through the unit at the cold end of the bar is to remove heat that
is produced at the hot end and transferred by conduction to the cold end, keeping the cold
end at a constant temperature. Once the rate at which heat is generated is equal to the rate
at which heat is removed, steady state conditions (temperatures will be fairly constant and
readings can be taken) will exist. The test unit has two heater cords: one from the test bar
and the other from the test disk. Be sure to use only the heater cord for the bar, which
connects to the heater plug located in the lower right hand corner of the calibration unit.
Figure 4 shows the front view of the test unit.

In addition to this equipment, you will also find a box that contains the samples,
thermocouples, and conducting paste in a small syringe. The samples can be placed in the
bar test unit by releasing the clamps and sliding the cold end of the bar out. The
thermocouples must be placed in order from 1 to 9 as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The
conducting paste is designed only to decrease contact resistance when applied to the ends
of the connecting bars; it is not intended to enhance heat conduction.

PROCEDURE
1. Connect the equipment as shown in Figures 3 and 4, making sure that the calibration
unit is switched off before connecting the transformer to the AC outlet.
2. Apply a very small amount (a drop) of thermal conducting paste to make a thin layer
on each side of the test unit surface and spread it uniformly.
3. Insert the brass sample (30 mm length and 25 mm diameter) into the unit and allow
cooling water to flow through the test unit.
4. Connect all thermocouples in the appropriate order.
5. Switch the calibration unit on and adjust the power control knob to deliver 10 W of
power to the test unit; allow the system to reach steady state (approximately 20
minutes).
6. Record the temperatures at each thermocouple and the power input.

Experiment#1 Page 5/6

Mechanical Engineering Dep. Dr. Eng. Kamel Guedri Heat Transfer: Lab Manual

RESULTS
1. Plot the temperature profile along the entire length of the bar and determine the
slope, dT/dx.
2. Calculate the thermal conductivity k of the brass and determine the specific type /
composition of brass by comparison with a reference value.
3. Discuss the characteristics of your plots and compare them to what you would
expect based on the theory.
4. Is Fourier’s Law satisfied?
5. Also discuss the validity of the assumptions made and sources of error within the
equipment or through measurements, etc.

RAW DATA TABLES

Table 1: Raw Data for Experiment #1

q T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 T9
(W) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C)

ASSIGNED READING:
Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer; Incropera and DeWitt; pp. 3-6, pp. 58-67, App. A.

SAFETY GUIDELINES:
1. To avoid burns, do not touch any metal or plastic surfaces on the hot end of the
sample or test unit.
2. Avoid using a high cooling water flow to prevent disconnection of the hose from
the test unit.
3. Do not exceed 20 W power delivery under any circumstances, and do not allow
the temperature to go above 100 °C at any of the thermocouple locations.
4. Avoid using too much conducting paste as this may ‘fry’ the unit.

Experiment#1 Page 6/6