Thermal conductivity of the metal bar

Objectives
1. To measure the thermal conductivity of the metal bar.
2. To measure the temperature distribution along the length of metal bar.
Apparatus
The apparatus consists of a metal bar, one end of which is heated by an electric heating
coil while the other end is projected inside the cooling water jacket. The metal rod is
surrounded by an insulating material like asbestos to minimize lateral heat transfer from
the rod and thus ensure a more nearly constant temperature gradient along the length of
the rod. The temperature of the bar is measured along the length at six locations using
thermocouples while the radial temperature distribution is measured by separate
thermocouples at two different sections in the insulating shell. The heater is provided
with a dimmer stat for controlling the heat input to the metal rod while the water flow
rate through the jacket can be circulated by flow control valve. The water flow rate and
its temperature rise can be noted down.
Technical Specifications
Metal Bar
 Material : To Find
 Length of metal bar : 0.25 m
 Diameter of metal bar : 0.025 m
Electric Heater
 Voltage : 220 V
 Current : 5-15 Amp
Thermocouples
 Type :K
 Numbers 08
 Temperature range : 0 – 200 C (+ 0.5 Celsius)
Theory
Fourier’s Law of Heat Conduction is most easily verified (or tested) in the one -
dimensional configuration of this experiment. In equation form, Fourier’s Law is;
q = k.A. (dT/dx)
 Where, q is the heat flowing through the rod of dimensions (W), k is the thermal
conductivity of the material of dimension W/(m·K), A is the cross-sectional area m2), and
∂T/∂x is the temperature gradient of dimensions (K/m).
The thermal conductivity of the metal rod is given as;

k = (q/A).(1(dT/dx))

Operation procedure
1. Connect the equipment to the power supply.
2. Adjust the heat input to the heater by slowly adjusting the dimmer stat and adjust the
voltage e.g. say 50 V.
3. Start and adjust the cooling water flow rate through the jacket using flow control valve.
4. Wait for sufficient time until study state condition is achieved.
5. Note down the temperature using thermocouple channel on the control panel and
also the mass flow rate of water.
6. Change heat input to the metal rod and repeat the steps 1 to 5.

Observation Table

Table 1 Temperature along metal rod

Temperature Distance X (m)

Sensor No.
1 0.035
2 0.075
3 0.115
4 0.155
5 0.195
6 0.235
Table 2 System measurements

Cooling water Coolant Mass

Sr. Electric Heater Thermocouple Readings ( C)
0
temperature ( C)
0
Flow rate
No. V A W T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 (kg/sec)
1 55 0.69 37.95 47 45 43 41 40 37 31 33 1.05*10-3

2 55 0.69 37.95 48 46 44 42 40 38 31 33 1.05*10-3

3 55 0.69 37.95 49 47 45 42 41 38 31 33 1.05*10-3

4 55 0.69 37.95 49 48 45 43 41 39 31 34 1.05*10-3

5 55 0.69 37.95 50 48 46 43 41 39 31 34 1.05*10-3

6 55 0.69 37.95 50 48 46 43 41 39 31 34 1.05*10-3

Schematic Diagram:

Shutdown Procedure
1. Adjust the heat input to the metal rod to zero by adjusting dimmer stat.
2. Don’t turn off water circulation through the jacket until the temperature of the metal
rod reaches to the atmospheric condition.
3. Turn off the main switch on the control panel.
4. Turn off the main switch and disconnect the test rig from the power supply.
Sample Calculations:

Under the steady state heat conduction, heat transfer through metal rod is equal to
heat carried by coolant.
Heat flowing out of the bar = Heat carried away by the cooling water

mw= Mass flow rate of the coolant, water.

cpw= Specific heat of water at constant pressure.
A= Area of cross-section of the metal rod.
k= Thermal conductivity of the metal rod.

Now,
mw= 1.05x10-3 kg/sec
cpw= 4185 J/kg.K
A= 3.14*d2/4
d= 0.025 m
Therefore A= 3.14*(0.025)2/4 = 4.9*10-4 m2.

To determine dT/dx, we need to plot the variation of different temperatures along the length
of the rod from T1 to T6 with x1 to x6 respectively for the steady state reading (Reading 5 or
6).
From the plot the slope dT/dx = -55 degrees Celsius/ meter.

From above equation;

Heat gained by the water (Qwater) = 13.189 J/sec.

k= 1.05x10-3*4187*(34-31)/4.9x10-4*55 = 489.4 W.m-1K-1.
Result Table

Sr. Heat gain by water Temperature gradient Thermal conductivity (k),

No. (Qwater) (dT/dx) W/m.K
1 13.189 -55 489.4

Results and Discussions:

 The thermal conductivity k, for the metal rod is equal to 489.4 W.m-1K-1.
 The temperature gradient, dT/dx for the steady state reading is -55 degrees
Celsius/meter.
 The heat gained by the cooling water in the steady state condition is 13.189 J/sec.

Conclusion:
The electric heater supplies electrical power to the metal rod which can be calculated by V*I,
V is the input voltage and I is the resulting current as measured in volts and ampere
respectively. After a certain interval of time, the axial heat transfer does not take place along
the length of the metal rod. This implies that steady-state condition is reached as validated by
the constant temperature values of the six points as measured by the thermocouples in
readings 5 and 6 of the observation table. The experimental value of the thermal conductivity
may differ from the actual value for the particular material from which the metal rod is made.
It is because there is heat transfer along the radial direction of the rod. This results in loss of
heat energy along the axial direction, hence reduction in the temperature values for particular
value heat energy generated by particular voltage and flow of current.