Experiment 1 - Linear Heat Conduction

Aims
• To show how heat conducts linearly along a solid bar of uniform dimensions and material.
• To show how different materials in contact can affect linear heat transfer.
• To show how the experimental thermal conductivity of the material in a solid bar can be
calculated.
• To show how thermal paste helps to give a good thermal connection.

Procedure 1 - Standard Brass Material

1. Connect and set up the Linear Heat conduction.

2. Fit the brass middle section (Figure 1),

Figure 1 Fit the Brass Middle Section

3. Use an accurate thermometer to check the local ambient air temperature for reference.

4. Open the water outlet valve to start the water flowing, then switch on the heater and set to
30 Watts power.

5. Wait for the temperatures to stabilise and then record T1 to T7.

6. For comparison, repeat the test at one or more heater powers greater than 30 W.

7. Switch off the heater and water supply.

Experiment:
Middle Section Material:
Ambient Temperature:

Power (W) T1 (°K) T2 (°K) T3 (°K) T4 (°K) T5 (°K) T6 (°K) T7 (°K)

Distance from 0 0.015 0.030 0.045 0.060 0.075 0.090

T1 (m)

Table 1 Blank Results Table

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 Results Analysis

From the results for each power setting, plot charts of temperature against distance along the bar, with
respect to the first thermocouple (T1) It should be possible to draw a good best-fit line through the
results, as all parts are of the same material. If the three temperature lines (T1 - T2), (T3 - T4 - T5) and (T6 -
T7) are not near the same line, the middle section may have been incorrectly fitted.
Calculate the thermal gradient of the line for reference.

Use the two readings T3 and T5, the given distance between them, the heater power and the bar area
with Equation 1
QL WL
k = -------------------------- = -------------------------- (1)
A(T 1 – T 2 ) A(T 1 – T 2 )

to calculate the thermal conductivity of the specimen. Compare it with the typical value Can the cause
of errors - if any, be explained?

Use the TecQuipment heat loss chart (Figure 2) and table (Table 2) to correct the supplied heat and re-
calculate the thermal conductivity, compare the result with previous calculation.

What is noticeable about the gradient of the charts for each heater power setting?

Repeat procedure 1, but use the different available materials in the middle section.

using:
ꞏ
Q=W

L = 0.03 m (distance between T3 and T5)

. = .000707 m2 (cross sectional area of the specimen)

T1 = T3 and T2 = T5

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 Figure 2 Calibrated chart of heat loss estimation for testing with brass, copper and aluminium specimens

Find the k value,

ꞏ
(W – Qloss )L
k = ------------------------------- (2)
A(T1 – T2)

Percentage of heat loss for testing with

Power (W) stainless steel (%)

10 25.7

15 27.5

20 30.8

25 28.8

30 30.4

35 29.3

Table 3 Percentage heat loss for testing with stainless

steel specimen (assuming a temperature of 20°)

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User Guide 4 TecQuipment Ltd