HVAC Lab Manual

EXPERIMENT 11 & 12

FARZAN NABEEL
243588
ME-10 C | SMME
Farzan Nabeel Experiment 11 & 12 HVAC Lab Manual

Thermal Conductivity of Air and Water

Introduction
Perform1an1experimental1analysis1in1order1to1determine1the1thermal1conductivity1of1Air1and1
Water.1

Theory
The1energy1given1up1by1the1constituent1particles1such1as1atoms,1molecules,1or1free1electrons1
of1the1hotter1regions1of1a1body1to1those1in1cooler1regions1is1called1heat.1Conduction1is1the1
mode1of1heat1transfer1in1which1energy1exchange1takes1place1in1solids1or1in1fluids1in1rest1(i.e.,
no1convective1motion1resulting1from1the1displacement1of1the1macroscopic1portion1of1the
medium)1from1the1region1of1high1temperature1to1the1region1of1low1temperature1due1to1the1
presence1of1temperature1gradient1in1the1body.1The1heat1flow1cannot1be1measured1directly,
but1the1concept1has1physical1meaning1because1it1is1related1to1the1measurable1scalar1quantity1
called1temperature.
Therefore,1once1the1temperature1distribution1T1(r,1t)1within1a1body1is1determined1as1a
function1of1position1and1time,1then1the1heat1flow1in1the1body1is1readily1computed1from1the
laws1relating1heat1flow1to1the1temperature1gradient.1
According1to1Fourier’s1law1of1conduction,1the1rate1of1heat1transfer1between1two1points1by
conduction1is1directly1proportional1to1the1temperature1difference1and1crosssectional1area,1and1
inversely1proportional1to1the1length/distance1between1them.

For a cylindrical surface, 𝐴 = 2𝜋𝑟𝐿, and so

𝑑𝑇 𝑑𝑇 𝑑𝑇 𝑄 ln⁡(𝑅𝑜 𝑅𝑖 )
𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 = −𝑘𝐴 → 𝑄 = −2𝜋𝑟𝑘𝐿 → =− → 𝑘= ∗𝑄
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝑟 2𝜋𝑟𝑘𝐿 2𝜋𝐿∆𝑇
Where k is constant of proportionality, called conductivity of the medium. Its value varies and depends upon
conditions such as medium nature/material, temperature, and pressure. (Cengel, 2008, p. 21).

Equipment
Farzan Nabeel Experiment 11 & 12 HVAC Lab Manual

The1equipment1used1for1this1experiment1is1TH3106nthermal1conductivity1apparatus,1as1shown
in1the1figure.1It1consists1of1a1large1hollow1copper1cylinder,1which1houses1another,1thinner
cylinder.1The1thinner1cylinder1acts1as1a1heater1when1a1large1electric1current1is1passed1through
the0coils1within1it.1The1space1between1the1cylinders1is1covered1by1another1cylinder1inserted
from1the1upper1side,1such1that1a1small1amount1of1clearance1in1maintained.
The1test1material1is1inserted1in1this1clearance1via1thin1pipes.1The1heat1from1the1inner
cylinder’s1outer1surface1is1transferred1to1the1outer1cylinder’s1inner1surface1through1the1test
material1via1conduction.1The1outer1cylinder1has1a1thin1steel1jacket1covering1it,1in1which1water
is1flowed1to1prevent1its1outer1surface1from1becoming1too1hot.1Temperature1sensors1are1used1
to1measure1temperatures1on1both1cylinders’1surfaces.1An1electrical1circuit1on1the1outside1is
used1to1power1up1the1heater.1The1values1of1current,1voltage1and1temperatures1are1displayed1
on1the1interface1next1to1the1apparatus.1The1power1supplied1by1the1heater1can1be1adjusted
through1a1knob1on1the1interface.

Procedure
o Turn1ON1the1equipment1and1connect1the1inlet1and1outlet1pipes1for1the1cooling1water,1
while1maintaining1an1adequate1flow1through1the1water1jacket.1
o Via1the1sampling1inlet1valve,1introduce1the1test1material1(air)1in1the1clearance1between
the1inner1and1outer1cylinders.1
o Close1the1sampling1valves1when1the1material1begins1to1spill1out1from1the1outlet1pipe.1
o Power1up1the1heater1supply1and1adjust1it1such1that1the1inlet1and1outlet1temperatures1
increase1and1reach1steady1values.1Note1down1the1stabilized1temperature1values.1
o Increase1the1heater1power1and1note1down1the1stabilized1values1of1temperatures.1
o Now1replace1the1test1material1of1air1by1water1and1repeat1the1above1steps1for1it1as
well.

Results
Farzan Nabeel Experiment 11 & 12 HVAC Lab Manual

Data Analysis
Q1. What is literature value of thermal conductivity of air and water?
The1thermal1conductivities1of1air1and1water1are10.0261W/m-K1and10.6131W/m-K,1respectively.
Q2. What is the percentage difference between the experimental value of thermal conductivity and the
above one? Give reason for the difference.

Q3. Write three safety measures to perform experiment on Thermal Conductivity Bench using a gas or a
liquid.
o Maintain1sufficient1cooling1water1flow1to1prevent1surfaces1from1overheating.
o Do1not1touch1the1apparatus1with1exposed1hand1while1heater1is1running.1
o Lock1the1enclosing1mechanism1effectively1to1prevent1hot1material1from1leaking
(especially1hot1air).

Discussion
One1thing1that1can1be1noted1from1both1the1theoretical1and1practical1values1of1the
conductivity1for1both1materials1is1that1for1water,1the1value1is1significantly1higher1than1that1of
air.1This1is1because1conduction1in1general1is1faster1in1liquids1than1in1gases.1This1is1due1to
Farzan Nabeel Experiment 11 & 12 HVAC Lab Manual

them1having1a1high1particles1per1unit1area1value1(i.e.,1more1particles1are1packed1together),
which1results1in1higher1collision1frequency1and1thus1higher1rate1of1heat1transfer.11

Conclusion
The1experiment’s1results1are1in1accordance1with1the1theoretical1values1to1a1certain1extent,
and1the1difference1in1their1values1is1explained1by1a1variety1of1factors1discussed1above.11