UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, LAHORE

HMT LAB
EXPERIMENT 2
MUHAMMAD HAMZA | 2019-ME-19

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Table of Contents
1. Objective 3
2. Introduction 3
2.1 Fourier Law 3
2.2 Thermal Resistance 3

3. Theory 4
3.1 Fourier’s Law derivation 4
3.2 Assumptions 4
3.3 Derivation of Thermal Resistance 4
3.4 Overall Heat Transfer coefficient 5
3.5 Derivation of overall heat transfer coefficient 5

4. Apparatus 6

4.1 Transformer 6

4.2 Calibration Unit 6

4.3 Test Unit 6

5. Procedure 6

6. Observations 7

7. Graph 7

7.1 Using Excel 7

7.2 Using MATLAB 8

8. Calculations 8

9. Results 10

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EXPERIMENT 2
1. Objective:
To Investigate Fourier’s Law and Evaluate Overall Thermal Resistance
of a Composite Bar.

2. Introduction:
In this experiment, linear conduction heat transfer method is studied for a stainless-steel
bar in between the brass at source and sink. The entire system (insulated heater,
specimen, air and laboratory enclosure) is at room temperature initially. The heater
generates uniform heat flow as switched on. This experiment deals with the systematic
way to find the overall thermal resistance of the specimen.
1
U=
L1 L2 L3
+ +
K1 K2 K3

2.1 Fourier Law

The Fourier Law is a rate equation that allows determination of the conduction heat flux
from knowledge of the temperature distribution in a medium. A heat flux or thermal flux
is the amount of heat energy passing through a certain surface. We know that the
conduction of heat takes place when the molecules of matter vibrate. Heat energy is
transferred from a higher temperature area to a lower one. This process abides by
Fourier’s law. Fourier’s law states that the negative gradient of temperature and the time
rate of heat transfer is proportional to the area at right angles of that gradient through
which the heat flows. Fourier’s law is the other name of the law of heat conduction.
Fourier’s law states that heat flux is proportional to thermal gradient:

q = -k dT/dx
where k is thermal conductivity.

2.2 Thermal Resistance

Thermal resistance is defined as the ratio of the temperature difference between the
two faces of a material to the rate of heat flow per unit area. Thermal resistance
determines the heat insulation property of a material. The higher the thermal
resistance, the lower is the heat loss. The thermal resistance, R, is connected with
the thermal conductivity, λ, and the fabric thickness, h.
Thermal Resistance is given as;
L
R=
KA

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3. Theory
3.1 Fourier’s Law derivation
The derivation of Fourier’s law was explained with the help of an experiment
which explained the Rate of heat transfer through a plane layer is proportional to
the temperature gradient across the layer and heat transfer area. Flow of heat per
unit area is proportional to the temperature difference per unit length i.e.

Fig 1.1 Fourier’s Law Experiment

( Area)(Temperature Difference)
Rate of heat conduction ∝
Thickness

Let T1 and T2 be the temperature difference across a small distance Δx of area A.
k is the conductivity of the material. Therefore, in one dimensional, the following
is the equation used:
kA ∆ T
q=
∆x

When Δx → 0, the following is the equation in a reduced form to a differential

form:
dT
lim q=kA
∆ x →0 dx

3.2 Assumptions
Following are the assumptions for the Fourier law of heat conduction.
i. The thermal conductivity of the material is constant throughout the
material.
ii. There is no internal heat generation that occurs in the body.
iii. The temperature gradient is considered as constant.

3.3 Derivation of Thermal Resistance

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 UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, LAHORE

Since,
kA ∆ T
q=
L
Then,
L ∆T
=
kA q
So,
L ∆T
Thermal Resistance=R= =
kA q

3.4 Overall Heat Transfer coefficient

The overall heat transfer coefficient, or U-value, refers to how well heat is conducted
through over a series of resistant mediums. Many of the heat transfer processes
encountered in the industry involve composite systems and even involve a
combination of both conduction and convection. It is often convenient to work with
an overall heat transfer coefficient, known as a U-factor with these composite systems.
The U-factor is defined by an expression analogous to Newton’s law of cooling.
The overall heat transfer coefficient is related to the total thermal resistance and
depends on the geometry of the problem. For example, heat transfer in a steam
generator involves convection from the bulk of the reactor coolant to the steam
generator inner tube surface, conduction through the tube wall, and convection
(boiling) from the outer tube surface to the secondary side fluid.

3.5 Derivation of overall heat transfer coefficient

From Newton’s Law of cooling
q=UA ∆ T
(1)
Since,
kA ∆ T
q=
L
Or,
∆T
q=
L1 L2 L3
+ +
k 1 A1 k 2 A 2 k 3 A 3
(2)
From (1) and (2);
1
UA=
L1 L L
+ 2 + 3
k 1 A 1 k 2 A 2 k 3 A3

Since A = A1 = A2 = A3
So,

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1
UA=
L1 L 2 L3 1
( + + )
k1 k2 k3 A
Then,
1
U=
L1 L2 L3
+ +
k1 k2 k3

4 Apparatus
The apparatus used is Heat Conduction Unit, which consists of three items.
 transformer equipped with a circuit breaker
 the calibration unit
 the test unit

Fig 1.2 Heat Conduction Unit apparatus

4.1 Transformer
The transformer has two cords which connect it to an AC outlet and to the
second item, the calibration unit.

4.2 Calibration unit

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.

4.3 Test unit

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

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is produced at the hot end and transferred by conduction to the cold end,
keeping the cold end at a constant temperature.

5 Procedure
i. Connect the equipment making sure that the calibration unit is switched off before
connecting the transformer to the AC outlet.
ii. Apply a very small amount of thermal conducting paste to make a thin layer on
each side of the test unit surface and spread it uniformly.
iii. Insert the brass sample into the unit and allow cooling water to flow through the
test unit.
iv. Connect all thermocouples in the appropriate order.
v. Switch the calibration unit on and adjust the power and deliver 5 W. Change this
power constantly and note the corresponding values for temperatures.

6 Observations
Distance x
(m) Temperature at Temperature at Temperature at Temperature at
q =5 W q= 10 W q = 15 W q = 20 W
0.01 40 52 78 91
0.02 39 49 77 87
0.03 39 49 77 85
0.05 34 34 37 37
0.07 33 33 34 34
0.08 33 32 33 33
0.09 33 32 33 33

7 Graph
7.1 Using Excel

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Temperature variati on against

distance from heater
q =5 W q= 10 W q = 15 W q = 20 W
100
90
80
Temperature (C)
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.1
Distance x (meters)

Fig 1.3. Graph of Temperature variation against distance from heater using Excel

7.2 Using MATLAB

Fig 1.4. Graph of Temperature variation against distance from heater using MATLAB

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8 Calculations
We use linear trendline and find four equations with different slopes. Using these slopes;

For q = 5W, T1 = 40 C, T7 = 33 C

W
k1 = 204.082
mK

W
k2 = 40.816
mK

W
k3 = 396.825
mK
q
U eq =
A (T 1−T 7 )
Ueq = 1457.72 W/m2.K

For Overall heat Transfer coefficient;

1
U=
L1 L2 L3
+ +
k1 k2 k3

1
U=
0.03 0.03 0.03
+ +
204.082 40.8163 396.8252

U = 1044.2771 W/m2.K

For q = 10 W, T1 = 52 C, T7 = 32 C
W
k1 = 136.05
mK

W
k2 = 27.211
mK

W
k3 = 375.940
mK

Ueq = 1020.4081 W/m2.K

U = 712.8587 W/m2.K

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For q =15 W, T1 = 78 C, T7 = 33 C

W
k1 = 612.245
mK

W
k2 = 15.3061
mK

W
k3 = 289.575
mK

Ueq = 680.27 W/m2.K

U = 473.35 W/m2.K

For q = 20 W, T1 = 91 C, T7 = 33 C
W
k1 = 136.054
mK

W
k2 = 17.007
mK

W
k3 = 386.100
mK

Ueq = 703.729 W/m2.K

U = 484.919 W/m2.K

Thermal Resistance:
L
R=
kA

0.09
R=
219.7676 ( 0.00049 )

K
R=0.8358
W
9 Results

Sr. No q T1 T2 T3 T5 T7 T8 T9 Ueq U
(W) (C) (C) (C) (C) (C) (C) (C) W/m2.K W/m2.K

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1. 5 40 39 39 33 33 33 33 1457.72 1044.28
2. 10 52 49 49 34 33 32 32 1020.41 712.86
3. 15 78 77 77 37 34 33 33 680.27 473.35
4. 20 91 87 85 37 34 33 33 703.73 484.92

We calculate the values of overall heat transfer coefficient and thermal resistance at different powers.
This experiment shows that the thermal conductivity of stainless steel is less than the thermal
conductivity of brass as there is a steep gradient from T3 to T6 in the graph which shows the poor
thermal conduction of stainless steel than brass.

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