Definition

 Thermal
conductivity refers to
the intrinsic ability of
a material to transfer
or conduct heat.
 It is denoted by k,
λ, or κ.
Fourier’s Law
 Thermal conductivity in solids,
liquids and gases

 In solids, heat can be conducted through two mechanisms.

1. Lattice vibrations
2. Flow of free electrons.
 In liquids and gases, heat conduction occurs mainly through
two mechanisms.
1. Collision between atoms, molecules or ions,.
2. Molecular diffusion.
Thermal conductivity of metals
and non-metals-:

where,

= the thermal conductivity due to lattice vibrations

= the thermal conductivity due to electronic effect

• In Pure metals, the electronic effect plays a

dominant role. Thus, they have relatively higher
values of thermal conductivity.
• In Non-metals, the lattice vibrations effect plays a
dominant role.
Variation of thermal conductivity
with temperature
 For metals , as the
temperature increases
,thermal conductivity
decreases.
 For non-metals , the thermal
conductivity of non-metals is
approximately constant at low
temperatures.
 The thermal conductivity of
liquids decreases with increase
in temperature.
 The thermal conductivity of a
gas increases with increase in
temperature.
Variation of thermal conductivity
with pressure

 Asmost solids and liquids are

incompressible in nature, thermal
conductivity does not vary with pressure.

 Thethermal conductivity of gases is

independent of pressure in a wide range of
pressures encountered in practice.
Methods to measure thermal
conductivity

Steady state Methods Transient state

methods

 Equilibrium state Non equilibrium state

 Accurate reading  Readings are not exact

 Do not requires signals to
 Constant signals obtain a constant value
 Slow method  Readings can be taken
during heating of material.
 Pirani Gauge
 The Pirani gauge is a robust thermal conductivity gauge.
 It is used for the measurement of the pressures in
vacuum systems. It was invented in 1906 by
Marcello Pirani.
 It is one of the most common and cost effective gauge for
vacuum pressure measurement.
 It cab be used to measure pressure between 0.5 Torr to
0.0001 Torr .
Principle-:
 A conducting wire gets heated when electric current
flows through it. The rate at which heat is dissipated
from this wire depends on the conductivity of the
surrounding media.
 The conductivity of the surrounding media in-turn
depends on the density of the surrounding media.
 If the density of the surrounding media is low, its
conductivity also will be low causing the wire to become
hotter for a given current flow, and vice versa.
CONSTRUCTION-:
The main parts of the
arrangement are:

 A pirani gauge chamber

which encloses a platinum
filament.
 A compensating cell .
 Wheat stone bridge
circuit .
Working-:
 A constant current is passed through the filament .
 The filament gets heated and assumes a resistance which is measured
using the bridge.
 Now the pressure to be measured is connected to the pirani gauge
chamber.
 Temperature of filament changes due to applied pressure.
 The resistance of the filament also changes.
 The change in resistance of the filament is determined using the
bridge.
 This change in resistance becomes a measure of the applied pressure.
 Advantages
 They are rugged and
inexpensive
 Give accurate results
 Good response to pressure
changes.
 Relation between pressure
and resistance is linear for
the range of use.
 Readings can be taken
from a distance.
Disadvantages
 Pirani gauge must be
checked frequently.
 Pirani gauge must be
calibrated from different
gases.
 Electric power is a must
for its operation.
 It has a poor transient
response.
 It’s calibration is non-
linear.
Refrences:-
• https://medium.com/@lucidlearning314/thermal-
conductivity-and-diffusivity

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_conductivity

•https://instrumentationtools.com/pirani-gauge-working-
principle/

•https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirani_gauge

•https://automationforum.co/what-is-pirani-gauge-
advantagesdisadvantages-and-application-of-pirani-
gauge/