PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION SOCIETYS MODERN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING SHIVAJINAGAR, PUNE 411005 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING EXPT.

.NO: TITLE: Thermal conductivity of metal rod. AIM: To determine thermal conductivity of given metal rod. INTRODUCTION: Thermal conductivity is an important thermal property possessed by solids, liquids, gases. The value of thermal conductivity is measure of ease with thermal energy is transported in material on molecular level in absence of macroscopic motion. Fouriers law defines this property and its unit is (W / mK). Metals in general have higher thermal conductivity Following table gives list of values of K for some commonly used materials. Metal Pure copper Brass 18.1 Cr,8.1Ni Stainless steel Aluminum Galvanized iron State (C) 20 20 20 20 20 20 Thermal Conductivity (W / mK) 384 11 54 54 200 30

Thermal conductivity of metals varies with temperature. This variation can be explained on basis of micro mechanism involved for transporting the energy from high temperature to lower. However, there is no definite trend observed. In most cases, one can assume K value to be constant. EXPERIMENTAL SETUP: The test set up developed for finding the values of K of a given metal rod, consisting of aluminum rod. One end of which is heated by a cartridge heater while other end provides space for water circulation chamber. The middle portion of rod

is placed inside an insulating shell filled with glass wool insulations. The heat given to rod is conducted along its length and is dissipated to circulating water. The insulating shell which surrounds the middle test portion of rod minimizes radial leakage heat through the insulating shell is found and is accounted in calculations. Figure shows schematic layout of test set up. The heater input is varied by a dimmerstat and adjusted to required value by rotating the knob. Six thermocouples are placed ( T1 to T6 ) along the length of test rod at a distance of 40 mm. separate wires connected to two diametrically opposite points at cross sections of rod to find average temperature at that cross-section. Two thermocouples (T7 & T8 ) are placed to read the inlet and exit water temperature for obtaining radial leakage of heat. Four thermocouples (T9, T10, T11 and T12) are located in insulting shell which surrounds metal rod. These locations are fixed at radial distances r1 & r2 from centre of the rod. Flow rate is adjusted to about 1 litre in 2minutes through circulating cavity and steady state is checked. On reaching steady state following observations are recorded. OBSERVATIONS: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Diameter of metal rod, ( d ) = 0.075 m Cross section area of rod, ( A ) = 4.41X 10 -3 m2 Radial locations of T10, T12, ( r2 ) = 0.075 m Radial locations of T9, T11, ( r1 ) = 0.05 m Half length of insulating shell ( L ) = 0.1 m considered for radial leakage Thermal conductivity of material filled in shell, ( K ) = 0.038 W / mK Time required for collection of 1 litre water = sec Flow rate of circulating water = kg / sec

OBSERVATION TABLE: Metal Rod T3 T4 T5 Water T7 T8 Insulating Wall T10 T11 T12

T1

T2

T6

T9

Distance between two thermocouples on metal rod = 0.04 m

CALCULATIONS: