THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY - GAURDED PLATE APPARATUS

OBJECTIVE:

To find the thermal conductivity of the specimen by two slab guarded hot plate method.

DESCRIPTION OF APPARTUS:

The apparatus consists of a guarded hot plate and cold plate. A specimen whose thermal conductivity is to
be measured is sand witched between the hot and cold plate. Both hot plate and guard heaters are heated by
electrical heaters. A small trough is attached to the cold plate to hold coolant water circulation. Thermocouples are
attached to measure temperature in between the hot plate and specimen plate, also cold plate and the specimen
plate.

A multi point digital temperature indicator with selector switch is provided to note the temperatures at
different locations. An electronic regulator is provided to control the input energy to the main heater and guard
heater. An ammeter and voltmeter are provided to note and vary the input energy to the heater.

The whole assembly is kept in an enclosure with heat insulating material filled all around to minimize the
heat loss.

PROCEDURE

 Switch on the mains in system

 Adjust the regulator to any desired power input
 Allow water through the cold plate, wait till the steady state temperature is reached
 Wait till one minute to reach the steady state temperature.
 Adjust the regulator to main heater, note Main heater temperature reading T1, T2, T3. Then note Main heater
cold plate temperature reading temperature T4, T5.
 Adjust the regulator to guard heater, note guard heater temperature reading T6, T7, T8. Then note guard
heater cold plate temperature reading temperature T9, T10.
 Repeat the above procedure for different Power inputs and Tabulate the Readings as given below.

OBSERVATION AND TABULATION

Diameter of the specimen plate, d = 150 mm = 0.15 M

Thickness of the specimen plate, dx = 12 mm = .012 M
Main heater Diameter = 75 mm
Guard Heater Diameter = OD 150 mm, ID 100mm,
MAIN HEATER READING
SL VOLTMETER AMMETER MAIN HEATER MAIN HEATER THERMAL
NO READING READING COLD PLATE CONDUCTIVITY OF
TEMP MAIN HEATER

(V) IN VOLTS (I) IN AMPS T1 T2 T3 T4 T5

1 60 0.2 38 40 39 28 28 0.3766
2 61 0.4 44 43 45 31 32 0.6628
3

GUARD HEATER READING

SL VOLTMETER AMMETER MAIN HEATER MAIN HEATER THERMAL

NO READING READING COLD PLATE CONDUCTIVITY OF
TEMP GUARD HEATER

(V) IN VOLTS (I) IN AMPS T6 T7 T8 T9 T10

1 60 0.2 37 49 40 28 28
2 61 0.4 43 42 44 32 32
3

Heat Transferred,

Mean Temperature at the Surface of the specimen on the heater Side

Mean Temperature at the Surface of the specimen on the Cold Plate Side

Area of Heat Transfer,

dx is the thickness of the specimen

Thermal Conductivity, k =

Thermal Conductivity, k = ………………………. W/m.K

MODEL CALCULATION

1Reading) Heat Transferred,

Mean Temperature at the Surface of the specimen on the heater Side

O
C

Mean Temperature at the Surface of the specimen on the Cold Plate Side

= 28OC

Area of Heat Transfer, = = 0.01767 mm2

dx is the thickness of the specimen = 12 mm = 0.012 M

Thermal Conductivity, k =

Thermal Conductivity, k =
MAIN HEATER SIDE

2Reading) Heat Transferred,

Mean Temperature at the Surface of the specimen on the heater Side

O
C

Mean Temperature at the Surface of the specimen on the Cold Plate Side

= 31.5OC

Area of Heat Transfer, = = 0.01767 mm2

dx is the thickness of the specimen = 12 mm = 0.012 M

Thermal Conductivity, k =

Thermal Conductivity, k =