THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF

METAL ROD
(KCHT-144)
 Foreword
Welcome to the fast growing family of K.C. product owners. We appreciate your interest in us
and thank you for buying our product.

You have chosen the finest quality product in the market which is produced using latest techniques
and has underwent strict quality control tests. It is a product that we are proud to build and you
are proud to own it.

Our products are easy to understand and operate. They are excellent for students who are trying to
gain practical knowledge through experiments.

However your comfort and safety are important to us, so we want you have an understanding of
proper procedure to use the equipment. For the purpose, we urge you to read and follow the step-
by-step operating instructions and safety precautions in this manual. It will ensure that your
favourite product delivers reliable, superior performance year after year.

This manual includes information for all options available on this model. Therefore, you may find
some information that does not apply to your equipment.

All information, specifications and illustrations in this manual are those in effect at the time of
printing. We reserve the right to change specifications or design at any time without notice.

Customer satisfaction is our primary concern. Feel Free to contact us for any assistance. So what
are you waiting for, roll up your sleeves and let us get down to work!

K.C. Engineers Pvt. Ltd.

 Important Information About This Manual

Reminder for Safety

Modification on Equipment:

This equipment should not be modified. Modification could affect its performance, safety or
disturbance. In addition damage or performance problems resulting from modification may not be
covered under warranties.

Precautions and Maintenance:

This is used to indicate the presence of a hazard that could cause minor or moderate personal injury
or damage to your equipment. To avoid or reduce the risk, the procedures must be followed
carefully.
1. Objective …………………………………… 1

2. Aim …………………………………… 1

3. Introduction …………………………………… 1

4. Theory …………………………………… 1

5. Description …………………………………… 2

6. Utilities Required …………………………………… 2

7. Experimental Procedure …………………………………… 2

8. Observation & Calculation …………………………………… 3

9. Nomenclature …………………………………… 5

10. Precautions & Maintenance Instructions …………………………………… 6

11. Troubleshooting …………………………………… 6

12. References …………………………………… 6

13. Block Diagram …………………………………… 7

K.C. Engineers Pvt. Limited, Ambala THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF METAL ROD

(Rev. 1)
 THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF METAL ROD
1. OBJECTIVE:
To study the heat transfer through conduction in metal rod.

2. AIM:
2.1 To calculate the thermal conductivity of metal rod.

2.2 To plot the temperature distribution along the length of rod.

3. INTRODUCTION:
Thermal conductivity of substance is a physical property, defined as the ability of a
substance to conduct heat. Thermal conductivity of material depends on chemical
composition; state of matter, crystalline structure of a solid, the temperature, pressure
and weather.

4. THEORY:
The heater will heat the rod on its one end and heat will be conducted through the rod to
the other end. Since the rod is insulated from outside, it can be safely assumed that the
heat transfer along the copper rod is mainly due to axial conduction and at steady state
the heat conducted shall be equal to the heat absorbed by water at the cooling end. The
heat conducted at steady state shall create a temperature profile within the rod. (T = f
(x))The steady state heat balance at the rear end of the rod is:

Heat absorbed by cooling water,

Q  MC p T

Heat conducted through the rod in axial direction:

dT
Q  kA
dX

At steady state:

dT
Q  kA  MC p T
dX

K.C. Engineers Pvt. Limited, Ambala THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF METAL ROD

Page No. 1 of 7 (Rev. 1)
 So thermal conductivity of rod may be expressed as:

MC p T
k
 dT 
 A 
 dX 

5. DESCRIPTION:
The apparatus consists of a metal rod made of copper, one end of which is heated by an
electric heater while the other end of the rod projects inside the cooling water jacket. The
middle portion of the rod is surrounded by a cylindrical shell filled with the asbestos
insulating powder. Six temperature sensors are provided to measure temperature of rod
at different section. The heater is provided with a dimmer stat for controlling the heat
input. Water under constant head conditions is circulated through the jacket and its flow
rate and temperature rise are noted by two temperature sensors provided at the inlet
and outlet of the water.

6. UTILITIES REQUIRED:
6.1 Electricity Supply: Single Phase, 220 V AC, 50 Hz, 5-15 Amp combined socket
with Earth connection. Earth voltage should be less than 5 volts.

6.2 Water Supply: Initial fill.

6.3 Floor Drain Required.

6.4 Bench Area Required: 1 m x 1 m.

6.5 Stop watch.

7. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:

7.1 STARTING PROCEDURE:

7.1.1 Close all the valves.

7.1.2 Connect chiller unit with the equipment for cooling water.

7.1.3 Ensure that mains ON/OFF switch given on the panel is at OFF position.

7.1.4 Connect electric supply to the set up.

7.1.5 Switch ON the mains ON / OFF switch.

7.1.6 Switch ON the chiller unit.

K.C. Engineers Pvt. Limited, Ambala THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF METAL ROD

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 7.1.7 To set cooling water temperature, press set button for 2-3 second then set
the temperature from increment and decrement buttons.

7.1.8 Set the temperature by PID in the range 40 to 80 ͦ C.

7.1.9 Set the flow rate of water with the help of rotameter.

7.1.10 After 1.5 hrs. note down the reading of flow with the help of rotameter and
temperature sensors at every 10 minutes interval (till observing change in
consecutive readings of temperatures ± 0.2 oC).

7.2 CLOSING PROCEDURE:

7.2.1 When experiment is over switch off the heater.

7.2.2 Stop the water supply by closing the valve.

7.2.3 Switch OFF the mains ON/OFF switch.

7.2.4 Switch OFF electric supply to the set up.

7.2.5 Drain the water by open the valve.

8. OBSERVATION & CALCULATION:

8.1 DATA:
Specific heat of water Cp = 4186 J/kg oC
Diameter of rod d = 0.025 m
Distance of first temperature sensor (T1) from the one end point of pipe X1 = 0.035 m
Distance of second temperature sensor (T2) from the one end point of pipe X2= 0.075 m
Distance of third temperature sensor (T3) from the one end point of pipe X3 = 0.115 m
Distance of fourth temperature sensor (T4) from the one end point of pipe X4 = 0.155 m
Distance of fifth temperature sensor (T5) from the one end point of pipe X5 = 0.195 m
Distance of sixth temperature sensor (T6) from the one end point of pipe X6 = 0.235 m

8.2 OBSERVATION TABLE:

Sr. No. F T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8
o o o o o o o o
(LPH) ( C) ( C) ( C) ( C) ( C) ( C) ( C) ( C)

K.C. Engineers Pvt. Limited, Ambala THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF METAL ROD

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 8.3 CALCULATIONS:

F
M  (kg/sec)
3600


Q  MC p T8  T7  (W)

A d 2 (m2)
4

Plot a graph of temperature (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, and T6) vs. length (X1, X2, X3, X4,
X5, and X6)

 dT 
and find slope  .
 dX 

Q
k (W/m oC)
 dT 
 A 
 dX 

CALCULATION TABLE:

Sr. No. Q (W) k (W/m oC)

9. NOMENCLATURE:

Nom Column Heading Units Type

A Cross-sectional area of the metal rod m2 Calculated
Cp Specific heat of water J/kg oC Given
d Diameter of rod m Given
o
dT Slope of graph temperature (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6) C/m Calculated
dX vs. length (X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6).
F Flow Rate of water LPH Measured
k Thermal conductivity of metal rod W/m oC Calculated

K.C. Engineers Pvt. Limited, Ambala THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF METAL ROD

Page No. 4 of 7 (Rev. 1)
 M Mass flow rate of cooling water kg/sec Calculated
Q Heat gained by water W Calculated
o
T1-T6 Temperature of metal rod along the length from C Measured
heater to cooling jacket
o
T7 Inlet temp of cold water C Measured
o
T8 Outlet temp of cold water C Measured
X1 Distance of first temperature sensor (T1) from the m Given
one end point of pipe
X2 Distance of second temperature sensor (T2) from m Given
the one end point of pipe
X3 Distance of third temperature sensor (T3) from the m Given
one end point of pipe
X4 Distance of fourth temperature sensor (T4) from the m Given
one end point of pipe
X5 Distance of fifth temperature sensor (T5) from the m Given
one end point of pipe
X6 Distance of sixth temperature sensor (T1) from the m Given
one end point of pipe

10. PRECAUTION & MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS:

10.1 Never run the apparatus if power supply is less than 200 volts and more than 230
volts.

10.2 Never switch ON mains power supply before ensuring that all the ON/OFF
switches given on the panel are at OFF position.

10.3 Operate selector switch of temperature indicator gently.

10.4 Always keep the apparatus free from dust.

11. TROUBLESHOOTING:
11.1 If electric panel is not showing the input on the mains light. Check the main
supply.

11.2 If voltmeter showing the voltage given to heater but ampere meter does not,
check the connection of heater in control panel.

K.C. Engineers Pvt. Limited, Ambala THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF METAL ROD

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12. REFERENCES:
12.1 D.S Kumar, “Heat & Mass Transfer”, 7th ed, S.K Kataria & Sons, ND, 2008,
Page 5.

K.C. Engineers Pvt. Limited, Ambala THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF METAL ROD

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13. BLOCK DIAGRAM:

K.C. Engineers Pvt. Limited, Ambala THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF METAL ROD

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