Heat Transfer

Experiment No. 2

Thermal Conductivity of Composite

Wall

Name of the Student:

Roll No:

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Cummins College of Engineering for Women, Pune.
Thermal Conductivity of Composite Wall Page No.

Fig. 1: Composite Wall Apparatus

Heat Transfer Laboratory Cummins College of Engineering

Thermal Conductivity of Composite Wall Page No.

Aim: To determine thermal conductivity of a the materials in the composite

wall

Introduction
Composite structures are in which more than one layer of solid insulation is placed in the
passage of heat flow by conduction. In practice composite structures are present in many
applications. Following is a list of few applications of composite structure;

ˆ Insulated steam pipes

ˆ Insulated pipes carrying refrigerants

ˆ Walls of an air conditioned room

ˆ Doors and sides of a refrigerator

ˆ Doors and walls of a cold storage

Theory

Fig. 2: One-dimensional heat conduction

When a temperature gradient exists in a stationary medium, which may be a solid or a

fluid, heat transfer through conduction mode that will occur across the medium. Higher
temperatures are associated with higher molecular energies. When neighboring molecules

Heat Transfer Laboratory Cummins College of Engineering

Thermal Conductivity of Composite Wall Page No.

collide, as they are constantly doing, a transfer of energy from the more energetic to the less
energetic molecules must occur. In the presence of a temperature gradient, energy transfer
by conduction must then occur in the direction of decreasing temperature. the conduction
phenomenon is given by ‘Fourier’s Law’. It is expressed as

dt
qx = −k (1)
dx

The heat flux ‘qx ’ (W/m2 ) is the heat transfer rate in the x-direction per unit area perpendic-
ular to the direction of transfer, and it is proportional to the temperature gradient, dT/dx,
in this direction. The parameter k is a transport property known as the thermal conductivity
W K/m and is a characteristic of the wall material. The minus sign is a consequence of the
fact that heat is transferred in the direction of decreasing temperature. Under steady state
conditions temperature gradient may be written as

dT T − T1
= 2 (2)
dx L

so to calculate the heat flux across the wall the Eqn. (1) can be written as

T − T1 ∆T
qx = −k 2 = −k (3)
L L

Apparatus
The unit consist of a three slabs of different materials namely mild steel, press wood and
Bakelite. Mica heater is provided to supply heat input across these composite walls. Total
heater assembly comprises of a heater bound between two aluminum plates. On both side
of this heater identical structures of composite wall are placed. Thermocouples are provided
at proper position in the composite wall to record desired inside temperature of composite
wall

Heat Transfer Laboratory Cummins College of Engineering

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Specifications

1) Diameter of each plate in slab (d) 150 mm

2) Thickness of Backelite plate 12 mm
3) Thickness of Presswood plate 12 mm
4) Thickness of CI plate 20 mm

Procedure
1. Apply the pressure on the plates so as to form a perfect contact between them

2. Switch on the power supply

3. Give known steady input to the heater with the help of dimmer stat.

4. Keep initially 120 V for 20 minutes almost and then reduce to 100 V till steady state
is reached so that steady state canbe reached within less time.

5. Check the input to the heater with selector switch, voltmeter and ammeter.

6. Note down the temperature at regular interval minutes till a steady condition is
reached.

Precautions

ˆ Keep the dimmer stat at zero position before switch on the power supply.

ˆ Increase the voltage gradually.

ˆ Operate selector switch of temperature indicator gently.

ˆ Do not exceed 120 Volts so as to avoid the fluctuating results.

Heat Transfer Laboratory Cummins College of Engineering

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Observations
1. Input Voltage =

2. Input Current =

3. Temperatures at various locations are recorded and are as shown in table 1

Table 1: Temperatures at inner and outer sphere

Temperature Time
T° t1 t2 t3 t4 t5 t6 t7 t8
(C) (Minutes from start of the experiment)
T1
T2
T3
T4
T5
T6
T7
T8

Calculations
V ×I
Q= (4)
2
According to the Fourier’s law
Ta − Tb T − Tc T − Tc
Q = k1 A = k2 A b = k3 A d (5)
∆x1 ∆x2 ∆x3

T + T2
Ta = 1 (6)
2
T3 + T4
Tb = (7)
2
T5 + T6
Tc = (8)
2
T7 + T8
Td = (9)
2

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Thermal Conductivity of Composite Wall Page No.

Where Ta , Tb , Tc , Td are the average interface temperatures and ∆x1 , ∆x2 , ∆x3 is the
thickness of cast iron, Backelite and Presswood plate respectively. We can write the heat
flux through the plates as
Q
q̇ = (10)
A
Equating Eqn. (4), Eqn. (5) and Eqn. (10) we get

q̇ × ∆x1
kCI = (11)
(Ta − Tb )
q̇ × ∆x2
kbl = (12)
(Tb − Tc )
q̇ × ∆x3
kpw = (13)
(Tc − Td )

Plots
Plot the temperature at interface and distance from the heat source. Calculate the temper-
ature gradients across each layer of composite wall structure and total across the composite
wall.

Conclusion
Write the values of thermal conductivity of cast iron, backelite and presswood from the ex-
periment. Compare the equivalent thermal resistance of all three materials and the resistance
offered by composite structure.

1 References
[1] Incropera Frank, Dewitt David, “ Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer ”, John
Wiley and Sons, 6th Edition, 2006.

Heat Transfer Laboratory Cummins College of Engineering