1

Heat Transfer Laboratory

Emissivity Measurement Apparatus

Object:
To measure the emissivity of the test surface in comparison to black surface

Introduction:
All substance at all temperature emits thermal radiation. Thermal radiations
are an electromagnetic wave and do not require any material medium for
propagation. All bodies can emit radiation and have also the capacity to absorb
all or a part of radiation coming from the surroundings towards it.
An idealized black surface is one which absorbs all the incident radiation with
reflectivity and transmissivity equal to zero. The radiant energy per unit time
per unit area from the surface is called as the emissive power and is usually
denoted by E. the emissivity of the surface is defined as the ratio of the
emissive power of a surface to that of a black surface at the same temperature.
It is dented by
Thus = E/ Eb
Where Eb = Emissive power of black body
For a black body emissivity is unity

Experimental Setup:
The experimental setup consists of two similar circular copper discs and is
provided with heating coil sandwiched. One disc is blackened to form an
Test Copper Disc

Temperature Indicator
Voltmeter

Black Copper Disc

Ammeter
Dimmerstat
Test Disc
Heater On/
Off Switch

Dimmerstat
Black Disc

Dinesh Scientific

Heat Transfer Laboratory

Idealized black surface whereas the other disc is having machined plane
surface whose emissivity is to be determined. The plates are mounted on the
brackets and are kept in enclosures so as to provide undisturbed natural
convection surroundings. The schematics of experimental arrangement are as
shown on last page.
The power input to the two plates can be varied by separate dimmer stats and
is measured by using an ammeter and a voltmeter with the help of double
through switch. The heat input to the black plates and test plate is to be
adjusted in such a way that both discs should attain the same temperature.
Each disc is equipped with two thermocouples to measure temperature at
different locations. One thermocouple is kept in the enclosure.

Experimental Procedure:
1. Switch on the supply and select range of voltmeter
2. Keep the double through switch on black plate and adjust the
Dimmerstat to obtain the required heat input.
3. Wait till the steady state is reached
4. Note the value of V & I and take the readings of thermocouple T1 and T2,
Voltmeter and Ammeter.
5. Change the double through switch to test plate and adjust Dimmerstat to
a value slightly lesser than the applied black plate.
6. Note the value of V & I and take the readings of thermocouple T3 and T4,
Voltmeter and Ammeter.
7. Repeat the experiment for different value of heat inputs.

Specifications:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Diameter of Test Plate = 150mm

Diameter of Black Plate = 150mm
Enclosure Size = 560mm x 250mm x 410mm
Thickness of discs = 2mm

Dinesh Scientific

Heat Transfer Laboratory

Observation Table:
Black Disc

S.No
V1

I1

Ambient
Temp.

Test Disc

T1

T2

V2

I2

T3

T4

T5

1
2
3
4
5

Calculations:
Experimental Method
1. Heat supplied to test specimen (grey specimen)
Qg = V2 x I2 Watts
Also Qg = g
g (Tg4 Ta4)
Tg = (T3 + T4) / 2 + 273 K
Ta = T5 + 273 K
2. Heat supplied to black body
Qb = V1 x I1 Watts
Also Qb =
Now

(Tb4 Ta4)

=1
= 5.67 x 10-8 W/m2 K-4
Ab = Area of black body = (d2)/4
Tb = (T1 + T2) / 2 + 273 K
Ta = T5 + 273 K
b

Qg / Qb = {

(Tg4 Ta4)} / {1 x

(Tb4 Ta4)}

g =

Dinesh Scientific

Heat Transfer Laboratory

Theoretical Method
1. Emissive power of black plate according to Steffan Boltzmann law
4
Eh
Where
= 5.67 x 10-8 W/m2 K-4
T = average surface temperature
T = {(T1 + T2) / 2 + 273 K} {(Ta +273 K)}
2. Emissive power of grey plate according to Steffan Boltzmann law
4
Eg
Where
= 5.67 x 10-8 W/m2 K-4
T = average surface temperature
T = {(T3 + T4) / 2 + 273 K} {(Ta +273 K)}
3. Emissivity

Eg

Eb

Conclusion:
The emissivity of the test surface is lower than that of black surface .

Dinesh Scientific