Laboratory 1: Linear Heat Conduction

Preface: This document is a brief summary of the information presented in the pre-lab video.
Information in the video includes a description of the laboratory equipment and procedures. The
video also presents the basic theory, some preliminary results and discussion. It is expected that
you have watched the video before you come to lab.
Objective: To further your understanding of Fourier's Law, experimentally determine thermal
contact resistance, and experimentally determine thermal conductivity.
Experimental Setup: Refer to the HT11 and HT10x Product Manuals (available in the lab) for
descriptions of the laboratory equipment. Figure 1 is a schematic of the linear heat conduction
accessory. The 25-mm-diameter heating and cooling sections are made of brass (k = 121
W/mC). The thermocouples in these sections are 15 mm apart with the end thermocouples 7.5
mm from the end face of each section. There are three test specimens: brass, steel, and
aluminum. Each specimen has a diameter of 25 mm and a thickness of 30 mm.
Procedures: Three experimental stations will be operating at steady-state conditions when you
come to lab. Each station will use a different test specimen (brass, aluminum, and steel).
Each lab group will collect data from the three stations. For each station record (1) the eight
thermocouple readings, (2) the heater voltage, and (3) the heater current. Use the remainder of
the lab time to analyze your data.
Analyses:
1. For each apparatus, create plots similar to the one shown in Figure 2. Temperature data
must be represented using plot symbols only. Use lines to represent the linear regression
of the temperature profiles in the respective apparatus sections.
2. Perform an energy balance for each apparatus. From the temperature data in the heated
and cooled sections, calculate the heat transfer rate for each section and compare to the
electric power input to the unit.
3. Determine the thermal contact resistance at the interface of the various sections in each
apparatus.
4. For each of the three test specimens, calculate the thermal conductivity based on the
experimental data as discussed in the pre-lab video. Compare results to k-values in the
text.
5. Perform an uncertainty analysis of the thermal conductivity calculation based on the
following uncertainty of the experimental apparatus and the measured values:
Thermocouple accuracy: 0.1 C
Thermocouple location: 1 mm
Heater DC voltage: 0.1 V
Heater DC current: 0.01 A
Report: Prepare a lab report following the guidelines found in the document Lab report format
on WebCt. The structure of your report must be the same as used in the document Lab report
template, also available as a Word document template on WebCt.

Figure 1. Schematic of linear heat conduction experimental apparatus.

Apparatus temperature distribution

with aluminum specimen
TC

Heat Sec

Aluminum

Cool Sec

55
50

Temperature ( C)

45
40
35
30
25
20
0

20

40

60

80

100

T/C Position (mm)

Figure 2. Apparatus temperature distribution with aluminum specimen.

120