Radial Conduction

1. Introduction:
We have seen how different materials affect heat flow as well as how changes in cross-
sectional area affect heat flow. In this experiment, we shall examine how heat transfers radially by
conduction using a cylindrical brass specimen..

2. Objective:
To examine the temperature profile, and determine the rate of heat transfer resulting from
radially steady conduction through the wall of a cylinder.

3. Theory:
When the inner and outer surfaces of a thick walled cylinder are each at a different uniform
temperature, heat flows radially through the cylinder wall. The disk can be considered to be
constructed as a series of successive layers. From continuity considerations the radial heat flow
through each of the successive layers in the wall must be constant if the flow is steady but since
the area of the successive layers increases with radius, the temperature gradient must decrease
with radius.

3.1 Equations:

dT
Q KA
dR
Where:

K W / m.K is the thermal conductivity,

QW thermal energy,
dRm Radius ,

A m 2 the cross sectional area,

dT C the temperature difference.

o

Q
dT dR
KA
To Ro
Q
dT KA dr
Ti Ri

Where:
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To oC is the outer temperature,

T C is the inner temperature,

i
o

Ro m is the outer radius=0.055m,

Ri m is the inner radius=0.007m.

Q
Ti To ( Ro Ri )
K * 2t

(Ti To )
Q 2tK
log RRoi
Where: t is the thickness of the cylinder.

Qavr
Q i

i
Where: i represents several calculated values.

Qactual Qavg
error % *100
Qactual
Where:
error% is the error percentage,

Qavr W is the average thermal energy,

Qactual W is the actual thermal energy.
To ,exp To ,theor
error % *100
To ,theor

Where:

is the experimental outer temperature,

TO,exp o C

TO,theor C is the theoretical outer temperature.

o

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4. Apparatus:

A: Control Box

B: Selector Box

C: Power Regulator

D: Heater Knob (CCW is off)

E: Heater Power Cable (from either

conduction apparatus)

Fig (1).

A: Linear Conduction Apparatus

B: Radial Conduction Apparatus

C: Thermistors

D: Thermistors Cables

E: Cooling Tubing

Fig (2).

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4.1 Apparatus process :

Fig (1) shows the device which contains the electric circuit which provides the heat by an
electric heater (the power source). Also, it contains a little screen which shows the reading of all
the nine sensors as well as a power regulator to choose the desired power for the experiment. Fig
(2) shows the brass cylinder on which we conducted our experiment. The center of the cylinder is
heated by the electric heater. There are six heat sensors (1-2-3-7-8-9) positioned radially on the
brass cylinder starting at the center with a space of 10 mm between any sensor and the next.

5. Procedure:
1. Make sure the Control Box (Fig 1A) and the Power Regulator (Fig 1C) are turned OFF.
2. Check that the Control Box is plugged into the Power Regulator.
3. Connect the Heater Power Cable (Fig 1E) from the desired conduction apparatus to the
Control Box.
4. Take a brass sample (13 mm diameter) and coat each end of the sample and apparatus
with conducting compound.
5. Insert the brass sample to the test unit.
6. Allow cold water to flow through the test unit.
7. Select an intermediate position for the heater power control and allow sufficient time for a
steady state condition to be achieved at one end of the disc.
8. Record the temperature (T) at all six sensor points and the input power reading on the
wattmeter (Q).

6. Calculation:

6.1 Lab Readings:

EXP # Q (W)
T1 oC
T2 oC
T3 oC
T7 oC
T8 oC
T9 oC

1 15 34.4 30.8 26.8 24.8 23.3 22.3

2 20 38.9 33.8 28.8 26.2 24.2 22.7

TABLE 1

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6.2 Experimental and theoretical outer surface temperature:

From the temperature distribution sketches (1&2) see section (8) we find experimental outer
temperature:

at 15(w) To,exp 21.3152 oC

at 20(w) To,exp 21.5136 oC

We find theoretical temperature from

(Ti To )
Q 2tK
log RRoi

Ro
Q. log
To Ti
Ri

2tK
From TABLE 1 at 15W:

15 * log 00..007
055
To,theor 34.4 33.085o C
2 * 0.0032 *117
Repeat last operation with 20W.

See TABLE 2.

6.3 Average thermal energy:

From TABLE 1 at 15W:

(Ti Ti 1 )
Qn 2tK
log RRii1

i=1,2,3,7,8,9 & n=1,2,3,4,5

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 (Ti T2 ) 34.4 - 30.8
Q1 2tK R2
2 * * 0.0032 *117 * 23.7435 W
log Ri 0.01
log
0.007

In the same way, we obtain Q2 , Q3 , Q4 , and Q5

Qavr
Q n

32.744 13.575 11.604 12.266 10.542 14.346

Qavr 14.346 W
5

Repeat last operations at 20W. See TABLE 3.

6.4 Evaluation of the error percentage:

6.4.1 EXPERIMENTAL & THEORETICAL OUTER SURFACE TEMPERATURE .

Using TABLE 2 at 10W :

To ,theor To ,exp
error % *100
To ,theor

33.085 - 21.3152
error % *100 35.575
33.085
Repeat last operations at 20W.

6.4.2 THERMAL ENERGY.

From TABLE 3 at 15W:

Qactual Qavg
error % *100
Qactual

15 14.346
error % *100 4.36
15

Repeat last operations at 20W.

See TABLE 4 .

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7. Tables:

EXP # Q (watts) To,exp C

o

To,theor oC
1 15 21.31521 33.085
2 20 21.51361 37.147

TABLE 2

EXP# Q1 W Q2 W Q3 W Q4 W Q5 W Qavr W
1 23.744 13.575 11.604 12.266 10.542 14.346
2 33.637 16.969 15.085 16.354 15.813 19.571

TABLE 3

EXP#
To,exp oC
To,theor oC error % Qact (W ) Qavg (W ) error %
1 21.315 33.085 35.575 15 14.346 4.36
2 21.516 37.147 42.078 20 19.571 2.145

TABLE 4

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8. Temperature distribution sketch:

38 Temperature distribution at 15 W
36
34
32
Ti
30
28
26 T = -5.953ln(r) + 4.0495
24
Temperature

22
20
18
16 To
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 0.035 0.04 0.045 0.05 0.055 0.06
Radius (m)

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 Temperature distribution at 20 W
42 Ti
40
38
36
34
32
30
T = -7.851ln(r) - 1.2577
28 To
26
Temperature

24
22
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 0.035 0.04 0.045 0.05 0.055 0.06
Radius (m)

9. Discussion:
The temperature decreases as we move away from the heat source.
As we can see from Table 2 To , exp did not change significantly when we changed the power

source from 15W to 20W. This is due to not allowing the specimen to reach steady state.
The temperature error percentage increased when power input was increased as evident from
Table 4 . However, error between average and actual thermal energy decreased when power
was increased.

All the above are effected by several factors such as:

Human errors.
Errors related to the device (old, out dated, and unmaintained).
We ran the experiment before the cylinder reached a steady state.
The power source was unstable.
We neglected the contact resistance.
Thermal expansion of cylinder neglected.
Heat transfer from the cylinder to the water assumed to be by conduction only.

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10. references: -

http://www.engr.iupui.edu/~mrnalim/me314lab/lab02.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_thermal_conductivities

Textbook of laboratory 2.

Table of Contents

1.Introduction: ............................................................................................................................ 1

2.Objective: ................................................................................................................................. 1

3.Theory: .................................................................................................................................... 1

4.Apparatus: ............................................................................................................................... 3

5.Procedure: ............................................................................................................................... 4

6.Calculation: .............................................................................................................................. 5

7.Tables: ..................................................................................................................................... 7

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8.Temperature distribution sketch: .............................................................................................. 8

9.Discussion: .............................................................................................................................. 9

10.References: .......................................................................................................................... 9

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