HJD INSTITUTE OF TECH EDU & RESEARCH MECHANICAL ENGG DEPT

Experiment No 3: COMPOSITE WALL APPARATUS

Aim:
To determine total thermal resistance of composite wall and to plot temperature gradient
along composite wall structure
Composite Wall Plates:
M.S -20 cm * 12mm thick
Bakelite - 20 cm * 15mm thick
Press Wood- 20 cm * 12mm thick
Control Panel and Instrumentation Specifications:
Digital Temperature Scanner: Micro-Controller based 10 Channel Scanner for RTD type
Sensor with Thumbwheel Switch. Make: Nutronics, India
Digital Voltmeter: Single Phase Range 0-300 V AC. Size: 48(H)x 96(W) x 130mm(D) Make
Nutronics, India
Digital Ammeter: Single Phase Range 0-2 Amp AC. Size: 48(H)x 96(W) x 130mm(D) Make
Nutronics, India
Cam Operated Rotary Switch with ON/OFF Switching Position For Heater Operation and
Mains Supply
LED Main Supply Indicator
Continuously Variable Autotransformer : Single Phase - 2 Amp, Open Type Air Cooled
Heater: 300 Watt Plate Type Heater
Thermocouple: RTD Type 8 Nos.
Procedure:
1. Arrange the plates properly (symmetrically) on both side of heater plate.
2. See that plate is symmetrically arranged on both sides of heater plate
(arranged normally).
3. Operate the hand press properly to achieve the steady environmental conditions.
4. Close the box by cover sheet to achieve the environmental conditions.
5. Start the supply of heater. By varying the dimmer stat, adjust the input
6. Take the readings of all thermocouples at an interval of 10 minutes until steady state is
reached.
7. Note down the steady state readings in the observation table.
Specification
Sr No Wall Material Thickness
Conductivity
M.S. = 1.2 cm
0.46 W / m K
1
Bakelite = 1.5 cm
0.12 W / m K
2
Press Wood = 1.2 cm
0.2 W / m K
3

Heat & Mass Transfer

Semester 6

161906

HJD INSTITUTE OF TECH EDU & RESEARCH MECHANICAL ENGG DEPT

Observation Table:
Sr No

Heat Input
V
I

T1

T2

Thermocouple Reading
T3
T4
T5

T6

T7

T8

1
2
3
4
5

Fig. Composite Wall

Calculations
Mean Reading
Ta = (T1+T2)/2C
Tb = (T3 + T4)/2C
Tc = (T5 + T6) / 2 C
Td = (T7 + T8)/2C
Rate of heat supplied Q = V * I Watts
For calculating the thermal conductivity of composite walls, it is assumed that due to large dia of
the plates, heat flowing through central portion is unidirectional that is axial flow. Thus for

Heat & Mass Transfer

Semester 6

161906

HJD INSTITUTE OF TECH EDU & RESEARCH MECHANICAL ENGG DEPT

calculations, central half dia. Area where unidirectional flow is assumed is considered.
Accordingly thermocouples are fixed at closed to center of the plates.
Now, Heat flux q = Q / A watts/ sq. m
Where A=/4 * d2 (where d= dia of plates)
Total thermal resistance of composite slab Rtotal = (Ta-Td)/q m2K/W
Thermal conductivity of composite slab Kcomposite = q*b / (Ta-Td) w/m/K
Where b= total thickness of the composite slab
Conclusion:
Thermal resistance of composite slab is found out to..

Heat & Mass Transfer

Semester 6

161906