LAB 1

THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF LIQUID AND GAS

1.0 OBJECTIVE
1.1 To calibrate the unit by establishing the incidental heat transfer.
1.2 To determine the thermal conductivity of air and acetone.

2.0 INTRODUCTION
The SOLTEQ Thermal Conductivity of Liquid and Gas Unit (Model HE 156) has been
designed for students to determine the thermal conductivity of various liquid and gas.
Thermal conductivity data is of prime importance in designing heat exchangers. Heat
transfer coefficients in these equipments are usually computed using correlations, which
require thermal conductivity data. The thermal conductivity measurement unit for liquid
and gas has been designed for student to determine the thermal conductivity of various
liquid and gas by injecting the test fluid to the unit.

3.0 THEORY
Conductivity is the ability of the given substance to transfer energy, in this case the
thermal energy. Basically, the thermal conductivity can be measured by knowing the
temperature difference between two known points of which heat flow is known.
The basis of conduction heat transfer is Fouriers Law. This law involves the idea that the
heat flux, q, is proportional to the temperature gradient, T in any direction, n. Thermal
conductivity, k, is the constant of proportionality; a property of materials that is temperature
dependent, and A is the cross-sectional area normal to the heat flow,

q kA

T
n

(1)

There are several experimental techniques used to determine the thermal

conductivity of gas and liquid at steady state such as the hot wire method, the
coaxial-cylinder method, the horizontal parallel flat-plate method, and the concentric
sphere and sphere-cylinder method. The main principle of these methods is the

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employment of a thin layer of a test fluid enclosed between two surfaces that maintained
at different temperatures. The apparatus is consists of two coaxial cylinders vertically
placed and leaving a very small annular gap that is charged with the test fluid. The inner
cylinder is heated with the electrical heater. As the thermal low across the gap is fairly
radial, the governing equation is the Fourier equation, which relates heat output, Q, the
inner cylinder temperature,T1, and outer cylinder temperature, T2

with the thermal

conductivity, k, of test fluid :

R2
R1

ln

(2)

Q
T1 T2 2L

where R1 and R2 are radius of the annulus, filled with the gas (R 2> R1), and L is the length
of cylinder.

Figure 1: Heat conduction in coaxial cylinders method

From the explanation, to find the thermal conductivity coefficient we must use
Fouriers Law as stated in equation (1). Solving for k we get,

q c dx
A dT

(3)

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For radial heat conduction in a cylinder, dx become dr , and area A , is the cross sectional
area of a conducting path. At the steady state conditions across the small radial gap, dr
become r, dT become T and we get,

q c r
A T

(4)

In order to find the heat by conduction (qc) we can use the conservation of energy
equation. When we applied it to this system we will get,

q c q gen qlost Q qlost

(5)

By substituting equation (4) into equation (5), we get the following expression for
qlost
T

q lost q gen q c Q kA

(6)

We may assume qlost to be proportional to the temperature difference between the plug and
the jacket. This assumption will be tested with a linear regression analysis, and estimate
qlost from the calibration graph of incidental heat transfer versus the plug and jacket
temperature difference. This analysis used the known thermal conductivity of air, kair. The
thermal conductivity coefficient can then be calculated for other fluids by the temperature
difference across the fluid.

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4.0

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENTS

4.1

Thermal conductivity of liquid and gas unit

Figure 2: Thermal Conductivity for Liquid and Gas Unit

1. Thermocouple Sensors
2. Sample Port (Top)
3. Cooling water Control Valve
4. Cooling water outlet

5. Cooling water intlet

6. Heater
7. Sample Port (Bottom)

Figure 4
Figure 3: Construction of Thermal
Conductivity of Liquid and Gas Unit

5.0

PROCEDURES
5.1 Experiment 1: Calibration of the thermal conductivity study unit
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5.2.1 Use air as the sample for the calibration.

5.2 Experiment 2: Determination of thermal conductivity of liquids

and gases.
5.2.1 Use air as the sample of the experiment.
5.2.2 The power regulator to about 25 watt.
5.2.3 Record the power and temperature readings (T1 to T2)
5.2.4 Repeat the experiment by substituting the air with acetone with the heating
power of 100 watt.
6.0

RESULTS AND CALCULATIONS

6.1

Plot a calibration graph of incidental heat loss, qlost versus temperature

difference (Data of Experiment 1). Make sure to draw the straight line at
zero intercept.

6.2

Use slope of the graph to calculate qlost in Experiment 1 for both air and
acetone:

6.3 Calculate thermal conductivity of air and acetone and compare the value with
the theoretical.

7.0

QUESTIONS
7.1 Explain why the gap between the two cylinders is small?

8.0

CONCLUSION
8.1 Based on the experimental procedure done and the results taken draw
some conclusions to this experiment.

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