EML 4304L Thermal Fluids Lab

Thermal Conduction
Experiment # 3

Mechanical Engineering Department

FAMU/FSU College of Engineering

Outline

Purpose of the lab

Fundamental Equations
Unit 3 and Unit 4 Analysis
Unit 1 and Unit 2 Analysis
Error Analysis

PURPOSE
Conduct a series of thermal conduction
experiments which examines the effects on heat
transfer with varying cross-sectional area and
distance.
Using this thermal conduction information derive
Fouriers law of thermal conduction.

Analyze the temperature variance in a series of

metal rods that are in physical contact.
From this information determine thermal resistance
and contact resistance.

Q coolant=m Cp dT / t

Q conduction=-k A dT / dx

Heat flow
for units
3 and 4

Heat flow
for units
1 and 2

Fundamental
Equations

m w C p T
t

Rate of heat flow at the heat sink

mw = mass of cooling water displaced in time t
Cp = Specific heat of water at constant pressure
T = (Tout - Tin) of cooling water
t = time required to displace a volume Vw of water

(kg)
(kJ/kg C)
(C)

(s)

This equation is used to determine the amount of energy that is

being absorbed by the coolant. Once this is determined for each
unit, it is assumed to be the constant rate of conduction through
each material.

Qcond = KA(T/x)
Rate of heat conduction
K = thermal conductivity constant

(W/m C)

A = cross-sectional area

(m2)

T = temperature difference across the material

(C)

x = distance between temperature readings

(m)

Used to determine rate of heat conduction through

a body based on material properties, area,
temperature difference, and length of material.

Qcond = -KA dT/dx

Fouriers law of heat conduction

-K = thermal conductivity constant

(W/m C)

A = cross-sectional area

(m2)

dT = differential element for temperature

(C)

dx = differential element for distance

(m)

Used to determine rate of heat conduction through a body

based on material properties, area, and temperature/distance
gradient.

 Q=KA T/x
Q=-KA dT/dx
dT/dx = temperature gradient
T
dT/dx

Calculations
Conservation of Energy
Qin = Q out
Q conduction = Q coolant

dT
k A
m C p T
dx
This equation assumes there is no heat loss
through the system boundary. Though each
unit is insulated, there will still be some heat
loss.

T
Rt ,c
q
Thermal Contact Resistance
Rt,c = Thermal contact resistance

(C/W)

T = Temperature change

(C)

q = Heat flux

(W)

Calculates thermal contact resistance for a

given temperature discontinuity and a known
power input.

Heat Conduction
for Units 3 and 4

Thermocouple Placement
for Units 3 and 4

UNIT #3
Q=KA*T/x

Diameter is a function of x:

D(x)=D0+mx
D(x)=1+(x/(11+1/16))

Unit #3
Area can also be written as
a function of x:
A = (p/4) d2

A(x) = (p/4) d(x)2

Q=KA*dT/dx

Unit #3

Q = -k A T/x = -k A(x) dT/dx

Q

k A ( x)
1
A ( x)

dx

dT
dx

k 1 dT

Unit #3
1
Q
dx
A( x )
k
T T0
Once k is solved for, the temperature
can be found for any distance, x.

T( x)

Q
T0
k

1
A ( x)

dx

UNIT #4
Q=KA*T/x
K = coeff. of therm. conductivity

Qin

Qout

x2

x1

NOTE: K is
unknown and
must be
determined

Thermal Contact
Resistance
Determination Units
#1 and #2

Thermal contact resistance(Rc) is a discontinuity in

the temperature gradients between two materials in
contact. The value is determined by projecting the
temperature gradients, calculating the temperature
difference, and dividing the temperature difference
by the power that is transmitted through the
materials.
Factors affecting thermal contact resistance:
1 - Surface Roughness
2 - Type of materials in contact
3 - Temperature materials are at
4 - Pressure applied to materials
5 - Type of fluid trapped at interface

elements are enclosed in the insulating jacket. Figure1 illustrates the schematics of the apparatus. The dimensions of the tapered rod are indicated
in Fig. 2.

Units #1 and #2
Steel
(Mg)

Cu
(Al)

Stainless
Steel

T10

T1

x2

Contact Resistance

x1

Thermocouple placement for

units 1 and 2

Ideal Thermal Conduction

Material 1

T1

Material 2

T3
T4
T2

T2 = T3

Actual Thermal Conduction

Material 1

T1

Material 2

T2

Temperature
profile due to
thermal
contact
resistance

T2 = T3

T4
T3

Material 1
Projected
Slope T2

Material 2
T2

T
Temperature profile due
to thermal contact
resistance

T3

Projected
Slope T3

Temperature vs Distance
Material 1
Material 2
Temperature(F)

Material 3

Discontinuities
where T must
be determined

Distance(inches)

Thermal Contact Resistance

Calculation
Rt,c = T/Q
Q = Qwtr
Qwtr=mwCp(T)

T (determined by projection of slope

and measuring difference in
temperatures)

Errors
Time
Flow rate
Steady State
Heat Losses
Not perfectly insulated
Unit #4 Thermocouples #3 and #5
Inconsistent readings

Heat flow
for units
3 and 4