EAT 104 LAB REPORT SHEET

Experiment 1: Heat Conduction

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EXPERIMENT 1

FOURIER’S LAW FOR STEADY STATE CONDUCTION OF HEATS

THROUGH SOLIDS

Lab Report Sheet

NAME: _________________________________

GROUP NUMBER: _________________________________

DATE OF EXPERIMENT: _________________________________

Mark:
 EAT 104 LAB REPORT SHEET
Experiment 1: Heat Conduction
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Experiment 1(A): Fourier’s Law Study for Linear Conduction of Heat along a
Homogeneous Bar

DATA AND OBSERVATIONS

Diameter of the metal bar = _______ m

Heat transfer area = _______ m2
Thermal conductivity of brass from reference literature = _______ W/m-K

Table 1 Steady-state temperature distribution along the metal bar for various heater
powers
Distance
from hot 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
end, mm (TT1) (TT2) (TT3) (TT4) (TT5) (TT6) (TT7) (TT8) (TT9)
(TT, °C)
Heater
Power,
Q
(Watt)

RESULTS AND CALCULATION

Temperature, T (°C)

.01 .02 .03 .04 .05 .06 .07 .08 .09

Distance from hot end, x (m)

Figure 1 Steady state temperature distribution along the metal bar

 EAT 104 LAB REPORT SHEET
Experiment 1: Heat Conduction
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Table 2 Calculation of average temperature gradient for each heater power

Axial
position,
Mean
mm 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70 70-80 80-90
dT/dx
(dT/dx,
K/m)
Heater
Power,
Q
(Watt)

To find the thermal conductivity from Fourier’s law:

dT ⎛ Q ⎞ ⎛ dT ⎞ q
Q = −kA ⇒ k = −⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⇒ k=−
dx ⎝ A ⎠ ⎝ dx ⎠ dT dx

Table 3 Calculation of thermal conductivity

Heat flux, q Thermal conductivity, k
Mean dT/dx
(W/m2) (W/m-K)

Average thermal conductivity of brass

 EAT 104 LAB REPORT SHEET
Experiment 1: Heat Conduction
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DISCUSSION
(Include a discussion on the result noting trends in measured data, and comparing measurements with theoretical
predictions when possible. Include the physical interpretation of the results and graphs, the reasons on deviations of your
findings from expected results, your recommendations on further experimentation for verifying your results, and your
findings)
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CONCLUSION
(Based on data and discussion, make your overall conclusion by referring to experiment objective)
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 EAT 104 LAB REPORT SHEET
Experiment 1: Heat Conduction
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Experiment 1(B): Fourier’s Law study for Linear Conduction of Heat along a
Composite Bar

DATA AND OBSERVATIONS

Diameter of the composite bar = _______ m

Heat transfer area = _______ m2
Thermal conductivity of brass from reference literature = _______ W/m-K
Thermal conductivity of steel from reference literature = _______ W/m-K
Thickness of hot-end brass section = _______ m
Thickness of middle stainless steel section = _______ m
Thickness of cold-end brass section = _______ m

Table 4 Steady-state temperature distribution along the composite bar for various
heater powers
Distance
from hot 10 20 30 70 80 90
end, mm (TT1) (TT2) (TT3) (TT7) (TT8) (TT9)
(TT, °C)
Heater
Power,
Q
(Watt)

RESULTS AND CALCULATION

Brass Stainless Brass

Steel
Temperature, T (°C)

.01 .02 .03 .04 .05 .06 .07 .08 .09

Distance from hot end, x (m)

Figure 2: Steady state temperature distribution along the composite

 EAT 104 LAB REPORT SHEET
Experiment 1: Heat Conduction
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Table 5 Calculation of overall thermal conductivity from experimental data

Hot-end Cold-end
Material Steel
brass brass
Axial position,
10-30 40-60 70-90
mm
dT/dx, K/m
k=-q/(dT/dx),
W/m-K
Heater
dT/dx, K/m
Power,
Q k=-q/(dT/dx),
(Watt) W/m-K
dT/dx, K/m
k=-q/(dT/dx),
W/m-K
Average k

Overall k from equation (5)

Theoretical value of overall thermal conductivity from equation (5) = ________ W/m-K
 EAT 104 LAB REPORT SHEET
Experiment 1: Heat Conduction
______________________________________________________________________________________

DISCUSSION
(Include a discussion on the result noting trends in measured data, and comparing measurements with theoretical
predictions when possible. Include the physical interpretation of the results and graphs, the reasons on deviations of your
findings from expected results, your recommendations on further experimentation for verifying your results, and your
findings)
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CONCLUSION
(Based on data and discussion, make your overall conclusion by referring to experiment objective)
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 EAT 104 LAB REPORT SHEET
Experiment 1: Heat Conduction
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Experiment 1(C): Fourier’s Law Study for Radial Conduction of Heat

through a Cylindrical Wall

Material of the metal disc = __Brass__

Diameter of the metal disc = __0.11__ m
Thickness of the meal disc = __0.003_ m
Thermal conductivity of brass from reference literature = _______ W/m-K

Table 1 Steady-state temperature distribution along the radius of the metal disc for
various heater powers
Radius
(distance
from hot 10 20 30 40 50 60
center), R (TT1) (TT2) (TT3) (TT7) (TT8) (TT9)
(mm)
(TT, °C)
Heater
Power,
Q
(Watt)

RESULTS AND CALCULATION

Temperature, T (°C)

.01 .02 .03 .04 .05 .06

Distance from hot center, R
(m)
Figure 3 Steady state temperature distributions along the radius
 EAT 104 LAB REPORT SHEET
Experiment 1: Heat Conduction
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From the Fourier’s law for radial conduction through cylindrical wall [eq. (6)],

2π L k (Ti − T )
Q= (6)
ln(R Ri )

(Ti − T ) Q
Thus, = = m (constant at steady state)
ln(R Ri ) 2π L k
T = −m ln R + (Ti + m ln Ri )
Q
So, plotting T vs ln R should give a straight line with the slope of m =
2π L k
Temperature, T (°C)

ln R
Figure 4 T vs ln R at steady state

The slopes m of the lines can b obtained from the linear least square fitting of the points
using Excel spreadsheet.

Table 2 Calculation of thermal conductivity from experimental data

Thermal conductivity,
Heat transfer Q Q
rate, Q m= k=
(W) 2π L k 2π L m
(W/m-K)

Average thermal conductivity of brass

 EAT 104 LAB REPORT SHEET
Experiment 1: Heat Conduction
______________________________________________________________________________________

DISCUSSION
(Include a discussion on the result noting trends in measured data, and comparing measurements with theoretical
predictions when possible. Include the physical interpretation of the results and graphs, the reasons on deviations of your
findings from expected results, your recommendations on further experimentation for verifying your results, and your
findings)
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CONCLUSION
(Based on data and discussion, make your overall conclusion by referring to experiment objective)
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 EAT 104 LAB REPORT SHEET
Experiment 1: Heat Conduction
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QUESTIONS

1) Why experiments on the Fourier’s law of thermal conduction are usually carried out
on the solid materials rather than liquids and gases?
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2) If the rate of heat transfer is generally expressed as equal to the ratio of driving
potential to the resistance, what are the driving potential and resistance terms for the
Fourier’s equation of thermal conduction?
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3) What is meant by steady state in relation to thermal conduction through a metal bar?
How can you be sure that the steady state can be attained within a reasonable time
during the experiments?
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4) Speculate on what will happen if one end of the insulated metal bar is heated
continuously without the other end being cooled.
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