Mechanical Engineering Dep. Dr. Eng.

Kamel Guedri Heat Transfer: Lab Manual

EXPERIMENT #3
FOURIER'S LAW: THE EFFECTS OF VARYING CROSS-
SECTIONAL AREA

OBJECTIVE
The objective of this experiment is to understand how variable cross-sectional area
affects heat transfer by conduction.

INTRODUCTION
In some geometry, one-dimensional heat conduction occurs through a material with an
area that is not constant. In such cases, it is still necessary to be able to make accurate
predictions of heat transfer rates through the material. We will investigate the effect of
variable area on one-dimensional conduction in this experiment. Thermal conductivity of
the material will be known.

In Experiment #1 we have seen how to calculate the thermal conductivity of bar made of
the same material and uniform cross-section. Now, we would like to see how changes in
cross-sectional area affect heat transfer. In this experiment we will use the same brass test
bar, but instead of using the 25 mm diameter brass sample, we will use the brass sample
with a diameter of 13 mm.

THEORY
The equation that governs the heat flow is known as Fourier's Law, and in the axial
direction it is written as

(1)

where qx is the rate of heat conduction in the x-direction, k is the thermal conductivity of
the material, Ax is the cross-sectional area normal to the x-direction, and dT/dx is the

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Mechanical Engineering Dep. Dr. Eng. Kamel Guedri Heat Transfer: Lab Manual

temperature gradient in the x-direction. The negative sign indicates that heat is
transferred in the direction of decreasing temperature.

For one dimensional heat flow, we can write the following:

(2)

where T1 is the temperature at the warmest point on the rod at the left end, TIL is the
interface temperature between the left end rod and the center rod, TIR is the interface
temperature between the center rod and the right end rod, T6 is the temperature at the
coolest point of the rod on the right, and the x's correspond to the appropriate distances.
The interface temperatures are sketched in Figure 1. Thermal conductivity k values
correspond to the appropriate materials. The first and third materials are brass. The center
section is stainless steel.

Figure 1: Determination of interface temperatures from the measured

temperature values.

Fourier’s Law (Eq. 1) states that the rate of heat transfer is proportional to the cross-
sectional area normal to the direction of heat flow. Since the outer surface is insulated,

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Mechanical Engineering Dep. Dr. Eng. Kamel Guedri Heat Transfer: Lab Manual

the heat flow rate qx is the same for each section of the bar and since it is the same
material, the thermal conductivity k is assumed to be constant.

( ) ( ) ( ) (3)

where the subscripts h, s, and c denote the hot, sample, and cold segments of the bar,
respectively. In other words, the temperature gradient is inversely proportional to the
cross-sectional area. In this experiment, the hot and cold segments will have the same
cross-sectional area, which will differ from that of the sample inserted in between the two
segments.

Solving for the temperature gradient ratio in Eq. (3), we get

( )
(3)
( )

In this experiment you will compare the gradient ratio obtained from the plot of measured
temperatures vs. length (which is the experimental result) with the inverse ratio of the
two different areas (theoretical result).

APPARATUS
The apparatus for this experiment is the P.A. Hilton H940 Heat Conduction Unit,
described in Experiment #1. Figure 2 is a sketch of the apparatus used in this experiment.
It consists of three separable sections. The center section is removable. The left end
section contains a brass rod, and an electrical heater. The heat input to the heater can be
controlled and measured. The right end section is also made of brass, and contains a
hollowed out cavity with water tubes attached. Thus heat flows through from the heater
through the left end section, then through the center section, and finally through the right
end section to the water.
The entire apparatus is insulated so that one-dimensional heat conduction is well
approximated. The end sections contain instrumentation for measuring temperature. The

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Mechanical Engineering Dep. Dr. Eng. Kamel Guedri Heat Transfer: Lab Manual

rods in the end sections have a diameter of 25 mm while the distance between adjacent
temperature measurements is 10 mm. The center section is 30 mm long.
Temperature versus length readings can be obtained with this apparatus. Several
experiments can be performed depending on what is used in the center section.

Figure 2: A schematic of the apparatus used to measure the effect of area on one
dimensional conduction.

PROCEDURE
1. Apply a very small amount (a drop) of thermal conducting paste to make a thin
layer on each side of the brass sample of 30 mm length and 13 mm diameter and
spread it uniformly.
2. Insert the sample into the test unit and allow cooling water to flow through the
test unit.
3. Connect the nine thermocouples in the appropriate order.
4. Adjust the power control knob to deliver 10 W to the test unit and allow the unit
to reach steady state (approximately 20 minutes).
5. Record the temperatures at each of the six thermocouples and the power input.

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Mechanical Engineering Dep. Dr. Eng. Kamel Guedri Heat Transfer: Lab Manual

RESULTS
1. Plot the temperature profile along the length of the bar and determine the slopes
dT/dx of the best-fit lines for each distinct segment of the bar. Use these slopes to
compute the experimental value of the temperature gradient ratio and compare
that value to the theoretical value obtained from the cross-sectional areas.
2. Are the area and temperature gradient inversely proportional?
3. Discuss possible sources of error within the equipment or the assumptions made in
the theory.

RAW DATA TABLES

Table 1: Raw Data for Experiment #3

q T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6
(W) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C)

ASSIGNED READING:
Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer; Incropera and DeWitt; pp. 3-6, pp. 58-67, App. A.

SAFETY GUIDELINES:
1. To avoid burns, do not touch any metal or plastic surfaces on the hot end of the
sample or test unit.
2. Avoid using a high cooling water flow to prevent disconnection of the hose from
the test unit.
3. Do not exceed 20 W power delivery under any circumstances, and do not allow
the temperature to go above 100 °C at any of the thermocouple locations.
4. Avoid using too much conducting paste as this may ‘fry’ the unit.

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