Thermal Conductivity Apparatus: (Two Slab Guarded Hot Plate Method)

Instruction Manual
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
APPARATUS
(TWO SLAB GUARDED HOT
PLATE METHOD)
MASS INTERNATIONAL
[AN ISO 9001: 2000 CERTIFIED COMPANY]
93 Preet Nagar, Jagadhri Road,
Ambala Cantt – 133001
Tele Fax: 91-171-2699824
Email: mass_international99@yahoo.co.in
Web: www.massinternationalindia.com
Contents
1. Objective …………………………………… 1
2. Aim …………………………………… 1
3. Introduction …………………………………… 1
4. Theory …………………………………… 1
5. Description …………………………………… 2
6. Utilities Required …………………………………… 3
7. Experimental Procedure …………………………………… 3
8. Specification …………………………………… 4
9. Formulae …………………………………… 4
10. Observation & Calculation …………………………………… 5
11. Nomenclature …………………………………… 5
12. Precautions & Maintenance Instructions …………………………………… 5
13. Troubleshooting …………………………………… 6
14. References ……………………………………. 6

THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY APPARATUS
(TWO SLAB GUARDED HOT PLATE METHOD)
1. OBJECTIVE:
Study of heat transfer through insulating slab.
2. AIM:
To find out the thermal conductivity of a insulating slab.
3. INTRODUCTION:
When a temperature gradient exists in a body, there is an energy transfer from the
high temperature region to the low temperature region. Energy is transferred by conduction
and heat transfer rate per unit area is proportional to the normal temperature gradient:
q ∂T
≈
A ∂X
When the proportionality constant is inserted,
∂T
q = − kA
∂X
Where q is the heat transfer rate and ∂T/ ∂X is the temperature gradient in the direction of
heat flow. The positive constant k is called thermal conductivity of the material.
4. THEORY:
The essential parts of the apparatus are; the hot plates, the cold plates, the heater
assembly, thermocouples and the specimens.
For the measurement of thermal conductivity (K) what is required is to have a one
dimensional heat flow through the flat specimen, an arrangement for maintaining its faces at
constant temperature and some metering method to measure heat flow through a known area.
To eliminate the distortion caused by edge losses in unidirectional heat flow, the central plate
is surrounded by a guard ring, which is separately heated. Temperatures are measured by
calibrated thermocouples either attached to the plates or to the specimens at the hot and cold
faces. Two specimens are used to ensure that all the heat comes out through the specimen
only. Knowing the heat input to the central plate heater, the temperature difference across the
specimen, its thickness & the metering area, one can calculate K of the specimen by the
following formula:
q  L 
K =  , W/m - K ----- (1)
2 A  Th − Tc 
If the specimen thickness are different and the respective hot and cold temperature are
different, then -
q 1 1 
k=  +  W/m - K
A  ( Th1 − Tc1 ) / L 1 ( Th2 − Tc 2 ) / L 2 
Where suffix 1 is for upper specimen and 2 for lower specimen
5. DESCRIPTION:
The apparatus is designed and fabricated

according to the Guarded Hot Plate Principle. The Guarded
ring heater
guarded hot plate method has been recognized by
scientists and engineers in U.S.A, West Germany,
Scandinavian countries, U.S.S.R and India as Central
most dependable and reproducible for the heater
measurement of thermal conductivity of insulating

materials. It is a steady state absolute method suitable for materials, which can be laid, flat
between two parallel plates and can be adopted for loose fill materials, which can be filled
between such plates. Cooling jacket
The heater plate is
Wooden Slab
surrounded by a heating ring
for stabilizing the temperature Heating slab
Central heater
of the primary heater and to Copper Ring
with test plate
prevent heat loss radially with heater
around its edges. The primary

and guard heater are made up
of mica sheets. These heaters
together form a flat that together with upper and lower copper plates and rings form the
heater plate assembly.
Two thermocouples are used to measure the hot face temperature at the upper and
lower central heater assembly copper plates. Two more thermocouples are used to check
balance in both the heater inputs.
Specimens are held between the heater and cooling unit on each side of the of the
apparatus. Thermocouple No. 5 and No. 6 measure the temperature of the upper cooling plate
and lower cooling plate respectively. The heater plate assembly together with cooling plates
and specimen held in position by 3 vertical studs and nuts on a base plate.
The cooling chamber is a composite assembly of grooved aluminum casting and
aluminum cover with entry and exit adaptors for water inlet and outlet.
6. UTILITIES REQUIRED:
Water supply 5 lit/min (approx.)

Drain.
Electricity Supply: 1 Phase, 220 V AC, 2 Amp.
Table for set-up support
7. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:
1. Switch on the main power supply 220 AC single phase, 50 Hz.

2. Start the cooling water supply.
3. Adjust the input is given to central and guard heater through separate single-phase supply
lines with a dimmerstat in each line in such a way that the input of daurd heater is slightly
greater than central heater to prevent radial heat flow.
4. The input to the central heater (current and voltage) and the thermocouple readings are
recorded after every 10 minutes till a reasonably steady state condition is reached.
5. The readings are recorded in the observation table.
6. The final steady state values are taken for calculations.
8. SPECIFICATION:
Specimen : Dia 180 mm, Thickness 12 mm (approx.)

Central Heater : Dia 100 mm sandwiched between copper plates.
Ring Guard Heater : Width 35 mm sandwiched between copper rings.
Cooling chamber : Made of Aluminum for water circulation. 2 Nos.
Insulation : Bags filled with Glass wool
Control panel comprising of
Digital Voltmeter : Range = 0-300 Volt.
Digital Ammeter : Range = 0-2 Amp
Dimmerstats : Range = 0-230 V, 2 A, (2 Nos.)One each for central &
ring guard heater.
Digital Temperature Indicator: Range = 0–200oC, with multi-channel switch
Temperature Sensors : RTD PT-100 type (6 Nos.)
With standard make on off switch, Mains Indicator etc. MS Cabinet to accommodate
the slab assembly. The whole set–up is mounted on a powder coated base plate.
9. FORMULAE:
1. Central heater input (Inner Heater)
V1 x I1 = -------W1, Watt
2. Heat transfer area,
π
A= (d ) 2 , m 2
4
4. Thermal conductivity of insulating slab,
W1
K = ,W/m - K
2 A( Th − Tc ) / L
10. OBSERVATION & CALCULATIONS:
DATA:
Diameter of specimen, d = 180 mm

Area of heat transfer, A = 0.0255 m2
OBSERVATION TABLE:
Central Heater Guarded Heater Cooling Plate

S. No. V I T1 T2 V I T3 T4 T5 T6
o o o o o o
Volts Amps C C Volts Amps. C C C C
1.
2.
3.
11. NOMENCLATURE:
K = Thermal Conductivity of Sample, W/m- oC.

q = Heat flow rate in the specimen, Watts
A = Area of the specimen, m2
Th = Hot plate temperature, oC.
Tc = Cold plate temperature, oC.
L = Thickness of specimen, m.
12. PRECAUTIONS & MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Use the stabilize A.C. Single Phase supply only.

2. Start the cooling circuit before switching ON the heaters and adjust the flow rate so
that practically there is no temperature rise in the circulating fluid.
3. Never switch on mains power supply before ensuring that all the ON/OFF switches
given on the panel are at OFF position.
4. Voltage to heater starts and increases slowly.
5. Keep all the assembly undisturbed.
6. Never run the apparatus if power supply is less than 180 volts and above than 240
volts.
7. Operate selector switch of temperature indicator gently.
8. Always keep the apparatus free from dust.
9. Keep the heater plate undisturbed and adjust the cooling plates after keeping the
samples with the help of nuts gently.
10. Keep the loosely filled insulation (glass wool) packets gently and remove them slowly
so that they do not disturb the thermocouple terminals and heater wires.
There is a possibility of getting abrupt result if the supply voltage is fluctuating or if the
satisfactory steady state condition is not reached.
13. TROUBLESHOOTING:
1. If electric panel is not showing the input on the mains light. Check the fuse and also
check the main supply.
2. If D.T.I displays “1” on the screen check the computer socket if loose tight it.
3. If temperature of any sensor is not displays in D.T.I check the connection and rectify
that.
4. Voltmeter showing the voltage given to heater but ampere meter does not. Tight the
heater socket & switch if ok it means heater burned and replace that.
14. REFERENCES:
1. Holman, J.P., “Heat Transfer”, 8th ed., McGraw Hill, NY, 1976.
2. Kern, D.Q., “Process Heat Transfer”, 1st ed., McGraw Hill, NY, 1965.
3. Perry, R.H., Green, D.(editors), “Perry’s Chemical Engineers’ Handbook”, 6th ed.,
McGraw Hill, NY, 1985.
4. McCabe, W.L., Smith, J.C., Harriott, P., “Unit Operations of Chemical
Engineering”, 4th ed. McGraw Hill, NY, 1985.
5. Coulson, J.M., Richardson, J.F., “Coulson & Richardson’s Chemical Engineering
Vol. - 1”, 5th ed., Asian Books ltd., ND, 1996.

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Instruction Manual

6. Utilities Required …………………………………… 3

7. Experimental Procedure …………………………………… 3

10. Observation & Calculation …………………………………… 5

11. Nomenclature …………………………………… 5

12. Precautions & Maintenance Instructions …………………………………… 5

13. Troubleshooting …………………………………… 6

14. References ……………………………………. 6

Study of heat transfer through insulating slab.

To find out the thermal conductivity of a insulating slab.

When the proportionality constant is inserted,

Where suffix 1 is for upper specimen and 2 for lower specimen

The apparatus is designed and fabricated

measurement of thermal conductivity of insulating

around its edges. The primary

Water supply 5 lit/min (approx.)

1. Switch on the main power supply 220 AC single phase, 50 Hz.

Specimen : Dia 180 mm, Thickness 12 mm (approx.)

1. Central heater input (Inner Heater)

2. Heat transfer area,

4. Thermal conductivity of insulating slab,

Diameter of specimen, d = 180 mm

Central Heater Guarded Heater Cooling Plate

K = Thermal Conductivity of Sample, W/m- oC.

12. PRECAUTIONS & MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Use the stabilize A.C. Single Phase supply only.

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