Zakho University Mechanical Eng. Dept.

3rd Year 2019-2020

Mechanical Lab/ Heat Transfer
Experiment No. (2)
Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient
for Different Materials in Series
1. PURPOSE:-

To measure the temperature distribution for steady-state conduction of energy through a

composite plane wall and determine the Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient for the flow of
heat through a combination of different materials in series.

2. APPARATUS: The HT11C Computer Compatible Linear Heat Conduction Accessory

consists of:
a. Electrical heater.
b. Passages for cold water flow rate.
c. Different test section materials.
d. Thermocouples to measure temperatures.
e. Cylindrical envelope to contain the above.
f. HT10XC Heat Transfer Service Unit.

3. THEORY:
The heated, intermediate and cooled sections are clamped tightly together, so that the end
faces are in good thermal contact, and create a composite bar with a Stainless steel section
sandwiched between two Brass sections.

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Zakho University Mechanical Eng. Dept. 3rd Year 2019-2020
Mechanical Lab/ Heat Transfer
For continuity, the steady heat flow through the successive sections must be the same so
Fourier’s Law can be applied to the three sections as follows:

From which it follows that:

( ) ( ) ( )

( )

Where U is the Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient and

1/U is the resistance to heat flow R.

Note: In this exercise the HT11C is configured as a composite plane wall where k varies but
A remains constant. The effect of a change in cross-sectional area will be investigated in a
later exercise.

4. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:
a. Preparation:-

Before proceeding with the exercise ensures that the equipment has been prepared as
follows:

Locate the HT11C Linear Heat Conduction accessory alongside the HT10XC Heat
Transfer Service Unit (20) on a suitable bench.

Clamp the intermediate Stainless Steel section (no instrumentation) between the heated
and cooled section of the HT11C having lightly coated the mating faces with thermal
paste. Take care to locate the shallow shoulders on the sections before clamping.

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Zakho University Mechanical Eng. Dept. 3rd Year 2019-2020
Mechanical Lab/ Heat Transfer

Connect the eight thermocouples on the HT11C to the appropriate sockets on the front of
the service unit. Ensure that the labels on the thermocouple leads (T1 - T8) match the
labels on the sockets.

Note: Readings from thermocouples T4 and T5 will not be used in this exercise.

Set the VOLTAGE CONTROL potentiometer to minimum (anticlockwise) and the

selector switch to MANUAL then connect the heater lead from the HT11C to the socket
marked OUTPUT 2 at the rear of the service unit.

Connect the cold water flow control valve to the socket marked AUXILARY OUTPUT
(34) on the rear of the HT10XC console.

Connect the cold water flow rate sensor to the socket marked Fw on the front of the
HT10XC console.

Set the AUXILIARY CONTROL knob on the service unit to minimum (anticlockwise)
then connect the power lead from the cold water flow control valve to the AUXILIARY
POWER socket on the rear of the service unit (Not relevant if using HT11).

Ensure that a cold water supply is connected to the inlet of the pressure regulating valve
on HT11C.

Ensure that the flexible cooling water outlet tube is directed to a suitable drain.

Ensure that the service unit is connected to an electrical supply.

Switch on the MAINS switch on the service unit.

If using a computer for remote data logging and/or operation, connect the USB socket on
the HT10XC to the computer using the USB cable provided, and set the selector switch

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Zakho University Mechanical Eng. Dept. 3rd Year 2019-2020
Mechanical Lab/ Heat Transfer
on the console to REMOTE. (If not using a computer, leave the selector switch set to
MANUAL).

b. Experimental procedure:-

(Refer to the Operation section if you need details of the instrumentation and how to operate
it.)

1. Switch on the MAINS switch. (If the panel displays do not illuminate check the RCD
at the rear of the service unit, the switch should be up.)
2. If using a computer, check that the software indicates IFD OK in the bottom right
hand corner of the software window.
3. Turn on the cooling water and adjust the flow control valve (NOT the pressure
regulator) to give approximately 1.5 litres/min. If using the software, the flow rate
should be controlled using the control box on the software mimic diagram window.
The flow rate may be monitored on the software screen. (If not using the software,
use the selector switch to display the flow rate on the panel display on the console
and control the valve setting using the AUXILIARY CONTROL knob. If using the
HT11, the cold water flow rate is controlled using the manual control valve next to
the test section column).

Set the heater voltage to 9 volts:

 If using the computer, enter the voltage in the display box for the heater, or use the
control box arrows.
 If using the console, adjust the voltage control potentiometer to give a reading of 9
volts on the top panel display with the selector switch set to position V.

Allow the HT11C to stabilise. If using a computer, monitor the temperatures on the software
mimic diagram screen. (If operating the equipment manually from the console, use the lower
selector switch on the console to set the console display to each temperature sensor in turn).

When the temperatures are stable record the following: When the temperatures are stable,
select the icon to record the following: T1, T2, T3, T6, T7, T8, V, I, Fw.

(If operating the equipment using the console then these values should be recorded
manually. Fw is not available if using the HT11 unless the optional SFT2 flow sensor is
fitted).

Set the Heater Voltage to 12 Volts.

Allow the HT11C to stabilize then repeat the above readings.

Results and Calculations

For this exercise the raw data is tabulated under the following headings:

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Zakho University Mechanical Eng. Dept. 3rd Year 2019-2020
Mechanical Lab/ Heat Transfer
Heater Voltage V Volts
Heater Current I Amps
Heated section high temperature T1 (°C)
Heated section mid temperature T2 (°C)
Heated section low temperature T3 (°C)
Cooled section high temperature T6 (°C)
Cooled section mid temperature T7 (°C)
Cooled section low temperature T8 (°C)
Cooling water flow rate Fw (l/min) If sensor SFT2 is fitted

You should also estimate and record the experimental errors for these measurements.

For this exercise the following constants are applicable:

Distance between thermocouple T1 and the hot face xhot = 0.0375 (m)
Distance between hot face and cold face xint = 0.030 (m)
Distance between the cold face and thermocouple T8 xcold = 0.0375 (m)
Diameter of bar D = 0.025 (m)

Note:

The distance between each thermocouple is 0.015m

The distance between thermocouple T3 or T6 and the end face is 0.0075m

The conductivity of the Brass sections is approximately 121 W/m°C

The conductivity of the Stainless Steel section is approximately 25 W/m°C

For each set of readings the derived results are tabulated under the following headings:

Heat flow (Power to heater) Q=VI (Watts)

Cross sectional area (m2)

Temperature difference across composite wall (°C)

Resistance to heat flow

Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient

( )

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Zakho University Mechanical Eng. Dept. 3rd Year 2019-2020
Mechanical Lab/ Heat Transfer
Compare the two values obtained for the Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient U and U = 1/R
and comment on any difference in the values obtained.

Plot a graph of temperature against position along the bar and draw the best straight line
through the points for the heated section and cooled section. Extrapolate each line to the joint
with the intermediate section then join these two points to give the gradient through the
intermediate section. Your graph should be similar to the diagram below:

Observe that the temperature gradient increases in the Stainless Steel section because of the
reduced thermal conductivity of the material (increased resistance to heat flow).

Your results should give values of approximately 25 W/m°C for the thermal conductivity of
Stainless steel, assuming no heat loss from the equipment. As a small amount of heat loss is
inevitable as the temperature of the bar increases, the calculated value for the conductivity
will increase at higher operating temperatures.

What was the effect of varying the heater power (heat flow through the composite bar)?