Design & Construction of An Experimental Setup for Measuring Thermal Conductivity of Versatile Range of Solid Materials

The paper describes an experimental setup that measures the thermal conductivity of the versatile range of solid materials based on 1-dimensional thermal conductivity measurement by the steady-state method. In this method, the steady temperature at the steady-state condition in the 1-dimensional measurement is predicted by the transient temperature history, and thermal conductivity is calculated. In this experiment, water is used as a heating medium to ensure uniform heat flow through the substance. Three layers of insulation are provided on the specimen’s circumferential surface to reduce heat loss. No internal heat generation is allowed to develop as the material of the specimen is isotropic. The apparatus consists of two Nylon chambers with the specimen connected between them. The right chamber is filled with water and heated at a particular heat. Water enters the left chamber through the inlet port and leaves through an outlet port. Heat transfer occurs through the specimen, and a temperature difference is created between the inlet and outlet. The temperature vs distance curve from experimental measurements was drawn to determine the thermal conductivity of the specimen. The setup’s accuracy and consistency will be proven by comparing the experimental value with the theoretical value. The decision is made to determine Aluminum, Brass, Mild Steel, and Carbon Steel’s thermal conductivity to test the reliability of the experimental setup. Due to the testing of a versatile range of materials, the device provides the opportunity for comparative study for different materials concerning thermal conductivity. The theoretical principle is firstly preceded, and then our experimental procedure is described. The experimental setup has a simple design configuration that contains high-performance & inexpensive components. It is also manageable to use and well suited for research laboratories. Finally, based on experimental results, the measurement accuracy and sensibility performances are discussed.