ALASALA COLLEGES

College of Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Dr. H. R., Assistant Professor

MEC 451: Heat Transfer 2020

______________________________________________________________________________

HEAT TRANSFER THROUGH

COMPOSITE WALLS
ALASALA COLLEGES
College of Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Dr. H. R., Assistant Professor

MEC 451: Heat Transfer 2020

______________________________________________________________________________

Introduction

Heat transfer through composite walls is a concept that has attracted significant attention in different fields,

such as furnaces, cold storage rooms, and unit operations. Mostly, practical utility engineering applications

revolve around heat transfer through a specific medium consisting of two or more materials with different

thermal conductivities (Karthikeyan 12). Therefore, it primarily refers to the transport of energy between two

or more bodies with varying thermal conductivity arranged in parallel or series. Temperature difference among

the materials making the composite wall indicates that heat transfer has taken place. The amount of heat

transfer principally depends on the driving force, which is the temperature difference, and the thermal

resistance of the bodies used, such as aluminum, asbestos, and mild steel plates. The thermal conductivity of

the materials utilized relies on the temperature difference, while the heat transfer rate depends on the area of

the conducting material, the co-efficient of materials thermal conductivity, thickness of the bodies used, and

their temperature difference. Heat transfer through conduction occurs when the heated substance molecules

vibrate vigorously, thereby transferring heat when such molecules start moving from one position to the other.

When such molecules collide with others, they transfer some of their energy (Suresh and Chopra). Notably,

some materials are better conductors of heat than others, and most have a higher coefficient of thermal

conductivity. The materials that low conductors of heat are mostly used as insulators to minimize heat loss.

For instance, power cables, furnaces, and power transmission lines have insulators meant to minimize power

loss. The experiment involves heat transfer through a composite wall composed of copper, asbestos, mild

steel, and aluminum.

PURPOSE OF THE EXPERIMENT:

ALASALA COLLEGES
College of Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Dr. H. R., Assistant Professor

MEC 451: Heat Transfer 2020

______________________________________________________________________________

To determine rate of transfer of heat co efficient through composite material consisting of Copper, Asbestos,
Mild Steel, and Aluminum.

SPECIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION:

The complete setup of this experiment consists of following materials given below:

a) Composite Walls:

First one is composite walls which consist of a heater at one end with Mild Steel, Asbestos, Aluminum and
Copper plates composited to form heat flow path. To minimize heat loss test pieces are covered with MS Sheet
Guard.

b) Flat Heater:

Provided to heat the composite walls at one end.

Capacity : 250 watts

Diameter of copper,

Asbestos & Mild Steel plates : 150 mm.

Thickness of test plates : 6 mm

ALASALA COLLEGES
College of Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Dr. H. R., Assistant Professor

MEC 451: Heat Transfer 2020

______________________________________________________________________________

c) Thermocouples: K- Type to measure temperature

T1 : On Heater plate

T2 : On Copper plate

T3 : On Asbestos plate

T4 : On Mild Steel plate

T5 : On Aluminum plate

T6 & T7 : Water inlet and outlet temperatures

d) Channel Selector and Digital Temperature Indicators.

e) Heat control or Regulator : To vary input power to the heater.

f) Control Panel : To switch on / off the console and the heater.

g) Digital Wattmeter is used for heat input measurement.

OPERATIONAL PROCEDURE:

 Firstly I switched-ON the Mains to supply current and then console

 After then I switched-ON the heater by providing electric current.

 Then I set the regulator of heat to adjust or you can control purpose.
ALASALA COLLEGES
College of Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Dr. H. R., Assistant Professor

MEC 451: Heat Transfer 2020

______________________________________________________________________________

 After wait for some time, when temperature reached its steady state by time or you can say stable then
I noted the readings of the temperatures T1 to T5 using channel selector and digital Temperature
indicator

 I also noted down the wattmeter reading and water flow rate by rotameter.

 After then by using the temperatures, I calculated rate of heat transfer co-efficient through composite
wall using procedure given below

WORKING PRINCIPLE

The heat balance equation for one dimensional flow is given by, (neglecting losses in stable condition),

Q= Qi = Qaluminum=Qmild steel=Qasbestos=Qcopper

Where Qal, QM, Qas, QC are the same heat flowing across Aluminum, Mild Steel, Asbestos, and Copper
respectively. Qi is the overall heat flow across composite material.

Considering the individual material, the heat transmitted across each of the material is equal to heat input
through heater.

1 () 2 () 3 () 4 ()

Q = -------------- = --------------- = --------------- = ---------------
L1 L2 L3 L4

T = Temperature Difference of particular material in C.

K1 = Thermal Conductivity of copper

K2 = Thermal Conductivity of aluminum.
K3 = Thermal Conductivity of asbestos
K4 =Thermal Conductivity of mild steel.
.
Also the heat conducted through composite wall is given by

Q= m Cp (T7-T6)
ALASALA COLLEGES
College of Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Dr. H. R., Assistant Professor

MEC 451: Heat Transfer 2020

______________________________________________________________________________

Therefore, Overall thermal conductivity practical, Kexp

Q ×L0
Kexp = -------------- in (W/moC)
A (T2-T5)

Where,

m = mass flow rate of water in Kg/s

A = Area of heat flow in m2

As we know plates are circular so we will take their diameter. D

Theoretical Overall heat transfer coefficient K theo is given by,

LO
Ktheo = --------------------------------------------------
(L1/K1) + (L2/K2) + (L3/K3) + (L4/K4)

L1 = L2 = L3 = L4=0.006 m. LO= 0.024 m

A= ×0.152/4=0.017 m2.
 ALASALA COLLEGES
College of Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Dr. H. R., Assistant Professor

MEC 451: Heat Transfer 2020

______________________________________________________________________________

TABULAR COLUMN:

Power Water flow T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 Time to Theoretical overall Experimental

Input rate in reach heat transfer overall heat
in KW kg/sec steady coefficient transfer
state coefficient

(220*0.18) Q =m Cp (T7- °C °C °C °C °C °C °C minutes W/moC W/moC

/2 T6)

Where
m=rvA
20 92.82 58 54 52 50 46 27 40 10 10.90 10.921
20 78.54 53 52 48 46 42 27 38 20 12.24 11.08
20 71.4 55 53 51 46 44 27 37 30 14.1 13.6
20 69.28 54 51 49 45 43 27 37 40 11.93 12.3

Calculations:

Firstly I noted the values of temperature by the help of thermocouples already installed in the apparatus. Then
I calculated the value of power input by applying formula:

Q= (V*I)/2

After then I calculated the values of K1, K2, K3, K4 by applying following formulas:
K1 = Thermal Conductivity of copper
K2 = Thermal Conductivity of aluminum.
K3 = Thermal Conductivity of asbestos.
K4 =Thermal Conductivity of mild steel.

Q L1
K1 =--------------------------
A (T1 – T2)
ALASALA COLLEGES
College of Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Dr. H. R., Assistant Professor

MEC 451: Heat Transfer 2020

______________________________________________________________________________

Q L2
K2= ------------------
A (T2 – T3)

Q L3
K3= ------------------
A (T3 – T4)

Q L4
K4= ------------------
A (T4 – T5)

After then by
putting all
values of K1,
K2, K3, K4
AND L1, L2,
L3, L4 we get
the theoretical
heat
coefficient.

LO
Ktheo = ---------------------------------------------------
(L1/K1) + (L2/K2) + (L3/K3) + (L4/K4)

Where L1 = L2 = L3 = L4=0.006 m and LO= 0.024 m respectively.

ALASALA COLLEGES
College of Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Dr. H. R., Assistant Professor

MEC 451: Heat Transfer 2020

______________________________________________________________________________

After getting theoretical reading I then calculated the values of heat coefficient experimentally which is given
below:
 ALASALA COLLEGES
College of Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Dr. Husam Rajab, Assistant Professor

MEC 451: Heat Transfer 2020

______________________________________________________________________________

Q Lo
Kexp = ------------- in W/moC
A (T2 – T5)

Q = m Cp (T7-T6)

SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM

T6 COOLING CHAMBER T7
Water T5
inlet ALLUMINIUM(T5)
T4 Water
outlet
MILD STEEL(T4)
T3

ASBESTOS (T3)
T2
COPPER(T2) Thermocouple

T1
HEATER(T1)
ALASALA COLLEGES
College of Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Dr. Husam Rajab, Assistant Professor

MEC 451: Heat Transfer 2020

______________________________________________________________________________

Results and Discussion

According to the experiment results and calculations, the water flow rate in kg/sec reduces as the

time to reach steady-state increase

Water Flow Rate in kg/sec Time to Reach Steady State (Minutes)

92.82 10
78.54 20
71.4 30
69.28 40

Water Flow Rate and Time to Stable State

100
92.82
Water Flow Rate kg/sec

78.54
80 71.4 69.28

60
40
20
010 20 30 40

Time to Reach Stable State

Additionally, both the theoretical overall heat transfer coefficient and experimental overall heat

transfer coefficient increased steadily up to 30 minutes take to reach a stable state, after which

they started to decrease to a stable state.

Time Taken to Stable State Theoretical Overall Heat Experimental overall heat
ALASALA COLLEGES
College of Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Dr. Husam Rajab, Assistant Professor

MEC 451: Heat Transfer 2020

______________________________________________________________________________

Transfer transfer
Coefficient coefficient
10 10.90 10.921
20 12.24 11.08
30 14.1 13.6
40 11.93 12.3

Time and Theoretical and Experimental Coefficients

16

12
Coefficients

010 20 30 40
Time to Stable State

The temperature at the heater plate reduced significantly through the other materials used as the

time to the stable state increased. Additionally, the water outlet temperature also decreased with

time from about 40oC to 37oC at the stable state. Despite having the same area, length, and

diameter, copper, asbestos, mild steel, and aluminum plates conducted heat differently. A

decrease in temperature contributed to the decreased water flow rate as the time taken to reach a

stable state increased. However, a decrease in temperature, despite the increased time taken to

reach a stable state, increased theoretical and experimental overall heat transfer coefficients. The
ALASALA COLLEGES
College of Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Dr. Husam Rajab, Assistant Professor

MEC 451: Heat Transfer 2020

______________________________________________________________________________

plates' thermal conductivity results in different temperatures that contribute to varying

coefficients and water flow rate.

Conclusion

Heat transfer through conduction occurs when molecules of a heated body vibrate vigorously and

transfer heat when they move from one place to another. However, some materials are better

conductors of heat than others. Mostly poor conductors of heat are used as insulators to minimize

heat loss in different applications. The experiment involves heat transfer through a composite

wall comprised of copper, aluminum, asbestos, and mild steel plates. The plates have the same

dimensions, meaning that they have the same area. According to the data collected and

calculations, the water flow rate decreases as the temperature from one plate to the other reduces

and the time take to reach stable state increases. Additionally, the experimental and theoretical

heat transfer coefficients increase with a decrease in temperature to a maximum level and reduce

when the stable state is reached. The plates used to make the composite wall had varying thermal

conductivity with temperature differences between them. Therefore, heat transfer through a

composite wall is a significant experiment that demonstrates how heat can be transferred from

one material to another and its application in a wide range of engineering fields.
ALASALA COLLEGES
College of Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Dr. Husam Rajab, Assistant Professor

MEC 451: Heat Transfer 2020

______________________________________________________________________________

Works Cited

Karthikeyan, N. "Analysis the Thermal Conductivity between Composite Wall and Powder

Materials." International Journal of All Research Writings 1.2 (2018): 12-15.

Suresh, Bhangale Bhushan, and M. K. Chopra. "Analysis of Steady State Heat Conduction in

Different Composite Wall."