Unsteady State Heat Transfer
- A controller switches the power to an electric heater to keep a constant ‘bulk’ water temperature inside the vessel. A temperature controller maintains a constant water temperature for the test shape.
- This gives multiple experiments in heat transfer.
- Precision instruments measure the temperatures at key points on clear multi-line displays.
- The test shapes are of different dimensions and material to give different heat transfer areas and thermal conductivities.
- The student immerses the test shape and measures the transient temperature changes caused by the sudden immersion.
- They then immerse the other test shapes and compare the results to find how their different surface area, shape and thermal properties affect the heat transfer.
- The vessel has a large volume of water compared to the test shapes, so their immersion has a negligible affect on the bulk temperature.