Tongo - Expt 1 - ChE Lab 1
Tongo - Expt 1 - ChE Lab 1
CHELAB 1 / 51149
10:30 - 13:30 Thursday
Instructor
Heat can be transferred in three ways namely: convection, conduction, and radiation. Convection is the
transfer of heat using a medium without direct contact on the object. While conduction is the transfer of heat with
direct contact on the surface of the object. On the other hand, radiation transfers heat without the need of any
medium. It transfers heat via electromagnetic waves. Coatings and insulators are painted or covered in the pipes
in order to trap the heat that is escaping. In this experiment, the students used a bare and lagged pipe instrument
to quantify and compare the thermal conductivity of each coating or insulator to its theoretical value using
Fourier’s Law of Conduction. The obtained actual values of the thermal conductivity were so far deviated from
the theoretical value. The conclusion that was made by the students was, the equipment was not calibrated.
I. Introduction
One of the focuses of transport phenomena is the transfer of energy which involves a flow of heat from
one body to another. The second law of thermodynamics governs the occurrence of this phenomenon. According
to this law, heat transfer occurs from a body with a higher temperature to a lower temperature. Therefore, heat
transfer is possible if the temperature gradient between two areas is negative. With that, the temperature gradient
Moreover, various mechanisms take place in the transfer of heat, which are the following: conduction,
convection, and radiation. Conduction is the type of heat transfer that requires direct contact for heat to flow,
most likely solid matter. On the other hand, convection happens when the transfer of heat occurs within the fluid,
a gas or liquid. However, the heat flow due to electromagnetic waves without interaction between particles and
One of their applications is the heat transfer of fluids through a tube commonly occurring in heat
exchangers. In a conduit or heat exchanger, steam and water are widely used as the working fluid to heat and
cool a particular liquid. However, heat transfer efficiency is affected by various factors, one of which is
insulation. Insulation is when building or putting a barrier between the surface of an object where heat transfer
occurs. This barrier reduces the heat flow by reducing the thermal conduction or convection from a specific
matter. In terms of calculation, heat transfer can be quantified using the model of Fourier’s law of thermal
conduction which states that the rate of heat transfer from a material is directly proportional to area and to the
𝑄 = − 𝑘𝐴 ∆𝑥
∆𝑇
𝑄 = 𝑈𝐴∆𝑇
𝐿𝑀𝑇𝐷
II. Objectives
● To solve for the experimental thermal conductivity and compare it to the theoretical value.
Water
Thermometer
Small container
Caliper
IV. Procedure
The apparatus was turned on with zero wattage on the wattmeter and it was allowed to achieve
equilibrium before starting the experiment. Before starting the actual experiment, it was made sure that the exit
valve was closed to avoid the leakage of the input water and the water temperature was measured to acquire the
temperature difference needed in the computation. The experiment was started by turning the wattmeter knob to
99.48 watts. After turning the wattmeter knob, the temperature for four different pipes were observed and
recorded to the data collection. In addition, after the first run, the temperature of the water inside the pipe was
measured by collecting the water and placing a thermometer to read the temperature. The experiment was
repeated for two more runs with a wattage of 203.6 watts and 305.2 watts.
V. Experimental Data
Table 1. Pipe and Insulator Dimensions
Pipe Insulator
Outside Diameter = 35 millimeter Outside Diameter = 90 millimeter
Length = 1 meter
Schedule Number 80
Table 2. Pre-Trial
Watt-M Pipe and Insulator Surface Temperature Water
eter Temperature
T1 (Bare Pipe) T2 (Paint T3 (Fiberglass T4 (Perlite
Coated) Insulation) Insulation)
0 26 25 22 25 27
Table 3. Trial 1
Watt-M Pipe and Insulator Surface Temperature Water
eter T1 (Bare Pipe) T2 (Paint T3 (Fiberglass T4 (Perlite Temperature
Coated) Insulation) Insulation)
99.48 43 42 29 27 33.2
Table 4. Trial 2
Watt-M Pipe and Insulator Surface Temperature Water
eter Temperature
T1 (Bare Pipe) T2 (Paint T3 (Fiberglass T4 (Perlite
Coated) Insulation) Insulation)
203.6 80 77 43 34 56.6
Table 5. Trial 3
Watt-M Pipe and Insulator Surface Temperature Water
eter Temperature
T1 (Bare Pipe) T2 (Paint T3 (Fiberglass T4 (Perlite
Coated) Insulation) Insulation)
305.2 81 79 39 30 75.7
Trial 1, operated under 99.48 Watt-meters, achieved the above results as shown in Table 6.1. The
experimental thermal conductivities in W/m-K were -0.2250, -0.2506, 1.068, and 0.9346, respectively from T1
to T4. These values are far from the theoretical conductivity on the last column which are 15, 15.2, 0.0430, and
An increase of about 104.12 Watt-meter were applied for Trial 2, which yielded the results in Table 6.2.
The experimental thermal conductivities in the same units were -0.1929, -0.2212, 0.8271, and 0.6653. Similarly,
the results here were also far from the theory, giving an average percent error of 835.44%.
The final trial had been applied an increase of 101.6 Watt-meter, resulting in experimental thermal
conductivities of the same units of -1.2763, -2.0499, 1.0923, and 0.8995, as seen in Table 6.3. These are, once
again, far from theoretical results with an average percent error of 1119.04%.
There are several alleged reasons as to why the experimental values deviate so much from the theoretical
values, the first of which is faulty or uncalibrated equipment. The proponents reason that the thermocouple of
the equipment have been damaged over the years resulting in false readings on the equipment. Notably, the
measurement of the water temperature during trials were also inconvenient to the proponents as the water had to
be flushed out of the equipment and measured thereafter manually using a digital thermometer. This
inconvenience could have resulted in losses to the temperature during flushing therefore yielding lower
temperatures than actual, such case could have been avoided with another thermocouple in the water itself.
Another is that the equipment could be uncalibrated and therefore giving such results.
Additionally, it is noted that the exit valve of the water inside the equipment have not been closed during
the trials as there were safety concerns to the structural integrity of the valve, this allowed any build up of heat
in the water to escape. The supervising professor informed the proponents of this which strengthens the validity
for the second reason. The unclosed valve is speculated to be the reason for the water temperature being lower
than the bare pipe temperature, which is illogical as the heat source should be coming from the water itself and
VII. Conclusion
The proponents have completed the experiment during the allotted time and have achieved theoretical thermal
conductivities in line with the objectives. In conclusion, the experimental values compared to their theoretical
Trial 1 Trial 3
2. -0.2506 and 15.2 (101.65% error) 2. -2.0499 and 15.2 (113.58% error)
3. 1.068 and 0.0430 (2383.72% error) 3. 1.0923 and 0.0430 (2440.23% error)
4. 0.9346 and 0.047 (1888.51% error) 4. 0.8995 and 0.047 (1813.83% error)
Trial 2
For future reference, it is recommended that the equipment to be used is calibrated before experimentation.
Additionally, ensure that all sensors are functioning properly and that all valves are in proper condition for use.
Appendices
Appendix A. Experimental Data
Raw Data
Table 1. Pipe and Insulator Dimensions
Pipe Insulator
Outside Diameter = 35 millimeter Outside Diameter = 90 millimeter
Length = 1 meter
Schedule Number 80
Table 2. Pre-Trial
Watt-M Pipe and Insulator Surface Temperature Water
eter Temperature
T1 (Bare Pipe) T2 (Paint T3 (Fiberglass T4 (Perlite
Coated) Insulation) Insulation)
0 26 25 22 25 27
Table 3. Trial 1
Watt-M Pipe and Insulator Surface Temperature Water
eter Temperature
T1 (Bare Pipe) T2 (Paint T3 (Fiberglass T4 (Perlite
Coated) Insulation) Insulation)
99.48 43 42 29 27 33.2
Table 4. Trial 2
Watt-M Pipe and Insulator Surface Temperature Water
eter Temperature
T1 (Bare Pipe) T2 (Paint T3 (Fiberglass T4 (Perlite
Coated) Insulation) Insulation)
203.6 80 77 43 34 56.6
Table 5. Trial 3
Watt-M Pipe and Insulator Surface Temperature Water
eter Temperature
T1 (Bare Pipe) T2 (Paint T3 (Fiberglass T4 (Perlite
Coated) Insulation) Insulation)
305.2 81 79 39 30 75.7
Appendix B.
Sample Calculations
Cheasltal Englneering Department
School Year 2022 - 21123
« (15 + 0.2)2*(l}(I'
(3s ss)
Z’ 41. 8542 “C
M.8522 + 41.8543 _ g .
The theoretical average water tempemture in the pipe is 42.3532 °C which is for from the
experimental water temperature.
Turnitin Result
References (APA Format)
Saskarc Inc. (2018, October 16). The pros & cons of steel – bare, painted & galvanized.Saskarc Inc.
https://saskarc.com/en/the-pros-cons-of-steel-bare-painted-and-galvanized/
Thermal conductivity determination by lagged pipe apparatus - volume 3, no. 2, April 2014 -
IJMERR. (n.d.). Ijmerr.com. Retrieved February 23, 2023, from
http://www.ijmerr.com/show-128-229-1.html
239142736 bare and lagged - experiment B3 heat losses in bare and lagged pipes and Finned tube. Studocu.
ons/239142736-bare-and-lagged/4256753
UNIT OPERATION LABORATORY 2 RUBRIC
Ranking: On a scale from 1(lowest performance) to 4 (highest), assign points to each dimension based on the criteria below: