Projects / Mechanical / Project 23

Insulation Material Thermal Conductivity Tester (Guarded Hot Plate)

Approx. component budget: Rs. 6,000 - 10,000

Objective

Measure the thermal conductivity of common insulation materials such as thermocol, cork, coir board and cotton-waste board, and compare them.

What you will build

A small guarded hot-plate set-up: electric heater plate, guard ring, a cooled plate, sample holders and thermocouples, all inside an insulated box.

Results you can expect

• Thermal conductivity (W/mK) of 4 materials
• Effect of thickness and density
• Comparison with published values

What you will learn

Conduction, steady-state heat transfer, measurement error, and how insulation is chosen for buildings and cold chains.

Tools and notes

Arduino + thermocouples, voltmeter and ammeter, Excel. Allow enough time to reach steady state and use a regulated heater supply with proper protection.

Resume points from this project

• Built and tested Insulation Material Thermal Conductivity Tester (Guarded Hot Plate); objective: measure the thermal conductivity of common insulation materials such as thermocol, cork, coir board and cotton-waste board, and compare them.
• Measured and analysed thermal conductivity (W/mK) of 4 materials and effect of thickness and density; wrote the report and presented the results in a viva. Add your own numbers: [x].

Replace [x] with your own measured results. Write only what you really did.

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