Estimated heat distribution by convection in water

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Estimated heat distribution by convection in water

Introduction

This report assesses the distribution of heat by convection in water to estimate the heat conductivity of water. The transfer of heat from a heating coil to a fluid is conduction but the heat transfer within the fluid is convection. This is basically fluid flow of particles arising from nature, heat, chemical or kinetics. The distribution of heat is assessed with various factors introduced. In this case a magnetic stirrer and a motor. This report presents an estimate of the effect of free and forced convention on the distribution of heat in water.

Experimental method

The apparatus were arranged as shown in fig. 1. A beaker of five litre capacity was places on a motor, four litres (4L) of cold water was put in a beaker. A heating coil and three thermometers were placed at various depths in the beaker of water and their various distances from the base of the beaker were recorded. Power was supplied to the motor and heating coil and at intervals of four minutes each; the temperatures on all three thermometers were read simultaneously. After four successful readings, the electricity supply was disconnected and the ambient temperature was recorded. This same procedure was repeated twice, the first with a magnetic stirrer and the next time without the magnetic stirrer but the motor operating.

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Table 1. Distances of apparatus and initial temperature readings of the water.

Table 1 shows the ambient temperature readings collected before the experiment was carried out. It also shows the positions of the heating coil and thermometers from the base of the of the beaker.

Results

The time was kept in minutes to measure the intervals at which readings were taken. The temperature of the water was measured with thermometers in degreed Celsius and recalculated in degrees Kelvin and the positions of the heating coil and thermometers were also measured in meters.

Table 2: Free convection

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