Heat Transfer Laboratory Equipment: What Engineering Colleges Need
Heat transfer is a core subject in mechanical, chemical, and process engineering programmes. A well-equipped Heat Transfer lab allows students to experimentally verify Fourier’s Law of Conduction, Newton’s Law of Cooling, Stefan-Boltzmann Law of Radiation, and the LMTD method for heat exchanger design. This guide covers the essential heat transfer lab equipment, specifications, and procurement guidance for engineering colleges worldwide.
Essential Heat Transfer Lab Apparatus
| Equipment | Principle Demonstrated | Curriculum Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Linear Conduction Apparatus | Fourier’s Law — heat flow in a bar | B.Tech Mechanical, Chemical |
| Radial Conduction Apparatus | Radial heat conduction in a disc | B.Tech Mechanical |
| Natural Convection Apparatus | Newton’s Law of Cooling, h coefficient | B.Tech Mechanical, Chemical |
| Forced Convection Apparatus | Heat transfer in a tube with forced airflow | B.Tech Mechanical, Chemical |
| Radiation Apparatus (Stefan-Boltzmann) | Emissivity, radiation constants | B.Tech Mechanical |
| Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger | LMTD, NTU-effectiveness, parallel/counter flow | B.Tech Mechanical, Chemical |
| Plate Heat Exchanger | Compact heat exchanger performance | B.Tech Chemical, Process Eng. |
| Pin Fin Apparatus | Extended surface heat transfer, fin efficiency | B.Tech Mechanical |
| Critical Heat Flux Apparatus | Pool boiling, nucleate vs film boiling | M.Tech Thermal |
| Thermal Conductivity of Liquids | Conduction in fluids | B.Tech Chemical |
Linear and Radial Conduction Experiment
Fourier’s Law of Conduction
Q = -kA (dT/dx)
Where Q = heat flow rate (W), k = thermal conductivity (W/m·K), A = cross-sectional area (m²), dT/dx = temperature gradient (K/m).
Students measure temperature at multiple points along a heated metal bar using thermocouples and plot the temperature profile. The slope gives dT/dx. With known Q (from electrical power input), k is calculated and compared with published values for the material (brass, aluminium, or stainless steel).
Procedure
Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Experiment
LMTD Method
Log Mean Temperature Difference (LMTD) is used to calculate the overall heat transfer coefficient U:
Q = U x A x LMTD
LMTD = (delta_T1 – delta_T2) / ln(delta_T1 / delta_T2)
For parallel flow: delta_T1 = T_h,in – T_c,in and delta_T2 = T_h,out – T_c,out
For counter flow: delta_T1 = T_h,in – T_c,out and delta_T2 = T_h,out – T_c,in
NTU-Effectiveness Method
Effectiveness epsilon = Q_actual / Q_max
NTU = U x A / C_min
Where C_min = minimum of (m_dot x Cp) for hot or cold streams.
Experiments on Scientico Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger
Forced vs Natural Convection
| Parameter | Natural Convection | Forced Convection |
|---|---|---|
| Driving mechanism | Buoyancy (density difference due to temperature) | External fan/pump |
| Nusselt number Nu | Function of Gr x Pr (Grashof x Prandtl) | Function of Re x Pr (Reynolds x Prandtl) |
| Heat transfer coefficient h | 5-25 W/m2K (air) | 25-250 W/m2K (air) |
| Applicability | Passive cooling, electronics, building walls | Heat exchangers, radiators, cooling fins |
Heat Transfer Lab Equipment Specifications for Engineering Colleges
Scientico India supplies complete Heat Transfer Lab setups for B.Tech Mechanical and Chemical Engineering programmes. All apparatus include:
Viva Questions: Heat Transfer Experiments
Heat Transfer Lab Equipment Manufacturer India
Scientico India manufactures and exports a complete range of heat transfer lab equipment including linear and radial conduction apparatus, natural and forced convection rigs, radiation apparatus, shell-and-tube and plate heat exchangers, and pin fin apparatus. All equipment is ISO 9001:2015 manufactured and CE certified. Exported to engineering colleges in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Kenya, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Vietnam, Nepal, and Ethiopia. Request a complete lab setup quotation.
Get Specifications & Pricing
Scientico India manufactures CE-certified, ISO 9001:2015-compliant laboratory apparatus for universities and institutions. Contact us for full specifications, pricing, and documentation.
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Scientico India manufactures this and the full range of Heat Transfer & Thermodynamics equipment — CE-certified and supplied to engineering colleges worldwide.
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