Thermal Conductivity and Boundry Layer

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The thermal conductivity of water is 0.1455 cal/sec/meter°C, which is crucial for calculating heat transfer in melting ice. The equation Q/t = k * A * delta T / d is used to determine the time for ice to melt, where A is the surface area and d is the boundary layer thickness. In a recent experiment, melting 100 grams of ice in water at 30°C took approximately 6 minutes, aligning with theoretical calculations. The boundary layer thickness was found to be 0.002 meters, and the initial surface area was used for calculations despite the area decreasing as the ice melted. The discussion emphasizes the importance of accurately determining boundary layer thickness and surface area in thermal conductivity calculations.
morrobay
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Thermal Conductivity , k , for water is .1455 cal/sec/ meter * C ( converted watts to cal/sec)
Q/t = k* A delta T/ d
A= area M2
d = thickness of water/ice boundary layer
Suppose I want to calculate time for 100 grams of ice to melt ( 8000 calories absorbed
from surroundings by conduction.
I have delta T and initial surface area of ice/water interface .
Two questions : What would be the boundary layer thickness. d
And in the case that the surface area, A, is decreasing as the ice melts is it correct to
use just the initial surface area in the calculation ?
My reasoning on the area is that it would actually be : Integral A(initial) - A(final) and
A(final ) = 0
 
Last edited:
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morrobay said:
Thermal Conductivity , k , for water is .1455 cal/sec/ meter * C ( converted watts to cal/sec)
Q/t = k* A delta T/ d
A= area M2
d = thickness of water/ice boundary layer
Suppose I want to calculate time for 100 grams of ice to melt ( 8000 calories absorbed
from surroundings by conduction.
I have delta T and initial surface area of ice/water interface .
Two questions : What would be the boundary layer thickness. d
And in the case that the surface area, A, is decreasing as the ice melts is it correct to
use just the initial surface area in the calculation ?
My reasoning on the area is that it would actually be : Integral A(initial) - A(final) and
A(final ) = 0

I just did this experiment with 100 cc ice in 1 liter water at 30 deg C , 30000 cal
so final temp 22000 cal /1100 gram water = 20 C , melting time was 6 minutes
In close agreement with Q/t = k*A delta T/ x
x = thickness of boundary layer between ice and water = .002 M
Reference Journal Physical Oceanography
A= surface area 100 cc ice cylinder = .01224 M^2
delta t = 30 deg
k, thermal conductivity water = .1455 cal/sec/Meter * Kelvin
So, Q/t = .1455 cal/sec/M*T ( 30 C) (.01224 M^2) / .002 M = 26.5 cal/sec
8000 cal/ 26.5cal/sec = 301 sec. = 5 min
 
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