College Physics ›› 2025, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (11): 12-.doi: 10.1016854/j.cnki.1000-0712.250146

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Development of a comprehensive thermal experiment instrument based on vacuum environment

NIE Muxiang1,LI Mansha1,TANG Jinglong1,XIA Xiangfang1,QI Feiyang2,XU Zhigang1   

  1. 1. College of Science,Hunan University of Technology,Zhuzhou,Hunan 412007,China;
    2. College of Electrical and Information Engineering,Hunan University of Technology,Zhuzhou,Hunan 412007,China

  • Received:2025-03-20 Revised:2025-04-15 Online:2026-01-19 Published:2026-01-19

Abstract: Traditional experimental setups used in university laboratories to measure the thermal conductivity and specific heat of materials often face issues such as errors from air convection,unstable connections with PT100 platinum resistance thermometers,and extended experimental durations. To address these limitations,a novel vacuuminsulated experimental apparatus is developed,enabling simultaneous measurement of thermal conductivity and specific heat under controlled conditions. By incorporating a vacuum system,the influence of air convection is effectively eliminated. Additionally,a thermocouple thermometer is employed to avoid data deviations caused by line resistance in PT100 sensors. The apparatus utilizes a constant direct current voltage for heating and cooling,allowing for direct measurement of electrical power (as represented by in Fourier s heat conduction theory). The device measured the thermal conductivity of silicone,copper,and aluminum to be approximately 0.1400,118.0,and 182.1 W/m·K,respectively,and the specific heat capacity of copper to be approximately 0.347 J/(g·℃),all within the standard values for these materials. The relative expanded uncertainties (within a 95% confidence interval) of the measurement results were assessed to be 1.3%,0.25%,0.28%,and 3.74%,respectively,indicating good stability in the measurement results obtained by this device.

Key words: vacuum insulation, thermal conductivity, specific heat