Title: Determination of the thermal conductivity of shredded tyres by utilising a hot plate apparatus

Authors: Kassahun G. Sellassie, Horace Keith Moo-Young Jr., Thomas B. Lloyd

Addresses: Civil and Environmental Engineer, 321 W. University Ave. 2nd Floor, Air Management Services, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. ' College of Engineering, 800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085–1681, USA. ' 127 Bridle Path Rd, Bethlehem, PA 18017–3870, USA

Abstract: This paper presents the study of thermal conductivity of shredded tyre at varying temperature gradient. To accomplish this objective, laboratory tests have been conducted to determine the heat transfer properties of the materials that compose tyres (i.e., tyre rubber and wires) by using a hot-plate apparatus. A hot plate was adopted by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) as a standard method. In addition, one-dimensional heat conduction experiments have been conducted to compare the flow of heat through the materials while varying the physical and environmental conditions. A one-dimensional heat transfer equation was developed, and parametric studies have been conducted to verify the laboratory model. The experimental data were compared to exact solutions and Fourier|s unsteady state equation. From the comparison, the respective average heat coefficient was 3.3 W/m²-K; the average diffusivity was 4.6E-4 meters²/hr; and the thermal conductivity was 0.30 W/m K.

Keywords: thermal conductivity; power; shredded tyres; hot-plate apparatus; thermal diffusivity; tyre rubber; wires; heat transfer coefficient; waste management; environmental management; heat conduction; heat flow; recycling; reuse.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2007.013631

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2007 Vol.1 No.2/3, pp.179 - 191

Published online: 09 May 2007 *

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