Thermal Conductivities of Ethylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, and Glycerol

Abstract

This work provides the temperature dependence of the thermal conductivities of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and glycerol. The experimental results are obtained using the transient hot-wire method over a temperature range of 235–350 K, depending on the liquid, and under atmospheric pressure conditions. A consistent data reduction technique minimizes the influence of buoyancy-induced convection on the experimental results. A reliable correlation of thermal conductivity values with the temperature of each liquid is provided. Additional insights into the experimental methods are obtained using numerical simulations. The velocity and temperature field induced by the measurement process are computed to understand their impact on the measured thermal conductivity. The experimental and computed results are compared to evaluate the assumptions of the transient hot-wire method.