Measurement of the thermal conductivity of helium up to 2100°K by the column method

Abstract

The thermal conductivity of helium was measured at atmospheric pressure in the range 800–2100°K by the column method. The data could be correlated by the polynomial λ = 0.635×10−1+0.310×10−3T−0.244×10−7T2λ=0.635×10−1+0.310×10−3T−0.244×10−7T2, where λ is in watts per meters degrees Kelvin and T is in degrees Kelvin. The results obtained were compared with previous thermal conductivity measurements. The data of Desmond and Saxena and Saxena agree closely with the present results; the data of Timrot and Umanskii appear to be too low and those of Blais and Mann too high. Values for f = λ/ηCvf=λ∕ηCv, computed using measured thermal conductivities and available viscosity data, were found to agree well with classical results from kinetic theory.