Thermal Conductivity of Helium and Hydrogen at High Temperatures

Abstract

A steady-state hot wire method for measuring the thermal conductivity of light gases in the temperature range 1200° to 2100°K is described. In contrast to other methods, free convection currents and large temperature gradients occur; convection effects are shown to be negligible, and the experimental procedure for eliminating the large gradient effects is described. The thermal conductivity of helium is found to follow the equation λ×106=991+0.678(T—1200) cal/sec cm deg over the temperature range covered. That for hydrogen is λ×106=1434+1.257(T—1200) cal/sec cm deg.