Experimental Characterization of Thermal Conductivity with a New Compact Hot-Box Prototype

In this study, a new compact “hot-box” prototype with a volume of 0.602 m3 has been designed, instrumented, and implemented to experimentally characterize the thermal conductivity of specimens measuring 25 cm × 25 cm, with the thickness of the specimen varying up to a maximum of 10 cm. The prototype features a novel design aimed at enhancing flexibility and speed in changing specimens, thereby reducing downtime when testing different materials. It requires minimal space and incurs low development and maintenance costs. To validate the prototype’s functionality for measuring thermal conductivity, an oak wood specimen with a thickness of 3.81 cm was experimentally tested. The results indicate that the control system maintains key parameters under steady-state conditions for a significant duration. The thermal conductivity obtained for the oak wood specimen is 0.1695 W/m·K, with an expanded uncertainty of 0.0183 W/m·K for a 95% confidence interval.