Absolute Measurement of the Thermal Conductivity of Electrically Conducting Liquids

A new instrument for the measurement of the thermal conductivity of electrically conducting liquids by the transient hot-wire method is described. The instrument has features in common with earlier versions but employs a novel technique for the insulation of the hot-wire. Absolute measurements of the thermal conductivity of water, methanol and ethanol are reported at atmospheric pressure and in the temperature range 295 — 350 K. The overall uncertainty in the reported thermal conductivity data is estimated to be ±0.5%. The data for water are consistent with internationally recommended reference values of slightly inferior accuracy.