Simultaneous determination of specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity using the finite-difference method

Abstract

Thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity and their variation with moisture content were determined for twigs of yerba mate ( Ilex paraguariensis Saint Hilaire). For the simultaneous determination of these two properties, transient heating data and the finite-difference method were used to determine the specific heat capacity and steady-state data to determine the thermal conductivity. The values of thermal conductivity varied between 0.137 and 0.519 W/m K and those of specific heat capacity between 1.63 and 3.22 kJ/kg K for moisture contents that varied between approximately 4 and 60 wt% (wet basis). The values obtained were fitted to theoretical models and other empirical equations.