CHAPTER 2

CONDUCTION HEAT TRANSFER

1
 • 2.1 Principles of
Conductive Heat
Transfer
• TO DESCRIBE THE
PRINCIPLES OF
CONDUCTION
HEAT TRANSFER
(SOLID, LIQUID
OBJECTIVES
AND GAS)

2
 HEAT CONDUCTION
• CONDUCTION IS THE PROCESS OF THERMAL
ENERGY TRANSFER WITHOUT ANY FLOW OF THE
MATERIAL MEDIUM.
HOT COLD
(lots of vibration) (not much vibration)

Heat travels
along the rod
3
•When the thermal energy(heat) is supplied
to one end of the rod, the particles (atom or
molecules) at the hot end vibrate vigorously.
•These particles will collide with
neighbouring particles, making them vibrate
as well.

•Kinetic energy of the vibrating particles

at the hot end is transferred to the
neighbouring particles.

Vibrate Collide Transfer 4

• In metals, not only do the atoms vibrate more when heated, but the
free electrons charge around more as well. These transfer the energy
much faster than just vibrations in bonds.

• This fast-moving electrons then diffuse into the cooler parts of the
metal.

• In the process, they collide with the atoms in the cooler parts of the
metals and transfer their kinetic energy to them.

• This explains why good conductors like metals are capable of

transferring thermal energy much faster than insulators.(I.E. Non-
metals)

5
 CONDUCTION CAN TAKE PLACE IN SOLIDS, LIQUID AND GASES PROVIDED
NO BULK MOTION INVOLVED.

Solid Liquid Gas

• Metals are good conductors of • Less good conductors of heat than • Very poor conductors of heat
electricity. solids
• Molecules are widely separated
• They are also good conductors of • The interactions are weaker than in and interact rarely compared to
heat. In metals, not only do the
solids and this makes energy solids and liquids
atoms vibrate more when heated,
but the free electrons charge transfer less efficient
around more as well.
• These transfer the energy much
6
faster than just vibrations in
bonds.
Good conductors of heat:
•Metals such as copper, iron and silver
Bad conductors of heat/insulators:
•Non metals such as glass, plastics, bricks, wool, wood, air and water.

7
HEAT TRANSFER IS A VECTOR QUANTITY; IT HAS BOTH DIRECTION AND
MAGNITUDE

+ve quantity indicates heat

transfer in the positive
direction

-ve quantity indicates heat

transfer in the negative
direction
8
 STEADY VERSUS TRANSIENT(UNSTEADY)

Steady Transient
• Steady state • Variation with
• No change time or time
with time at independence
any point
within the
medium

9
ONE DIMENSIONAL HEAT TRANSFER

• The temperature in the medium

varies in one direction only.
• The variation of temperature and thus
the heat transfer in other direction
are negligible or zero.
Another example:

Heat transfer through

a hot water pipe (radial
direction from the hot
water to ambient) 10
TWO-DIMENSIONAL HEAT TRANSFER

11
 Heat Flux
q dT
(Wm-2)
Q = = −k
A dx
Heat Transfer (W)
Perunit Area (m2)
FOURIER’S LAW OF dT
HEAT CONDUCTION
ONE DIMENSIONAL
(W/m2)
q = −kA
HEAT CONDUCTION Thermal Conductivity dx
(Wm-1K-1)

(T1 − T2 )
dT = temperature difference (K)
q = kA
dx = distance across section (m)
( x2 − x1 )
12
Heat is conducted in the direction of decreasing
temperature

dT
q = −kA
dx

13
 4.2 Thermal Conductivity

• The rate of heat transfer through a unit thickness of the material per unit area per
unit temperature difference.

• Thermal conductivity (k), is a physical property of the material

• Measures the materials ability to conduct heat. (High value of k = good heat
conductor, & otherwise).

• Varies for different materials

• The SI unit is W/mk 14

 Thermal Conductivity
Material
Wm-1oC-1

Diamond 2300
Silver 429
Copper 401
Gold 317
Aluminum 237
Iron 80.2
Mercury (liq) 8.54
Glass 0.78
Brick 0.72
Water (liq) 0.63
Air (g) 0.026
Human skin 0.37 15

Helium (g) 0.152

16
 TRY THIS!

CALCULATE THE HEAT LOSS PER SQUARE METER OF SURFACE AREA FOR AN INSULATING
WALL OF A FOOD COLD-STORAGE ROOM WHERE THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS 299.9K
AND THE INSIDE TEMPERATURE IS 276.5K. THE WALL IS COMPOSED OF 25.4 MM OF
CORKBOARD HAVING A THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF 0.0433 W/(M K)

17
 Q/A = -K DT/DX
= -K (T2 – T1)/(X)
= - (0.0433)(299 – 276.5)
25.4 X10-3
= - 39.89 W/M2

x -ve sign means the

flux is in the –x
direction; from the
276.5 K 299 K outside in…which is
correct!
18
25.4 mm on corkboard
 TRY THIS!
CALCULATE THE HEAT LOSS PER M2 OF SURFACE AREA FOR AN INSULATING WALL
COMPOSED OF 25.4-MM-THICK FIBER INSULATING BOARD, WHERE THE INSIDE
TEMPERATURE IS 352.7 K AND OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS 297.1 K. THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
OF FIBER INSULATING BOARD IS 0.048W/M.K.

19
Q/A = K DT/DX
= K (T1 – T2)/(X)
= 0.048/0.0254(352.7-297.1)
= 105.1 W/M2

20
 2.2 DETERMINATION OF THE RATE OF
HEAT TRANSFER IN ONE LAYER SYSTEM

21
 To derive and to distinguish systems
OBJECTIVES (rectangular, cylinder & sphere)
in one layer for one dimension.

22
CONDUCTION THROUGH A FLAT SLAB
OR WALL

Basic equation:
Rate of a transfer process
= Driving force, T
Resistance, R

23
THERMAL RESISTANCE CONCEPT

24
From Fourier’s Law: T1 T2

dT
q = − kA q
dx
x2 T2


x1
q.dx = −  kAdT
T1 x2 x1

q[ x2 − x1 ] = −kA[T2 − T1 ] * T1> T2
[T1 − T2 ]
q = kA
x2 − x1 25
 RATE OF A TRANSFER PROCESS
Q = DRIVING FORCE = T1-T2 = T1-T2
RESISTANCE RTH X/KA

RTH
 T1 − T2 
q = kA 
T1 T2

 x2 − x1 
Thermal Resistance, RTH:
(conduction resistance)

RTH = x/kA
26
Therefore,
HEAT CONDUCTION IN CYLINDER

Heat is lost from a hot water pipe

to the air outside in the radial
direction, and thus the heat transfer
from a long pipe is one-dimensional. 27
HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL HEAT CONDUCTION

FROM FOURIER’S LAW:

dT A
q = − k Ar
dr
ro To ri
 q.dr = −  k A dT
ri Ti
r

ro
ro
1 
To L
r r  r  dr = T − 2 k LdT
q
i i

qr ln r rrio = 2 k L[Ti − To ]

T −T Where: A = 2rL
qr = 2 k L i o
 ro 
ln   28

 ri 
The Rate of heat transfer

qr = 2kL
T1 − T2 
Thermal Resistance, RTH:  r2 
ln  
 r1 

 r2 
ln 
r  
Therefore, RTH =  1
2 k L
29
 SPHERICAL HEAT CONDUCTION

dT
q = −k Ar
dr
ro To
Where: Ar = 4r2
 q.dr = −  k A dT
ri Ti
r ro
ri
ro T
1
o

r qr  r 2  dr = T − 4 k dT
i i

ro
 1
qr −  = 4 k [Ti − To ]
 r  ri
Ti − To
qr = 4 k
1 1
 − 
 ri ro 
30
 q r = 4 k
Ti− To 
The rate of heat transfer :
1 1 

r − r  
 i 0 

Thermal Resistance, RTH:

RTH
Ti To

1 1 

r −r 

Therefore,   = ro − ri
RTH = i o

4 k 4  ro ri k 31
 LET US TRY!
• A thick-walled cylindrical tubing of hard rubber having an inside
radius of 5mm and an outside radius of 20mm is being used as a
temporary cooling coil in a bath. Ice water is flowing rapidly inside,
and the inside wall temperature is 274.9k. The outside surface
temperature is 297.1k. A total of 14.65W must be removed from the
bath by the cooling coil. How many m of tubing are needed? Given
k= 0.151 W/m.K.

Ans (0.964 m)

32
 TRY AGAIN!

• A hollow sphere is constructed of aluminum with an inner diameter of

4 cm and an outer diameter of 8 cm. The inside temperature is 100C
and the outer temperature is 50C. If the thermal conductivity of
aluminum is 205 W/mk, calculate the heat transfer.
Ans (5152.2 w)

33
Determination of the rate of heat transfer in
multilayer system

34
TO CALCULATE THE RESISTANCE AND HEAT FLUX FOR
PLANE WALL AND CYLINDER;
SERIES AND PARALLEL

35
HEAT CONDUCTION IN MULTILAYER PLANE WALLS

T1 Temperature Profile
T2

T3 T1 T2 T3 T4
T4
A B C
RA RB RC

Side by side plane wall

Produce resistance in series
T1 T2 T3 T4

kA A kB A kC A
q= (T1 − T2 ) = (T2 − T3 ) = (T3 − T4 )
x A xB xC 36
 Note that the heat flow must be the same through all sections.
Solving the three equations simultaneously, the heat flow is written as:

T1 − T4
q=
x A xB xC
+ +
k A A kB A k C A
T T
q= =
RA + RB + RC RTH
37
Heat transfer rate considered as a flow and combination of thermal conductivity,
material thickness and area as resistance.

T T
q= =
x RTH
kA

HEAT FLOW = THERMAL POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE

THERMAL RESISTANCE
38
 HEAT CONDUCTION IN HOLLOW MULTILAYER CYLINDER

T1 RA T2 RB T3 RC T4
q

C
B
ln( r2 / r1 ) ln( r 3 / r2 ) ln( r4 / r3 )
T1
T2
T3
2k A L 2k B L 2kC L
T4
r1
r2
L
r4
r3
39
q = 2 L k A
(T1 − T2 ) = 2  L kB
(T2− T3 )
= 2  L kC
(T3 − T4 )
r2 r r
ln ln 3 ln 4
r1 r2 r3
 
 
 
(
q = 2 L  1
T − T 2 ) + (T2 − T 3 ) + ( T 3 − T4 ) 
 r2 r3 r4 
 ln ln ln 
 r r r 
1
+ 2
+ 3

 kA kB kC 


 
 
 
−
q = 2 L  
(T1 T 4 )
 r2 r3 r4 
 ln ln ln 
 r r r3 
1
+ 2
+

 kA kB kC  
40
 HOLLOW MULTILAYER CYLINDER

T T1 − T4
q= =
RTH R1 + R2 + R3  ro 
ln  
RTH =  ri 
q=
(T1 − T4 ) 2 k L
  r2     r3     r4  
 ln     ln     ln   
  r1     r2     r3  
 2Lk  +  2Lk  +  2Lk 
 A   B   C 
     
     
41
 • A cold-storage room is constructed of an inner layer
TRY 1… of 12.7mm of pine, a middle layer of 101.6 mm of
cork board, and an outer layer of 76.2 mm of
concrete.
• The wall surface temperature is 255.4K inside the
cold room and 297.1 K at the outside surface of the
concrete.
• Kpine=0.151, kcork board=0.0433 and kconcrete=
0.762 W/m.K.
• Calculate the heat loss in W for 1 m2 and the
temperature at the interface between the pine
wood and cork board.

42
 T1 T2 T3 T4
Tout = 297.1K A B C Tin = 255.4K

q
concrete cork
board pine

43
kA = 0.762 kB = 0.0433 kC = 0.151
XA = 0.0762m XB = 0.1016m XC = 0.0127m
The resistance for each material for an area of 1 m2,
RA = XA/(KA A) = 0.0762/ 0.762 (1) = 0.100 K/W
RB = 2.346 K/W
RC = 0.0127/0.151(1) = 0.0841K/W
q = (T1-T4)/(RA + RB + RC)
= (297.1 255.4)/(0.100+0.0841+2.346)
= 16.48 W
44
T3 = ?
q = (T3 – T4)/ RC
= (T3 – 255.4)/ 0.0841 = 16.48

T3 = 256.79 K

45
2.4 Unsteady State Heat Conduction

46
 OBJECTIVES

• To consider the variation of temperature with time as well as position in

one-dimensional and multi-dimensional systems
• To describe the analysis of lumped systems

47
 LUMPED SYSTEM ANALYSIS (LSA)
• Lumped system - temperature of a solid varies with time but
Can be modeled as LSA remains uniform throughout the solid at anytime
• Behave like a ‘lump’ – whose interior temperature remains
essentially uniform at all times during a heat transfer process
• The temp. Of such bodies can be taken to be a function of
temperature only t(t)
• Heat transfer analysis that use this idealization is known LSA

Can’t be modeled as LSA

48
• At time t = 0, the body is placed into the
medium at temperature, T∞ and heat
transfer takes place between the body
and env. With a heat transfer coeff. H
• Assume, T∞ > ti and lumped analysis is
applicable
• LSA so that the temp. Remains uniform
within the body at all times and changes
with time only t=t(t)

49
• During time interval dt, the temp. Of the body rises by dt
• An energy balance of the solid at dt

hAs (T − T )dt = mCpdT

(Heat transfer into the body during dt) = (the increase of the
energy of the body during dt)

• Since, m=ρv and dt = d(t - t∞) since t∞ is constant,

(1) rearrange

d (T − T) hAs
=− dt
T − T vCp 50
• Integrating from t = 0, at T (t ) − T hAs
ln =− t
which t=ti, to anytime t at Ti − T VCp
which t=t(t)

T (t ) − T −bt
• Taking exponential at both =e
Ti − T
side and rearranged, gives;
• The inverse of b has unit Where;

time (s) is called ‘time hAs h

b= =
constant’
(1/s) VCp CpLc
51
 T (t ) − T
= e −bt Two observations from eq. on the left :
Ti − T •Able to determine the temperature T(t) of a body at
time, t OR

• The time t, required for the temperature to reach a

hAs specified value T(t)
b=
VCp •The temp. of a body approaches the ambient temp, T∞
exponentially. It changes rapidly at the beginning and
rather slowly later on

•The value of exp. b, the decay rate of temp.

The temp of the lumped system

approaches env. Temp as time gets
larger 52
 Once the temp. at time t is available, T(t):
The rate of convection heat transfer between the body and its
environment Q (t ) = hAs (T (t ) − T)
The total amount of heat transfer between
the body and surrounding medium over
time interval t = 0 to t is equal to the
Q = mCp (T (t ) − Ti )
change in energy content of the body

The maximum of heat transfer

between the body and its surrounding

53
 CRITERIA FOR LUMPED SYSTEM
ANALYSIS
To establish the applicability of the lumped
system analysis;
V
Lc =
• Define characteristics length As

• Define Biot Number, Bi

hLc
Bi =
k

h T
•Conv. At the surface of the body Bi =
conduction within the body k / Lc T

•Cond. Resistance to the body OR

Lc / k
Conv. Resistance at the surface Bi =
1/ h
54
of the body
Biot no. is the ratio of the internal resistance of a body to heat
conduction to its external resistance to heat convection

Lumped System Analysis assumes a uniform temp. distribution

throughout the body = the surface convection resistance is
Large compared to internal conduction resistance OR conduction
resistance is 0

Bi  0.1
•The smaller the Bi no. the more accurate the LSA
•Therefore, small bodies with high thermal conductivity are good
candidate for LSA

55
 V
Lc =
As

hLc
Bi =
k
56
 EXAMPLE 1
The temperature of a gas stream is to be measured by a thermocouple whose junction can be
approximated as a 1.2 mm diameter sphere.
The properties of the junction are k = 35 W/m 0C, ρ = 8500 kg/m3, and cp = 320 J/kg.0C, and the
heat transfer coefficient between the junction and the gas is h = 65 W/m2 0C.
Determine how long it will take for the thermocouple to read 99% of the initial temperature difference.
(Ans: 38.5 s)

57
 CHECK BI NO. IF IT IS < 0.1

T (t ) − T − bt
=e
Ti − T

hAs
b=
VCp

Find t 58

Ans: t = 5819 s
 The characteristic length of the junction and the Biot number are
V D 3 / 6 D 0.0012 m
Lc = = = = = 0.0002 m
Asurface D 2
6 6 Gas
h, T

hLc (65 W/m 2 .C)(0.0002 m) Junction

Bi = = = 0.00037  0.1 D

(35 W/m. C)

T(t)
k
Since Bi < 0.1
The lumped system analysis is applicable. Then the time period for the thermocouple to read 99% of the
initial temperature difference is determined from
T (t ) − T
= 0.01
Ti − T
hA h 65 W/m 2 .C
b= = = = 0.1195 s -1

C pV C p Lc (8500 kg/m 3 )(320 J/kg. C)(0.0002 m)

T (t ) − T −bt − ( 0.1195s -1 ) t
59
=e ⎯ ⎯→ 0.01 = e ⎯
⎯→ t = 38.5 s
Ti − T
 Transient Heat Conduction In Plane Walls,
Long Cylinders And Spheres

• Before, the variation of temperature within the body was

negligible; nearly isothermal during a process
• Now, to consider the variation of temperature with time and
position in one dimensional problem associated to plane
walls, long cylinders and spheres

60
•At t=0, each geometry is placed in a large medium that is at constant temp. T∞ and
kept in that medium for t>0.

•Heat transfer takes place between the body and its environment by convection and
uniform and constant h
61
 T ( x, t ) − T
• Dimensionless temperature =
Ti − T

x
•Dimensionless distance
from the center
X=
L

hL
•Dimensionless heat transfer Bi =
coefficient k
t
=
L2

•Dimensionless time Fourier No.

62
 HEISLER CHART- TRANSIENT TEMP.
CHART
3 charts associated with each geometry:

•1st – determine the temp. To at the center of

geometry at a given time t
•2nd- determine the temp. at other locations
at the same time in terms of To
•3rd- determine the total amount of heat transfer
up to the time t

These plots are valid at τ > 0.2

63
64
65
66
• Once the fraction of heat transfer Q/Qmax has been determined from these
charts at a given t, the actual amount of heat transfer by that time can be
evaluated by multiplying this with Qmax.

Qmax = mC p (T − Ti ) = VC p (T − Ti )

• Since the temp. of the body changes from initial temp Ti to the temp. surroundings,
T∞ at the end of transient heat transfer, a maximum amount of heat that a body
can gain (or loss if Ti<T∞) is simply the change in energy content of the body;

67
Example 2

Consider two 2-cm-thick large steel plates (k = 43 W/m 0C

and α = 1.17 x 10-5 m2/s) that were put on top of each other
while wet and left outside during a cold winter night at -15 0C.
The next day, a worker needs one of the plates, but the plates
are stuck together because the freezing of the water between
the two plates has bonded them together. In an effort to melt
the ice between the plates and separate them, the worker
takes a large hair dryer and blows hot air at 50 0C all over the
exposed surface of the plate on the top. The convection heat
transfer coefficient at the top surface is estimated to be 40
W/m2 0C. Determine how long the worker must keep blowing
hot air before the two plates separate.
(482 s)
68
 Analysis The characteristic length of the plates and the Biot number are
V
Lc = = L = 0.02 m
As
hLc ( 40 W/m 2 .C)(0.02 m)
Bi = = = 0.019  0.1 Bi < 0.1
k ( 43 W/m. C)
the lumped system analysis is applicable. Therefore,
hAs h 40 W/m 2 .C
b= = = = 0.000544 s -1

C pV C p Lc (3.675 10 6 J/m 3 .C)(0.02 m)

T (t ) − T −bt 0 − 50 − ( 0.000544s -1 )t
=e ⎯ ⎯→ =e ⎯
⎯→ t = 482 s = 8.0 min
Ti − T − 15 − 50
Steel plates
Alternative solution: This problem can also be solved using the transient chart Fig. 4-13a, Ti = -15C
1 1 
= = 52 .6 
Bi 0.019  t Hot gases

 = = 15  0.2 T = 50C
To − T 0 − 50 2
= = 0.769  ro
Ti − T − 15 − 50 

ro 2 (15)(0.02 m) 2
t= = = 513 s
 −5
(1.17 10 m /s)
2

69
The difference is due to the reading error of the chart.
THANK YOU

70