2.

HEAT CONDUCTION CONCEPTS, THERMAL RESISTANCE, AND THE

OVERALL HEAT TRANSFER COEFFICIENT

2.1 Prove that if k varies linearly with T in a slab, and if heat transfer is one-
dimensional and steady, then q may be evaluated precisely using k evaluated at
the mean temperature in the slab.

Solution:

Differential Equation,

{ 3 2 1
&
43 42 1
steady since , 0
0
) (
since , 0
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
=
=

= +

t
T
k
q
z
T
y
T
x
T
z or y T T

The ordinary differential equation is
0
2
2
=
dx
T d

Integrating twice
2 1
C x C T + =
Two Boundary Condition,
T(x = 0) = T
1
, and T(x = L) = T
2
,

Solving for C
1
and C
2
.

T
1
= C
2

T
2
= C
1
L + C
2

L
T T
C
2 1
1

=
Then
( )
x
L
T T
T T x
L
T T
T
2 1
1 1
2 1

= + |

\
|
=
L
x
T T
T T
=

1 2
1

( )
L
T T
k x
L
T T
T
dx
d
k
dx
dT
k q
2 1 2 1
1

= |

\
|
= =
L
T
k q

=
Using ( ) aT k k
o
+ = 1
( )
dx
dT
aT k
dx
dT
k q
o
+ = = 1
( )dT aT k qdx
o
+ = 1
Integrating:
[ ]
2
1
2
2
1
T
T o
aT T k qL + =
( ) ( ) [ ]
2
1
2
2 2
1
1 2
T T a T T k qL
o
+ =
2. HEAT CONDUCTION CONCEPTS, THERMAL RESISTANCE, AND THE
OVERALL HEAT TRANSFER COEFFICIENT

( ) ( ) [ ]
L
T T a T T
k q
o
2
1
2
2 2
1
1 2
+
=
( ) [ ]
( )
L
T T
T T a k q
o
1 2
1 2 2
1
1

+ + =
( ) [ ]
( )
L
T T
T T a k q
o
2 1
2 1 2
1
1

+ + =
( ) [ ]
L
T
T T a k q
o

+ + =
2 1 2
1
1
since ( ) [ ]
2 1 2
1
1 T T a k
o
+ + = k
ave
, q may be evaluated precisely using k evaluated at the mean
temperature in the slab.

2.2 Invent a numerical method for calculating the steady heat flux through a plane
wall when k(T) is an arbitrary function. Use the method to predict q in an iron slab
1cm thick if the temperature varies from 100 C on the left to 400 C on the right.
How far would you have erred if you had taken k
ave
= (k
left
+ k
right
) / 2 ?

Solution:

Tabulating Thermal Conductivity of iron slab, Table A.1.

T, C k , W/m.K
-100 98
0 84
100 72
200 63
300 56
400 50


Then
dx
dT
k q =
Numerical Method, q = constant,

=
=
=
5
1
i
i
i i
T k x q

where i is the number of increment stages.
k
i
= average at that stage, and

i
= change of temperature at that stage.

The x = 1 cm = 0.01 m
Numerical Calculation:

Stage Range Temp.,
C
T
i
k
i k
i
T
i

2. HEAT CONDUCTION CONCEPTS, THERMAL RESISTANCE, AND THE
OVERALL HEAT TRANSFER COEFFICIENT

1 -100 to 0 -100 91 -9100
2 0 to 100 -100 78 -7800
3 100 to 200 -100 67.5 -6750
4 200 to 300 -100 59.5 -5950
5 300 to 400 -100 53 -5300

=
=

5
1
i
i
i i
T k = -34,900 W/m

=
=
=
5
1
i
i
i i
T k x q
q(0.01 m) = - (-34,900 W/m)

q = 3,490,000 W/m
2



Using average value:

k
ave
= (k
left
+ k
right
) / 2 = (91 + 53) / 2 = 72 W/m.K
( )
L
T T k
q
right left ave

=
( )( )
01 . 0
400 100 72
= q = 3,600,000 W/m
2

error = q = 3,600,000 W/m
2
3,490,000 W/m
2
= 110,000 W/m
2
or 3.2 % above the
numerical result.

2.3 The steady heat flux at one side of a slab is a known value q
o
. The thermal
conductivity varies with temperature in the slab, and the variation can be
expressed with a power series as

=
=
=
n i
i
i
i
T A k
0


(a) Start with eqn. (2.10) and derive an equation that relates T to position in the slab,
x. (b) Calculate the heat flux at any position in the wall from this expression using
Fouriers law. Is the resulting q a function of x ?

Solution:

(a) Eq. (2.10)
{
3 2 1
&
steady since 0
0
=
=

= +
t
T
c q T k
0 = T k
( )
0 =

dx
T k d

C T k =
2. HEAT CONDUCTION CONCEPTS, THERMAL RESISTANCE, AND THE
OVERALL HEAT TRANSFER COEFFICIENT

1
C
dx
dT
k =
dx C dT T A
n i
i
i
i 1
0
=
|

\
|

=
=



=
|

\
|
=
=
dx C dT T A
n i
i
i
i 1
0

Boundary Conditions:
x = 0, T = T
1
and x = L, T = T
2

( )
2
0
1
1
2 1
1
0 C
i
T A
C C
n i
i
i
i
=
+
= +

=
=
+

( )

=
=
+
=
=
+
+
=
+
+ = +
n i
i
i
i
n i
i
i
i
i
T A
i
T A
L C C L C
0
1
2
0
1
1
1 2 1
1 1

L
i
T A
i
T A
C
n i
i
i
i
n i
i
i
i

=
=
+
=
=
+
+

+
=
0
1
1
0
1
2
1
1 1

Then

=
=
+
=
=
+
=
=
+
=
=
+
+
+ |

\
|
|
|

\
|
+

+
=
+
n i
i
i
i
n i
i
i
i
n i
i
i
i
n i
i
i
i
i
T A
L
x
i
T A
i
T A
i
T A
0
1
1
0
1
1
0
1
2
0
1
1 1 1 1



(b)
dx
dT
k q =
Differentiating above result,

|

\
|
|
|

\
|
+

+
=
|

\
|

=
=
+
=
=
+
=
=
L i
T A
i
T A
dx
dT
T A
n i
i
i
i
n i
i
i
i
n i
i
i
i
1
1 1
0
1
1
0
1
2
0

|

\
|
|
|

\
|
+

+
=

=
=
+
=
=
+
L i
T A
i
T A
dx
dT
k
n i
i
i
i
n i
i
i
i
1
1 1
0
1
1
0
1
2

Then,
|

\
|
|
|

\
|
+

+
=

=
=
+
=
=
+
L i
T A
i
T A
q
n i
i
i
i
n i
i
i
i
1
1 1
0
1
1
0
1
2

The resulting q is not a function of x.

2.4 Combine Ficks law with the principle of conservation of mass (of the dilute
species) in such a way as to eliminate j
i
, and obtain a second-order differential
equation in m
1
. Discuss the importance and the use of the result.

Solution:

Eq. (2.19), Ficks law
2. HEAT CONDUCTION CONCEPTS, THERMAL RESISTANCE, AND THE
OVERALL HEAT TRANSFER COEFFICIENT

1 12 1
m j = D
r

Then
x
m
j

=
1
12 1
D
|
|

\
|

=
+ x x x
x
m
x
m
D j
1 1
12 1

By law of conservation of masses,
1
j = 0.
x x x
x
m
x
m

+
1 1

= 0
2
1
2
1 1
x
m
x
x
m
x
m
x x x

= 0
2
1
2
x
m

= 0

The importance and the use of the result simplify the means to use the Ohms law for
electrical resistance, or heat transfer equation for steady state analogy.

2.5 Solve for the temperature distribution in a thick-walled pipe if the bulk interior
temperature and the exterior air temperature,
i
T

and
o
T

, are known. The interior

and the exterior heat transfer coefficients are
i
h and
o
h , respectively. Follow the
method in Example 2.6 and put your result in the dimensionless form.

( )
i o i o i
o i
i
r r r r Bi Bi fn
T T
T T
, , , =

Solution:

Follow Ex. 2.6

Eq. (2.23)

( ) [ ] ( )
(

= +
2 1 2 1
ln ln C r C
r
k T C r C h T
o
>
o
T

( ) [ ]
r
kC
T C r C h
1
2 1
ln = +

Then, r = r
o
,
( ) [ ]
o
o o o
r
kC
T C r C h
1
2 1
ln = +

2. HEAT CONDUCTION CONCEPTS, THERMAL RESISTANCE, AND THE
OVERALL HEAT TRANSFER COEFFICIENT

[ ]
o
o o o
r
kC
C r C T h
1
2 1
ln =

at r = r
i
, in reverse.

( ) [ ]
i
i i i
r
kC
C r C T h
1
2 1
ln = +

( ) [ ]
i
i i i
r
kC
T C r C h
1
2 1
ln = +

Then:
o o o
o o
Bi
C
r h
kC
C r C T
1 1
2 1
ln = =

i i i
i i
Bi
C
r h
kC
T C r C
1 1
2 1
ln = = +

Adding:
( )
|
|

\
|
=

i o
i o i o
Bi Bi
C r r C T T
1 1
ln ln
1 1

|
|

\
|
|
|

\
|
+ =

i
o
i o
i o
r
r
Bi Bi
C T T ln
1 1
1

(

|
|

\
|
+

=

i
o
i o
i o
r
r
Bi Bi
T T
C
ln
1 1
1

i
i
i
r C
Bi
C
T C ln
1
1
2
+ =

( )
(

|
|

\
|
+

|
|

\
|
+

+ =

i
o
i o
i i o
i
o
i o
i
i o
i
r
r
Bi Bi
r T T
r
r
Bi Bi
Bi
T T
T C
ln
1 1
ln
ln
1 1
2

( ) ( )
i i o i i o
i
o
i o
i i
i
o
i o
i
r T T Bi T T
r
r
Bi Bi
Bi T
r
r
Bi Bi
Bi C ln ln
1 1
ln
1 1
2
+
(

|
|

\
|
+ =
(

|
|

\
|
+
( )
i i o
i
i o
i
o
i o
i
i
o
i o
r T T
Bi
T T
r
r
Bi Bi
T
r
r
Bi Bi
C ln ln
1 1
ln
1 1
2

|
|

\
|
+
(

|
|

\
|
+ =
(

|
|

\
|
+
( )
(

|
|

\
|
+
|
|

\
|

=

i
o
i o
i
i
o i
i
r
r
Bi Bi
r
Bi
T T
T C
ln
1 1
ln
1
2


2. HEAT CONDUCTION CONCEPTS, THERMAL RESISTANCE, AND THE
OVERALL HEAT TRANSFER COEFFICIENT

Then:
2 1
ln C r C T + =

+
(
(
(
(
(

|
|

\
|
+ +

=

r
r
r
Bi Bi
T T
T
i
o
i o
i o
ln
ln
1 1
( )
(

|
|

\
|
+
|
|

\
|

i
o
i o
i
i
o i
i
r
r
Bi Bi
r
Bi
T T
T
ln
1 1
ln
1

( )
( )
( )
(

|
|

\
|
+ +
+

|
|

\
|
+ + +
=



i
o
i o
i o i
i
i o
i
o
i o
i i o
r
r
Bi Bi
r T T
Bi
T T
r
r
Bi Bi
T r T T
T
ln
1 1
ln ln
1 1
ln

( )
( )
(

|
|

\
|
+ +

|
|

\
|
+ + +
|
|

\
|

=


i
o
i o
i
i o
i
o
i o
i
i
i o
r
r
Bi Bi
Bi
T T
r
r
Bi Bi
T
r
r
T T
T
ln
1 1
ln
1 1
ln

( )
( )
i
i
o
i o
i
i o
i
i o
T
r
r
Bi Bi
Bi
T T
r
r
T T
T

+
(

|
|

\
|
+ +

|
|

\
|

=
ln
1 1
ln

( )
(

|
|

\
|
+ +
(

+
|
|

\
|

i
o
i o
i i
i o
i
r
r
Bi Bi
Bi r
r
T T
T T
ln
1 1
1
ln

|
|

\
|
+ +
+
|
|

\
|
=

i
o
i o
i i
i o
i
r
r
Bi Bi
Bi r
r
T T
T T
ln
1 1
1
ln

|
|

\
|
+ +
+
|
|

\
|
=

i
o
i o
i i
o i
i
r
r
Bi Bi
Bi r
r
T T
T T
ln
1 1
1
ln




2.6 Put the boundary conditions from Problem 2.5 into a dimensionless form so that Biot
number appear in them. Let the Biot numbers approach infinity. This should get you
2. HEAT CONDUCTION CONCEPTS, THERMAL RESISTANCE, AND THE
OVERALL HEAT TRANSFER COEFFICIENT

back to the conditions for Example 2.5. Therefore, the solution that you obtain in
Problem 2.5 should reduce to the solution of Example 2.5 when the Biot numbers
approach infinity. Show that this is the case.


Solution:

Result from Problem 2.5.
|
|

\
|
+ +
+
|
|

\
|
=

i
o
i o
i i
o i
i
r
r
Bi Bi
Bi r
r
T T
T T
ln
1 1
1
ln

if
o i
Bi Bi ,
Then,
o o i i
T T T T

,
|
|

\
|
+ +
+
|
|

\
|
=

i
o
i
o i
i
r
r
r
r
T T
T T
ln 0 0
0 ln

|
|

\
|
|
|

\
|
=

i
o
i
i o
i
r
r
r
r
T T
T T
ln
ln

The result is the same as Example 2.5.


2.7 Write an accurate explanation of the idea of critical radius of insulation that your kid
brother or sister, who is still in grade school, could understand. (if you don not have
an available kid, borrow one to see if your explanation really works.)


Solution:

Step 1. Write down equation (2.25).

l l k
r
r
r h
T T
Q
i
o
o
i
2
ln
2
1
|

\
|
+

=


Step 2. Multiply numerator and denominator by r
i
.
2. HEAT CONDUCTION CONCEPTS, THERMAL RESISTANCE, AND THE
OVERALL HEAT TRANSFER COEFFICIENT

( )
l l k
r
r
r
r h
r
T T r
Q
i
o
i
o
i
i i
2
ln
2
|

\
|
+

=


Step 3. Let x = r
o
/r
i
, then:
( )
( )
l l k
x r
x h
T T r
Q
i
i i
2
ln
2
1
+

=


Step 4. Let constant ( )

= T T r a
i i
,
l 2
1
h
b = ,
l k
r
c
i
2
= .

1
ln
ln

\
|
+ =
+
= x c
x
b
a
x c
x
b
a
Q
Step 5. Differentiate y with respect to x then equate to zero to find x for maximum or
minimum Q.

( )
1
1
ln

+ = x c bx a Q
( ) 0 ln
2
2
1
= |

\
|
+ + =

x
c
bx x c bx a
dx
dQ


0
2
= +

x
c
bx
2
x
b
x
c
=
c
b
x =
Step 6. To check if this is maximum or minimum. Solve for the second derivative,
positive for minimum and negative for maximum.

( ) ( )
1 2
2
1
ln

+ + = cx bx x c bx a
dx
dQ

( ) ( )
1 2
2
1
ln

+ = cx bx x c bx a
dx
dQ

( ) ( )( ) ( ) ( )
2 3
2
1 1 2 1 2
3
1
2
2
2 ln ln 2

+ + + + + = cx bx x c bx a cx bx cx bx x c bx a
dx
Q d

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2 3
2
1
2
1 2
3
1
2
2
2 ln ln 2

+ + + = cx bx x c bx a cx bx x c bx a
dx
Q d

assume, 0.5 cm OD copper line, r
i
= 0.005 m / 2 = 0.0025 m, l = 1 m,
k = 0.074 W/m.K, h = 20 W/m
2
.K
2. HEAT CONDUCTION CONCEPTS, THERMAL RESISTANCE, AND THE
OVERALL HEAT TRANSFER COEFFICIENT

( )( )( )
00796 . 0
1 2 20
1
2
1
= = =
l h
b
( )( )( )
00538 . 0
1 074 . 0 2
0025 . 0
2
= = =
l k
r
c
i

( )( )
48 . 1
0025 . 0 20
074 . 0
2
2
1
= = =
|
|

\
|
|
|

\
|
= =
i i
r h
k
k
r
h
c
b
x
l
l

( )( ) ( ) ( ) [ ] ( )( ) ( ) [ ]
2
1 2
3
1
2
2
00538 . 0 48 . 1 00796 . 0 48 . 1 ln 00538 . 0 48 . 1 00796 . 0 2

+ = a
dx
Q d

( )( ) ( ) ( ) [ ] ( )( ) ( )( ) [ ]
2 3
2
1
48 . 1 00538 . 0 48 . 1 00796 . 0 2 48 . 1 ln 00538 . 0 48 . 1 00796 . 0

+ a
( )( ) ( )( ) a a a
dx
Q d
87 . 43 10 4547 . 2 837 , 17 10 2 . 1 200 , 382 , 2 2
3 12
2
2
= =

is negative,
therefore, it is maximum at x = 1.48 = r
o
/r
i
.

Step 7. Critical radius of insulation = r
crit
= r
o.
i i
crit
r h
k
r
r
=
h
k
r
crit
=