College of Engineering and Computer Science

Mechanical Engineering Department

Mechanical Engineering 375
Heat Transfer
Spring 2007 Number 17629 Instructor: Larry Caretto

February 14 Homework Solutions

2.48 Consider an aluminum pan used to cook stew on top of an
electric range. The bottom section of the pan is L = 0.25 cm
thick and has a diameter of D = 18 cm. The electric heating
unit on the range top consumes 900 W of power during
cooking, and 90 percent of the heat generated in the heating
element is transferred to the pan. During steady operation,
the temperature of the inner surface of the pan is measured
to be 108°C. Assuming temperature-dependent thermal
conductivity and one-dimensional heat transfer, express the
mathematical formulation (the differential equation and the
boundary conditions) of this heat conduction problem
during steady operation. Do not solve (Figure from Çengel, Heat and Mass Transfer)

We can start with the general heat conduction equation.

∂T ∂ ∂T ∂ ∂T ∂ ∂T
ρc p = k + k + k + e&gen
∂t ∂x ∂x ∂y ∂y ∂z ∂z

CWe are told that the process is steady and one-dimensional so we can ignore the time, y and z
derivative terms. We are also told that there is a heat input of 900 W from an electric heater of
which 90% enters the bottom of the pan. This is a boundary condition heat flux of (90%)(900
W)/[(p/4)(0.18 m)2] = 31,831 W/m2. There is no heat generation with the bottom of the pan so we
can set the heat generation term to zero. With these assumptions, the differential equation
becomes

d dT dT
k =0 ⇒ k = Const
dx dx dx
The boundary conditions are the heat flux found in the previous paragraph at x = 0 and a
temperature of 108oC at x = L. We can write these as follows.

dT
−k = 0 at x = 0 and T = 108 o C at x = L
dx

2.79 A 2-kW resistance heater wire with thermal conductivity of k = 20 W/m·°C,

a diameter of D = 4 mm, and a length of L = 0.9 m is used to boil water. If
the outer surface temperature of the resistance wire is Ts = 110°C,
determine the temperature at the center of the wire.

We can use the equation for the temperature profile in a solid cylinder and set
r = 0 to get the temperature at the center of the wire. To apply this equation
we must first compute the heat source term, which is the heat generated per

Jacaranda (Engineering) 3333 Mail Code Phone: 818.677.6448

E-mail: [email protected] 8348 Fax: 818.677.7062
 February 14 homework solutions ME 375, L. S. Caretto, Spring 2007 Page 2

unit volume. We are given the total heat generation of 2 kW and we divide by the volume of the
wire to get the heat generation term.

Q& gen 2 kW 2000 W W

e& gen = = = = 1.768 x108
V πR L
2
π(0.002 m ) (0.09 m )
2
m3

We now apply the equation for the temperature in a solid cylinder with heat generation using r = 0
to get the center temperature.

(
e& gen R 2 − r 2 ) = 110 C +
1.768 x108 W
m 3
[(0.002 m) − 0]
2

T = Touter surface + o
= 118.8 o C
4k 20 W
4
m⋅o C

2.80 Consider a long solid cylinder of radius ro = 4 cm and thermal conductivity k = 25 W/m·°C.
Heat is generated in the cylinder uniformly at a rate of e& gen =35W/cm3. The side surface of
the cylinder is maintained at a constant temperature of Ts = 80°C. The variation of
temperature in the cylinder is given by
ro2 e& gen ⎡ ⎛ r
2⎤
⎞
T = Ts + ⎢1 − ⎜ ⎟⎟ ⎥
4k ⎢ ⎜⎝ ro ⎠ ⎥
⎣ ⎦
Based on this relation, determine (a) if the heat conduction is steady or transient, (b) if it is
one-, two-, or three-dimensional, and (c) the value of heat flux on the side surface of the
cylinder at r = ro.
(a and b) The equation for temperature has a single independent variable, r. There is no time in
the equation. Hence we conclude that the process is (a) steady and (b) one-dimensional.

Taking the first derivative of this equation gives the heat flux.

3
dT re& gen 1 35 W ⎛ 100 cm ⎞ 3.5 x10 5 W
q& = −k = = ⎜ ⎟ (0.02 m ) =
dr 2k 2 cm 3 ⎝ m ⎠ m2

2.87 Consider a large 5-cm-thick brass plate (k = 111 W/m · °C) in which heat is
generated uniformly at a rate of 2 x 105 W/m3. One side of the plate is
insulated while the other side is exposed to an environment at 25°C with
a heat transfer coefficient of 44 W/m2· °C. Explain where in the plate the
highest and the lowest temperatures will occur, and determine their
value. (Figure at right taken from Çengel, Heat and Mass Transfer.)

Since no heat leaves from the plate at x = 0 we expect the maximum

temperature to occur there. The lowest temperature should occur at the other
side of the plate. The total heat generation is the product of the heat
generation times the volume, AL. Since all this heat is convected away from
the plate at x = L, we can use the heat balance at that location to determine the surface
temperature, TL at x = L.
 February 14 homework solutions ME 375, L. S. Caretto, Spring 2007 Page 3

2 x10 5 W
e& gen L
(0.05 m )
Q& conv = hA(TL − T∞ ) = e& gen AL ⇒ TL = T∞ + = 25 C +
o m3 252.3o C
h 44 W
m2

We can use the equation for the heat flux and apply the result that the heat flux is 0 at x = 0 to get
an equation for the temperature at this point. Substituting the given data provides the desired
result.

k (Tx = L − Tx=0 ) e& gen L L⎛ e& gen L ⎞

q& = e& gen x − − ⇒ Tx=0 = Tx= L + ⎜⎜ q& x =0 + ⎟
L 2 k⎝ 2 ⎟⎠

⎛ 2 x10 5 W ⎞
⎜ (0.05 m ) ⎟
0.05 m ⎜ m 3 ⎟
T x =0 = 252.3 C +
o
⎜ 0+ ⎟ = 254.6 o C
111 W 2
⎜ ⎟
m⋅ C ⎝
o ⎜ ⎟
⎠

2.101C When the thermal conductivity of a medium varies linearly with temperature, is the average
thermal conductivity always equivalent to the conductivity value at the average
temperature?

A linear variation has the form k = a + bT. Using the average temperature gives a midpoint
thermal conductivity value of a + b(T1 + T2)/2. Using the definition of average thermal conductivity
with k = a + bT gives the following result.

a(T2 − T1 ) + b(T2 )
T2 T2 2
− T12 / 2 T2 + T1
k =
1
∫ kdT =
1
∫ (a + bT )dT = = a+b
T2 − T1 T2 − T1 T2 − T1 2
T1 T1

Thus the average thermal conductivity is always the same as the thermal conductivity at the
average temperature if the thermal conductivity varies linearly
with temperature.

2.103 Consider a cylindrical shell of length L, inner radius r1, and

outer radius r2 whose thermal conductivity varies linearly
in a specified temperature range as k(T) = k0(1 + βT) where
k0 and β are two specified constants. The inner surface of
the shell is maintained at a constant temperature of T1,
while the outer surface is maintained at T2. Assuming
steady one-dimensional heat transfer, obtain a relation for
(a) the heat transfer rate through the wall and (b) the
temperature distribution T(r) in the shell.

In this problem we can follow the basic process in the notes on heat generation to solve the basic
differential equation for one-dimensional heat transfer in a cylindrical shell with heat generation.
That differential equation is.
February 14 homework solutions ME 375, L. S. Caretto, Spring 2007 Page 4

1 d dT
rk + e& gen = 0 [1]
r dr dr
Multiplying by r and doing an indefinite integration one time gives
⎛ dT ⎞ dT
∫ d ⎜⎝ rk dr ⎟⎠ + ∫ e&gen r dr + C1 = rk ∫
+ e& gen rdr + C1 = 0
n
[2]
dr
If the heat generation is not a function of distance the heat generation term simply becomes
e& gen r 2 / 2 , and a second integration (after multiplying by dr/r) gives

⎛ T 2 ⎞⎟ e& gen r
2
k 0 (1 + βT )dT +
1 dr
∫ 2 ∫
e& gen rdr + C1
r ∫
= k0 ⎜T + β
⎜
⎝ 2 ⎟
⎠
+
4
+ C1 ln r + C 2 = 0 [3]

We can evaluate the two constants of integration by applying the boundary conditions that the
temperatures at r = r1 and r = r2 are T1 and T2, respectively.

⎛ T 2 ⎞ e& r12
k 0 ⎜ T1 + β ⎟+ gen
1
+ C1 ln r1 + C 2 = 0 [4]
⎜ 2 ⎟ 4
⎝ ⎠
⎛ T22 ⎞⎟ e& gen r2
2
⎜
k 0 T2 + β + + C1 ln r2 + C 2 = 0 [5]
⎜ 2 ⎟⎠ 4
⎝
Subtracting equation [4] from equation [5] gives

⎛
⎜
k 0 T2 − T1 + β
T22 − T12 ⎞⎟ e& gen r2 − r1
+
2 2
( )
+ C1 (ln r2 − ln r1 ) = 0 [6]
⎜ 2 ⎟ 4
⎝ ⎠
We can solve this equation for C1.

⎛
k 0 ⎜ T2 − T1 + β
T2
2
− T1
2 ⎞ e&
⎟+ gen r22 − r12( )
⎜ 2 ⎟ 4
C1 = − ⎝ ⎠ [7]
r
ln 2
r1
Substituting this result into equation [5] or [6] gives the value of C2. Once the constants are
known, the temperature profile is given by the following modification of equation [3].

k 0β 2 ⎛ e& gen r 2 ⎞
T + k 0T (+ ) + ⎜ + C1 ln r + C 2 ⎟ = 0 [8]
2 ⎜ 4 ⎟
⎝ ⎠
This quadratic equation in temperature can be solved for T for any given value of r.

k 0β ⎛⎜ e& gen r ⎞
2
− k0 ± k0 2
−4 + C1 ln r + C 2 ⎟
2 ⎜ 4 ⎟
⎝ ⎠
T= [9]
k 0β
The heat transfer at any value of r can be found from equation [2] and the definition of heat
transfer.
February 14 homework solutions ME 375, L. S. Caretto, Spring 2007 Page 5

e& gen r 2 ⎛ dT ⎞ ⎛ e& gen r 2 ⎞

⎟ = 2πL⎜ + C1 ⎟
dT &
rk =− − C1 ⇒ Q = Aq& = 2πrL⎜ − k [10]
dr 2 ⎝ dr ⎠ ⎜ 2 ⎟
⎝ ⎠
We can apply this equation for any value of r between r1 and r2,.using the value of C1 given by
equation [7]
If the heat generation term is zero, our equation for C1 becomes
⎛ T 2 − T12 ⎞⎟ ⎛ T 2 − T12 ⎞⎟
k 0 ⎜ T2 − T1 + β 2 k 0 (T2 − T )⎜1 + β 2
⎜ 2 ⎟ ⎜ 2(T2 − T ) ⎟⎠ k (T2 − T )
C1 = − ⎝ ⎠ =− ⎝ =− [11]
r r r
ln 2 ln 2 ln 2
r1 r1 r1
Substituting this value for C1 into equation [10] with the heat generation term set to zero gives the
heat flow as
2πLk (T2 − T )
Q& = − [12]
r
ln 2
r1
Substituting the value for C1 from equation [11] into equation [4] with the heat generation term set
to zero gives
⎛ T 2 ⎞ k (T2 − T ) k (T2 − T ) ⎛ T2 ⎞
k 0 ⎜ T1 + β 1 ⎟ − ln r1 + C 2 = 0 ⇒ C 2 = ln r1 − k 0 ⎜ T1 + β 1 ⎟ [13]
⎜ 2 ⎟⎠ r r ⎜ 2 ⎟⎠
⎝ ln 2 ln 2 ⎝
r1 r1
The temperature for no heat generation is found by substituting equations [] and [13] into
equation [9]

⎛ ⎞
⎜ ⎟
k 0β ⎜ k (T2 − T1 ) k (T2 − T1 ) ⎛ T 2 ⎞⎟
− k0 ± k0 2 −4 − ln r + ln r1 − k 0 ⎜ T1 + β 1 ⎟
2 ⎜ r2 r2 ⎜
⎝ 2 ⎟⎟
⎠⎟
⎜ ln ln
⎝ r1 r1 ⎠
T= [14]
k 0β

⎛ ⎞
⎜ 2 ⎞⎟
2 ⎜ k (T2 − T1 ) r ⎛
ln + k 0 ⎜ T1 + β 1 ⎟ ⎟
1 1 T
T =− ± + − [15]
β β 2 k 0β ⎜ r r1 ⎜ 2 ⎟⎠ ⎟
⎜ ln 2 ⎝ ⎟
⎝ r1 ⎠