One-Dimensional, Steady-State

Conduction without
Thermal Energy Generation
On Plane wall or a slab
And on composite walls
Week 7 VD

Methodology

Methodology of a Conduction Analysis

Specify appropriate form of the heat equation.

Solve for the temperature distribution.

Apply Fouriers Law to determine the heat flux.

Simplest Case: One-Dimensional, Steady-State Conduction with No

Thermal Energy Generation.

Common Geometries:
The Plane Wall: Described in rectangular (x) coordinate. Area
perpendicular to direction of heat transfer is constant
(independent of x).
The Composite Wall:As a combination of different materials in specific
arrangements
The Radial and Spherical structures: Radial conduction through wall.

Plane Wall

The Plane Wall

Consider a plane wall between two fluids of different temperature:

Heat Equation no heat generation

d dT
k
0
dx dx

(3.1a)

Heat Equation with energy generation ?:

d 2T ( x) 1
g ( x) 0
2
dx
k

Implications:
Heat flux qx is independent of x.
Heat rate qx is independent of x.
T 0 Ts ,1, T L Ts,2

Boundary Conditions:

Temperature Distribution for Constant k :

x
T x Ts,1 Ts,2 Ts ,1
L

(3.3)

(3.1b)

Plane Wall (cont.)

Heat Flux and Heat Rate:

dT k
qx k
Ts ,1 Ts,2
dx L
dT kA
q x kA

Ts ,1 Ts ,2

dx
L

T
Thermal Resistances Rt
and Thermal Circuits:
q

L
Rt ,cond
Conduction in a plane wall:
kA
Convection:

Rt ,conv

1
hA

(3.5)

(3.4)

(3.6)

(3.9)

Thermal circuit for plane wall with adjoining fluids:

Rtot

1
L
1

h1 A kA h 2 A

qx

(3.12)

T,1 T,2
Rtot

(3.11)

Plane Wall (cont.)

Thermal Resistance for Unit Surface Area:

L
1
Rt,cond
Rt,conv
k
h
Units: Rt W/K
Rt m 2 K/W

Numerical Problem No. 1

Determine steady state heat flux through a 0.20 m thick brick wall [k = 0.69
W/m0C ] with one surface at 300C and the other at -20 0C.
Ans: 172.5 W/m2
Numerical Problem No. 2
A steel plate of thickness L = 5 cm and thermal conductivity k = 20 W/(m.0C) is
subjected to a uniform heat flux q=600 W/m2 on one of its surfaces and dissipates
heat by convection with a heat transfer coefficient h = 80 W/ (m2. 0C) from the
other surface into the ambient air at T = 25 0C . What is the temperature of
the surface dissipating heat by convection?
Ans : 32.5 0C

Plane Wall (cont.)

Composite Wall with Negligible

Contact Resistance:

qx

Rtot

T,1 T,4
Rtot

(3.14)

1 1 LA LB LC 1 Rtot

A h1 k A k B kC h4
A

Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient (U) :

A modified form of Newtons Law of Cooling to encompass multiple resistances
to heat transfer.
(3.17)
q x UAToverall

Rtot

1
UA

(3.19)

Plane Wall (cont.)

Series Parallel Composite Wall:

Note departure from one-dimensional conditions for k F kG .

Circuits based on assumption of isothermal surfaces normal to x direction or

adiabatic surfaces parallel to x direction provide approximations for q x .

Tube Wall

The Tube Wall

Heat Equation:
1 d dT
(3.23)
kr
0
r dr dr
What does the form of the heat equation tell us about the variation of qr with
r in the wall?
Is the foregoing conclusion consistent with the energy conservation requirement?
How does qr vary with r ?

Temperature Distribution for Constant k :

Ts ,1 Ts,2 r
T r
ln Ts ,2
ln r1 / r2 r2

(3.26)

Tube Wall (Cont.)

Heat Flux and Heat Rate:

dT
k
qr k

Ts,1 Ts,2
dr r ln r2 / r1

qr 2 rqr

2 k
Ts ,1 Ts ,2

ln r2 / r1

qr 2 rLqr

2 Lk
Ts,1 Ts ,2

ln r2 / r1

Conduction Resistance:
ln r2 / r1
Rt ,cond
2 Lk
ln r2 / r1

Rt ,cond
2 k

Units K/W
Units m K/W

Why is it inappropriate to base the thermal resistance on a unit

surface area?

(3.27)

(3.28)

Tube Wall (Cont.)

Composite Wall with

Negligible Contact
Resistance

qr

T,1 T ,4
Rtot

UA T,1 T,4

(3.30)

Note that
UA Rtot 1
is a constant independent of radius.
But, U itself is tied to specification of an interface.

U i Ai Rtot

(3.32)

Spherical Shell

Spherical Shell

Heat Equation
1 d 2 dT
r
2 dr
r
dr

What does the form of the heat equation tell us about the variation of
qr with r ? Is this result consistent with conservation of energy?
How does qr vary with r ?

Temperature Distribution for Constant k :

T r Ts ,1 Ts ,1 Ts ,2

1 r1/ r

1 r1 / r 2

Spherical Shell (cont.)

Heat flux, Heat Rate and Thermal Resistance:

dT
k
2
Ts,1 Ts,2
dr r 1/ r1 1/ r2
4 k
qr 4 r 2 qr
Ts,1 Ts,2

1/
r

1/
r
1 2

qr k

Rt ,cond

1/ r1 1/ r2

4 k

Composite Shell:
T
qr overall UAToverall
Rtot

UA Rtot 1 Constant

U i Ai Rtot

Depends on Ai

(3.35)

(3.36)

Problem: Thermal Barrier Coating

Case Study 1: Assessment of thermal barrier coating (TBC) for protection

of turbine blades. Determine maximum blade temperature
with and without TBC.

Schematic:

ASSUMPTIONS: (1) One-dimensional, steady-state conduction in a composite plane wall, (2) Constant
properties, (3) Negligible radiation.

Problem: Thermal Barrier (Cont.)

ANALYSIS: For a unit area, the total thermal resistance with the TBC is
, w ho1 L k Rt, c L k hi1
Rtot
Zr
In

, w 10
Rtot

3.85 10

10

2 10

2 10

m2 K W =3.6910-3m2 K W

With a heat flux of

qw

T, o T, i

, w
Rtot

1300 K
3.6910-3 m 2 K W

=3.52105 W m 2

the inner and outer surface temperatures of the Inconel are

hi
Ts, i ( w) T, i qw

400 K+ 3.52105 W m2 500 W m 2 K =1104 K

Ts , o( w) T, i 1 hi L k In qw

-3

=400 K+ 210 +210

-4

m K W 3.5210
2

W m

=1174 K

Problem: Thermal Barrier (Cont.)

Without the TBC,

1

Rtot
, wo ho L k In hi

T, o T, i
qwo

-3

3.2010 m K W

, wo 4.06105 W/m2.
Rtot

the inner and outer surface temperatures of the Inconel are

hi 1212 K
Ts,i(wo) T,i q wo

Ts , o ( wo ) T , i

1 hi L

1293 K
k In qwo

Use of the TBC facilitates operation of the Inconel below Tmax = 1250 K.
COMMENTS: Since the durability of the TBC decreases with increasing temperature, which increases
with increasing thickness, limits to its thickness are associated with reliability considerations.

Problem: Radioactive Waste Decay

Case Study 2: Suitability of a composite spherical shell for storing

radioactive wastes in oceanic waters.
SCHEMATIC:

ASSUMPTIONS: (1) One-dimensional conduction, (2) Steady-state conditions, (3) Constant

properties at 300K, (4) Negligible contact resistance.

PROPERTIES: Table A-1, Lead: k = 35.3 W/mK, MP = 601K; St.St.: 15.1 W/mK.

ANALYSIS: From the thermal circuit, it follows that

T T
4

q= 1
q r13
R tot
3

Problem: Radioactive Waste Decay (Cont.)

The thermal resistances are:

1
1
R Pb 1/ 4 35.3 W/m K

0.00150 K/W
0.25m
0.30m

1
1
R St.St. 1/ 4 15.1 W/m K

0.000567 K/W
0.30m 0.31m

R conv 1/ 4 0.312 m 2 500 W/m2 K 0.00166 K/W

R tot 0.00372 K/W.

The heat rate is then
3
q=5 105 W/m 3 4 / 3 0.25m 32, 725 W

and the inner surface temperature is

T1 T R tot q=283K+0.00372K/W 32,725 W 405 K < MP = 601K.

Hence, from the thermal standpoint, the proposal is adequate.

COMMENTS: In fabrication, attention should be given to maintaining a good thermal contact. A

protective outer coating should be applied to prevent long term corrosion of the stainless steel.