Heat Transfer

TRANSFER OF HEAT is minimized by

multiple layers of beta cloth. These and other
insulating materials protect spacecraft from
hostile environmental conditions. (NASA)
 Objectives:

• Demonstrate your understanding of

conduction, convection, and radiation,
and give examples.

• Solve thermal conductivity problems

based on quantity of heat, length of
path, temperature, area, and time.

• Solve problems involving the rate of

radiation and emissivity of surfaces.
 Heat Transfer by
Conduction
Conduction is the process by which heat energy is
transferred by adjacent molecular collisions inside
a material. The medium itself does not move.

Conduction Direction

From
hot to
cold.
 Heat Transfer by
Convection
Convection is the process by which
heat energy is transferred by the
actual mass motion of a heated fluid.

Heated fluid rises and is then Convection

replaced by cooler fluid, producing
convection currents.

Convection is significantly affected

by geometry of heated surfaces. (wall,
ceiling, floor)
 Heat Transfer by Radiation

Radiation is the process by

which heat energy is transferred
by electromagnetic waves.

Radiation

Atomic Sun
No medium is required !
 Kinds of Heat Transfer

Consider the operation of a typical coffee maker:

Think about how heat is

transferred by:

Conduction?
Convection?
Radiation?
 Heat Current
The heat current H is defined as the quantity
of heat Q transferred per unit of time  in the
direction from high temperature to low
temperature.

Steam Ice

Q
H ( J / s)


Typical units are: J/s, cal/s, and Btu/h

 Thermal Conductivity
The thermal conductivity k of
t1 t2
a material is a measure of its
ability to conduct heat.
H = Heat current (J/s)
A = Surface area (m2)
Dt = Temperature difference Dt = t2 - t1

L = Thickness of material

kADt
Q QL J
H  k Units 
 L A Dt s  m  C0
 The SI Units for Conductivity
Hot Cold QL
k
A Dt

For Copper: k = 385 J/s m C0

Taken
In literally,
SI units, this means
typically that for a for
small measures 1-mlength
lengthL
of copper whose cross section is 1 m
and area A must be converted to meters and 0
2 and

whose meters,
square end points differ in temperature
respectively, by 1 C ,
before substitution
heatformulas.
into will be conducted at the rate of 1 J/s.
 Older Units for Conductivity
Dt = 1 F0 Older units, still active, use
common measurements for
1h
area in ft2 time in hours,
A=1 ft2
length in seconds, and
Q=1 Btu quantity of heat in Btu’s.
L = 1 in. Glass k = 5.6 Btu in./ft2h F0

Taken literally, this means that for a 1-in. thick

plate of glass whose area is 1 ft2 and whose
sides differ in temperature by 1 F0, heat will be
conducted at the rate of 5.6 Btu/h.
 Thermal Conductivities
Examples of the two systems of units used for thermal
conductivities of materials are given below:

Material J/s  m  C o
Btu  in/ft  h  F
2 0

Copper: 385 2660

Concrete or 0.800 5.6

Glass:

Corkboard: 0.040 0.30

Examples of Thermal Conductivity
Comparison of Heat Currents for Similar Conditions:
L = 1 cm (0.39 in.); A = 1 m2 (10.8 ft2); Dt = 100 C0

Aluminum: 2050 kJ/s 4980 Btu/h

3850 kJ/s 9360 Btu/h

Copper:

Concrete or 8.00 kJ/s 19.4 Btu/h

Glass:

Corkboard: 0.400 kJ/s 9.72 Btu/h

Example 1: A large glass window
measures 2 m wide and 6 m high. The
inside surface is at 200C and the outside
surface is at 120C. How many joules of
heat pass through this 200C 120C
window in one hour?
Assume L = 1.5 cm and A =1h
that k = 0.8 J/s m C0. Q=?

Dt = t2 - t1
= 8 C0
0.015 m
Example 2: The wall of a freezing plant
is composed of 8 cm of corkboard and
12 cm of solid concrete. The inside
surface is at -200C and the outside
surface is +250C. 0
ti
-20 C 250C
What is the interface
temperature ti?
H
A
Steady
Flow
8 cm 12 cm
 Radiation
The rate of radiation R is the energy emitted per
unit area per unit time (power per unit area).

Rate of Radiation Q P P
R  R   es T 4
(W/m2): A A A

Emissivity, e : 0>e >1

Stefan-Boltzman Constant :
s = 5.67 x 10-8 W/m·K4
Example 3: A spherical Find Power
surface 12 cm in radius is Radiated
heated to 6270C. The
emissivity is 0.12. What
power is radiated? A

6270C
 Summary: Heat Transfer
Conduction: Heat energy is
transferred by adjacent molecular
collisions inside a material. The
medium itself does not move.
Convection is the process by
which heat energy is
transferred by the actual
mass motion of a heated
fluid.

Radiation is the process by which

heat energy is transferred by
electromagnetic waves.
Summary of Thermal Conductivity
The thermal conductivity k of
t1 t2
a material is a measure of its
ability to conduct heat.
H = Heat current (J/s)
A = Surface area (m2)
Dt = Temperature difference Dt = t2 - t1

L = Thickness of material

kADt
Q QL J
H  k Units 
 L A Dt s  m  C0
 Summary of Radiation
The rate of radiation R is the energy emitted per
unit area per unit time (power per unit area).

Rate of Radiation R  Q  P P
R   es T 4
(W/m
R 2): A A A
Emissivity, e : 0>e >1

Stefan-Boltzman Constant :
s = 5.67 x 10-8 W/m·K4
 Summary of Formulas
Q kADt QL J
H  k Units 
 L A Dt s  m  C0

Q kADt H k Dt
H  ;  P  es AT 4
 L A L

Q P P
R  R   es T 4
A A A