PROBLEM 1.

2

K

NOWN: Inner surface temperature and thermal conductivity of a concrete wall.
FIND: Heat loss by conduction through the wall as a function of outer surface temperatures ranging from
15 to 38C. -

SCHEMATIC:

ASSUMPTIONS: (1) One-dimensional conduction in the x-direction, (2) Steady-state conditions, (3)
Constant properties.

ANALYSIS: From Fouriers law, if and k are each constant it is evident that the gradient,
x
q
x
dT dx q k = , is a constant, and hence the temperature distribution is linear. The heat flux must be
constant under one-dimensional, steady-state conditions; and k is approximately constant if it depends
only weakly on temperature. The heat flux and heat rate when the outside wall temperature is T
2
=-15C
are

( )
2 1 2
x
25 C 15 C
dT T T
q k k 1W m K 133.3W m
dx L 0.30m

= = = =

. (1)

2 2
x x
q q A 133.3W m 20m 2667W = = = . (2) <

Combining Eqs. (1) and (2), the heat rate q
x
can be determined for the range of outer surface temperature,
-15 T
2
38C, with different wall thermal conductivities, k.



-20 -10 0 10 20 30 40
Ambient air temperature, T2 (C)
-1500
-500
500
1500
2500
3500
H
e
a
t

l
o
s
s
,

q
x

(
W
)
Wall thermal conductivity, k =1.25 W/m.K
k =1 W/m.K, concrete wall
k =0.75 W/m.K
Outside surface
-20 -10 0 10 20 30 40
Ambient air temperature, T2 (C)
-1500
-500
500
1500
2500
3500
H
e
a
t

l
o
s
s
,

q
x

(
W
)
Wall thermal conductivity, k =1.25 W/m.K
k =1 W/m.K, concrete wall
k =0.75 W/m.K
Outside surface












For the concrete wall, k =1 W/mK, the heat loss varies linearly from +2667 W to -867 W and is zero
when the inside and outer surface temperatures are the same. The magnitude of the heat rate increases
ith increasing thermal conductivity. w

COMMENTS: Without steady-state conditions and constant k, the temperature distribution in a plane
wall would not be linear.
Excerpts fromthis work may be reproduced by instructors for distribution on a not-for-profit basis for testing or instructional purposes only to students enrolled in
courses for which the textbook has been adopted. Any other reproduction or translation of this work beyond that permitted by Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976
United States Copyright Act without the permission of the copyright owner is unlawful.