NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE

Department Mechanical Engineering

ME 3122 Heat Transfer
TUTORIAL 1- CONDUCTION
1. Figure 1 shows a typical nuclear reactor used for commercial power
production. Heat is generated at the rate of 74.52 MW/m3 in the long 50 mm
OD uranium fuel rods (k = 0.03 kW/mK) which are jacketed by an annulus to
permit cooling water to flow. For an average temperature of 130C of cooling
water and a convective heat transfer coefficient of 56.79 kW/m2K, determine
the maximum temperature of the fuel rod.
[Ans: 534.3C]

Vertical safety rods

Reinforced
Shield

Thermal
Shield
Fuel rods
Cooling water
passage
Cooling tubes
Figure 1. Graphite-moderated reactor
(Source: General Electric Review)

2. A power transistor is capable of operating at up to 4.5 W. The manufactures

specification for the case to ambient thermal resistance of the transistor is
28C/W and the case temperature is not to exceed 75C. To reduce the
operating temperature, the transistor is mounted on a black anodized
aluminum frame which serves as a heat sink. The frame provides an additional
1500 mm2 surface area for cooling. In order to minimize the thermal contact
resistance between the transistor and the heat sink, and at the same time
maintain proper electrical insulation, the surface is first cleaned and coated
with thermal grease. A special electrical insulation gasket is then inserted and
the transistor is bolted lightly to the frame. In general, for proper thermal
contact, resistance is of the order of 0.75C/W.
Determine the maximum power at which the transistor can be safely operated
if the surrounding walls and air are at 26C and h = 11 W/ m2K.
[Ans: 3.09W]
3. One surface of a thin metallic plate (thermal conductivity, k= 245W/mK) has
a surface temperature Ts equal to 120C. The other surface is exposed to air at
temperature, Ta = 25C. The convective heat transfer coefficient between the
surface and the air is 80 W/m2K. A circular pin fin (diameter, d = 2 mm and
length, L = 10 mm) is attached to the surface. Assuming negligible heat loss
from the tip, determine
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

the rate of heat transfer from the fin surface,

the efficiency of the fin,
the effectiveness of the fin, and
the number of fins required per square meter of primary surface to
increase the rate of heat transfer by 100%.
[Ans: (a) 0.4645 W, (b) 97.3%, (c) 19.45, (d) 17,206]

4. A thermocouple is introduced into a pipe to measure the temperature of steam

flowing through it. The thermocouple junction may be approximated as a
sphere. The convection coefficient between the junction surface and the steam
is known to be 380 W/m2K and the thermophysical properties of the junction
are given as follows:
Thermal conductivity, k: 25 W/mK
Specific heat, cp: 380 J/kgK
Density, : 8000 kg/m3
Determine the diameter of the junction needed for the thermocouple to have a
time constant of 1 second. If the junction is at 30C and it is placed inside a
tube carrying steam at 250C, how long will it take for the junction to reach
240C?
[Ans: 0.75mm, 3.09 sec]