TRANSIENT HEAT FLOW IN INFINITE PLATE

1) A aluminium slab of 5 cm thick initially at a temperature of 400o C. It is suddenly

immersed in a water at 90o C. Calculate the mid plane temperature after 1 minute and also
calculate the temperature inside the plate at a distance of 10 mm from the mid plane.
Take h = 1800 W/m2K

Given:
Thickness, L = 0.05 m Initial temperature, Ti = 400o C + 273 = 673 K
Final temperature, T∞= 90o C + 273 = 363 K Distance, x = 0.010 m
Time, t = 60s Heat transfer co-efficient, h = 1800 W/m2K

To find: 1. Mid plane temperature (T0) after 1 min

2. Intermediate temperature (Tx) at a distance of 0.010 m from the mid plane.

Solution: Biot number, Bi = hLc/k = 0.22

Properties of aluminium are
(HMT Data book, Pg: 1)
Thermal diffusivity,α =84.18 x 10-6 m2/s
Thermal conductivity, k = 204.2 W/mK
For Slab,
Characteristic length,
Lc = L/2 = 0.025 m
Biot number value is in between 0.1 and 100.
i.e., 0.1 < Bi < 100. So, this is infinite
solid type problem.
Case (i)
[To calculate the mid plane temperature
for infinite plate, HMT Data book, Pg: 65 –
Heisler chart]
X axis -> Fourier number = α t / Lc2 = 8.08 1
TRANSIENT HEAT FLOW IN INFINITE PLATE
Curve = h Lc / k = 0.22
X axis value is 8.08, curve value is 0.22. From that, we can find corresponding Y axis
value is 0.19 [From graph].

Y axis = (T0 - T∞) / (Ti - T∞) = 0.19

(T0 - 363) / (673 - 363) = 0.19
T0 = 421 K
Mid plane temperature or Center line temperature, T0 = 451.9 K
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TRANSIENT HEAT FLOW IN INFINITE PLATE
Case (ii)
Temperature at a distance of 0.01 m from mid plane
(HMT Data book, Pg: 65 – Heisler chart)

X axis -> Biot number, Bi = h Lc /k = 0.22

Curve = x / Lc = 0.4
X axis value is 0.22, curve value is 0.4. From that, we can find corresponding Y axis value
is 0.98 [From graph].

Y axis = (Tx - T∞) / (T0 - T∞) = 0.98

(Tx - 363) / (421.9 - 363) = 0.98
Tx = 420.72 K
Temperature at a distance of 0.010 from the mid plane is 420.72 K
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TRANSIENT HEAT FLOW IN INFINITE PLATE
2) A slab of aluminium 120 mm thick is initially at a temperature of 600o C. It is suddenly
immersed in a liquid at 120o C, resulting in a heat transfer co-efficient of 1400 W/m2K. Calculate
the following. 1. Temperature at the center line after 1 minute.
2. Temperature at the surface, 3. Total thermal energy removed per unit area.

Given:
Thickness, L = 0.120 m Initial temperature, Ti = 600o C + 273 = 873 K
Fluid temperature, T∞= 120o C + 273 = 393 K Heat transfer co-efficient, h = 1400 W/m2K

To find: 1. Temperature at the center line after 1 minute.

2. Temperature at the surface, 3. Total thermal energy removed per unit area.

Solution:
Properties of aluminium are
(HMT Data book, Pg: 1)
Density, ρ = 2707 kg/m3
Thermal diffusivity,α =84.18 x 10-6 m2/s
Specific heat, Cp = 896 J/kg K
Thermal conductivity, k = 204.2 W/mK
For Slab,
Characteristic length,
Lc = L/2 = 0.06 m
Biot number, Bi = hLc/k = 0.411
Biot number value is in between 0.1 and 100.
i.e., 0.1 < Bi < 100. So, this is infinite
solid type problem.
Case (i)
[To calculate the mid plane temperature
for infinite plate, HMT Data book, Pg: 65 –
Heisler chart]
X axis -> Fourier number = α t / Lc2 = 1.403
[Since t =1 min = 60 s] 4
TRANSIENT HEAT FLOW IN INFINITE PLATE
Curve = h Lc / k = 0.411
X axis value is 1.403, curve value is 0.411. From that, we can find corresponding Y axis
value is 0.62.

Y axis = (T0 - T∞) / (Ti - T∞) = 0.62

(T0 - 393) / (873 - 393) = 0.62
T0 = 690.6 K
Center line temperature, T0 = 690.6 K

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TRANSIENT HEAT FLOW IN INFINITE PLATE
Case (ii)
Temperature at the surface i.e., x = Lc
=> x = 0.06 m
(HMT Data book, Pg: 65 – Heisler chart)
X axis -> Biot number, Bi = h Lc /k = 0.411
Curve = x / Lc = 1
X axis value is 0.411, curve value is 1. From that, we can find corresponding Y axis value
is 0.85.

Y axis = (Tx - T∞) / (T0 - T∞) = 0.85

(Tx - 393) / (690.6 - 393) = 0.85
Tx = 645.96 K
Temperature at a surface, Tx = 645.96 K
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TRANSIENT HEAT FLOW IN INFINITE PLATE
Case (iii)
Total thermal energy removed (or) Total heat energy removed.
[HMT data book, Pg no: 67]

X axis = h2α t / k2 = 0.171

Curve = h Lc / k = 0.411
X axis value is 0.171, curve value is 0.411. From that, we can find corresponding Y axis
value is 0.24.

Y axis = ( Q / Q0) = 0.24  ( 1 )

Q0 = ρ Cp L [Ti - T∞] = 139.7 x 106 J/m2 [HMT data book, Pg no: 63 ]
(1) => Q / Q0 = 0.24
=> Total heat energy removed, Q = 33.52 x 106 J/m2 10-3

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TRANSIENT HEAT FLOW IN INFINITE PLATE