Two dimensional steady state analysis

Introduction:
In heat transfer analysis of systems 1 dimensional assumption is not applicable in all situations. In
cases where the heat flows in multiple spatial dimensions it necessitates the 2 or 3 dimensional
analysis. In this chapter we will be looking at 2 dimensional heat conduction equation with no heat
generated, and constant thermal conductivity in both directions assumptions. The heat equation is a
partial differential equation as shown below:

∂2 T ∂2 T
+ =0
∂ x2 ∂ y2

The above equation can be solved mainly in three different techniques namely, analytical method,
graphical procedure and the finite difference calculations. The graphical procedure is explained first as
it gives an overall visualization of the 2D heat transfer process. It gives the students a chance to build
intuition of the flow paths inside the system.

The graphical technique comprises of two aspects. One of the ways to apply the technique is called
Flux plotting method and the other is the use of shape factor. The flux plotting involves the drawing of
the isotherms and adiabats based on the heat flow directions. Figure below illustrates the heat flow
from the +ve y direction to the -ve y direction, and in both + ve and -ve x directions. At steady state we can
draw lines of constant temperature called the 'Isotherms'. Isotherms are shown as dashed lines in the
figure below. Similarly, perpendicular to the isotherms at every point we can draw lines across which
there is not heat flux. These lines are called the 'Adiabats' or the adiabatic lines. Adiabats are shown as
solid lines in the figure below.

Using the isotherms and adiabats we can construct a crude squares to cover the entire system domain.
By the virtue of geometry of squares, the temperature difference across these crude elements will be
approximately equal. Therefore simple hand calculations can be achieved using this technique, with
corresponding higher errors associated with the technique.

The other aspect of graphical technique is the shape factor approach. In the case of complex shaped
object with embedded materials we can refer to the tables in references that list the shape factors that
can be used directly in the below equation to find the overall heat transfer.

q overall=k×S×Δ T overall

Students who are interested in this technique should read the standard textbooks and the reference book
mentioned in the course outline. Additional comprehensive list of shape factors can be found in the
reference below

Rohsenow, W. M., and J. P. Hartnett, eds. Handbook of Heat Transfer. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-
Hill, 1988.

Analytical method of partial differential equation:

The analytical method involves the solution to the partial differential equation and corresponding
boundary conditions. The separation of variables is one of the common techniques used in solving the
PDE, for its simplicity and minimal assumptions. Below let us solve the second order partial
differential equation with the boundary conditions specified in the figure.

T 2 , θ=1
W

T 1 , θ=0 T 1 , θ=0
T( x, y)

(0,0) L
T 1 , θ=0

Consider a system of thin plate with three sides of the plate maintained at temperature T1 and the forth
side maintained at T2. Assuming there is not heat generation, and the heat flow is negligible in the z
direction; the heat flow is only the x-y plane.
∂2 T ∂2 T
+ =0
∂ x2 ∂ y2

The above equation is simplified using the transformation as shown below:

T −T 1
θ=
T 2−T 1
 ∂2 θ + ∂2 θ =0
∂ x2 ∂ y2
with boundary conditions as:

θ( 0, y )=0 θ( x , 0)=0 θ(L , y)=0 θ( x , W )=1

With the transformation the boundary conditions have values between 0 and 1.

To apply the separation of variables we assume that the solution to the PDE is a product of two
functions. The first function is just a function of spatial coordinate 'x' and the other is just a function of
spatial coordinate 'y'.

θ( x , y)=X ( x )×Y ( y )
substituting this solution into the PDE we get

1 d2 X 1 d2 Y
− =
x d x2 y d y2

The linear homogeneous equation is indeed separable with LHS of the above equation is just a function
of x, and RHS is just a function of y. The above equation can be satisfied for all x and y values only if
the equation is equal to a constant. This constant is called the separation constant λ 2

Therefore we have
1 d2 X
2
+ λ 2=0
x dx
1 d2 Y 2
2
−λ =0
x dy
The separation constant was chosen to be positive to satisfy all the boundary conditions. Other possible
values for the separation constant are either to be negative or to be equal to zero.

The general solution to differential equation in X and Y are respectively given below:

X =C1 cos( λ x)+C 2 sin(λ x )

−λ y +λ y
Y =C 3 e +C 4 e

Therefore the general form of solution for the problem is

θ( x , y)=(C 1 cos ( λ x)+C 2 sin(λ x ))×(C 3 e−λ y +C 4 e+λ y )
Applying the boundary conditions we get
(1) θ(0, y )=0
we get C1 =0

(2) θ( x , 0)=0
implies C2 sin(λ x)×(C 3 +C 4)=0
now the constant C2 cannot be equal to zero because it leads to null solution and does not satisfy other
boundary conditions. Therefore C3 = - C4.

(3) θ( L , y)=0
 λy −λ y
C2 C 4 sin(λ L)×(e −e )=0
The only way to satisfy this condition is to let sin( λ L)=0 . This gives the values for separation
constant as follows
nπ
λ= ; n=1,2,3,. ...
λ

in the above equation n=0 is excluded to avoid the null solution situation.
nπ nπ
nπ y − y
θ(x , y)=C2 C 4 sin ( x )×(e −e L )
L
L
nπ nπ
θ( x , y)=C2 C 4 sin ( x )×2×sinh( y)
L L
Combining all the constants and understanding that it may depend on the value of 'n
we get the following general solution for the linear differential equation.
∞
nπ nπ
θ( x , y)=∑ Cn sin( x)×sinh( y)
n=1 L L
(4) θ( x , W )=1
∞
nπ nπ
θ(x , W )=∑ C n sin ( x )×sinh( W )=1
n=1 L L

The value of Cn can be found using orthogonal functions:

L

∫ sin n πL x dx ∞ n+1
2 (−1) +1
A n= 0
L
=∑ π
nπ x n=1 n
∫ sin L dx
2

2[(−1)n +1+1]
Cn = ; n=1,2,3...
n π sinh(n π W /L)
n+1
2 ∞ (−1) +1 n π x sinh(n π y / L)
θ(x , y)= π ∑ sin
n=1 n L sinh (n π W / L)