Introduction

to Conduction

Dra. Sonia Esperanza Reyes Gómez

Transferencia de calor
Programa de Ingeniería Química
Fourier’s Law (one-dimension)

• Fourier’s law is phenomenological; that is, it is developed from observed phenomena rather than
being derived from first principles.

k, thermal conductivity (W/m·K)

heat rate

heat flux
Conduction rate equation

• It is also implicit that the medium in which the conduction occurs is isotropic.
• For such a medium the value of the thermal conductivity is independent of the coordinate direction.
• It is not an expression that may be derived from first principles, it is instead a generalization based on
experimental evidence.
• It is an expression that defines an important material property (thermal conductivity).
• Fourier’s law is a vector expression indicating that the heat flux is normal to an isotherm and in the
direction of decreasing temperature.
• Fourier’s law applies for all matter, regardless of its state (solid, liquid, or gas).
Thermal conductivity

• To use Fourier’s law, the thermal conductivity of the material must be

known.
• This property, which is referred to as a transport property, provides an
indication of the rate at which energy is transferred by the diffusion
process.
• It depends on the physical structure of matter, atomic and molecular,
which is related to the state of the matter.
• In general, the thermal conductivity of a solid is larger than that of a
liquid, which is larger than that of a gas.
 The Solid State
• A solid may be comprised of free electrons and atoms bound in a periodic arrangement called the lattice.
• Transport of thermal energy may be due to two effects: the migration of free electrons and lattice vibrational waves.
• When viewed as a particle-like phenomenon, the lattice vibration quanta are termed phonons.
• In pure metals, the electron contribution to conduction heat transfer dominates, while in nonconductors and
semiconductors, the phonon contribution is dominant.

For conducting materials (metals):

C ≡ Ce electron specific heat per unit volume
mean electron velocity
𝜆 ≡ 𝜆 is the electron mean free path
mfp e

In nonconducting solids:
C ≡ Cph is the phonon specific heat
average speed of sound
𝜆 ≡ 𝜆 phonon mean free path
mfp ph

which again is determined by collisions with imperfections

or other phonons.

In all cases, the thermal conductivity increases as the mean free path of the
energy carriers (electrons or phonons) is increased.
Temperature dependence of the thermal conductivity in solids

• The regularity of the lattice

arrangement has an important effect
on kph, with crystalline (well-ordered)
materials like quartz having a higher
thermal conductivity than
amorphous materials like glass.
The Solid State: Micro- and Nanoscale Effects
The Fluid State

• Includes both liquids and gases.

• Since the intermolecular spacing
is much larger and the motion of
the molecules is more random
for the fluid state than for the
solid state, thermal energy
transport is less effective.
• The thermal conductivity of
gases and liquids is therefore
generally smaller than that of
solids.
Thermal conductivity in liquids
Other relevant properties
• These properties are generally referred to
as thermophysical properties and include
two distinct categories, transport and
thermodynamic properties.
Thermal diffusivity (m2/s):
• The transport properties include the
diffusion rate coefficients such as k, the
thermal conductivity (for heat transfer),
and v, the kinematic viscosity (for
momentum transfer).
It measures the ability
• Thermodynamic properties, pertain to the
of a material to conduct
equilibrium state of a system. thermal energy relative
• Density (𝝆) and specific heat (cp). to its ability to store
thermal energy.
• The product 𝝆·cp (J/m3·K), commonly
termed the volumetric heat capacity,
measures the ability of a material to store
thermal energy.
Other relevant properties

• The accuracy of engineering calculations depends on the accuracy with

which the thermophysical properties are known.
• Selection of reliable property data is an integral part of any careful
engineering analysis.

• Touloukian, Y. S., and C. Y. Ho, Eds., Thermophysical Properties of

Matter, The TPRC Data Series (13 volumes on thermophysical
properties: thermal conductivity, specific heat, thermal radiative,
thermal diffusivity, and thermal linear expansion), Plenum Press, New
York, 1970 through 1977.
Example:
Heat Difussion Equation

• The temperature distribution, which represents how temperature

varies with position in the medium.
• Once this distribution is known, the conduction heat flux at any
point in the medium or on its surface may be computed from
Fourier’s law.
• For a solid, knowledge of the temperature distribution could be
used to ascertain structural integrity through determination of
thermal stresses, expansions, and deflections.
• The temperature distribution could also be used to optimize the
thickness of an insulating material or to determine the compatibility
of special coatings or adhesives used with the material.
The Heat Diffusion Equation Consider a homogeneous medium within which there is no bulk
motion (advection) and the temperature distribution T(x, y, z)

Taylor series expansion

(W/m3)

We wish to know the temperature distribution, which represents how

temperature varies with position in the medium.
The Heat Diffusion Equation: Cartesian coordinates
The Heat Diffusion Equation: Cartesian coordinates
The Heat Diffusion Equation: Cylindrical Coordinates
The Heat Diffusion Equation: Spherical Coordinates
The Heat Diffusion Equation: Spherical Coordinates
References:

Incropera, F. y D. De Witt, "Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer",

John Wiley & Sons, USA (2006).
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