WB MOD07 201700127

Exam Heat transfer

April 9 2021, 09:00-12:00
This exam consists of 7 problems. Use separate paper sets for part I (problem 1-4) and
part II (problem 5-7). Each part has a maximum score of 10 points out of a total of 20.

Write clearly. In each problem show the step by step approach taken to solve the problem.
Give answers with the correct units. Give the values of the dimensionless numbers used as input
in correlations. Values of material parameters taken from tables should be indicated clearly.
When not specifically indicated with a correlation, use the film temperature Tf to determine
the properties. Do not interpolate in tables of properties. Use the nearest lower value in the
list. You are NOT allowed to use the course books or other course material neither in hardware
nor electronically. All necessary formula are provided on the formula sheet. Use of a scientific
calculator is permitted. Good Luck !

Problem 1 (2.5 points)

Consider the configuration of an insulated pipe shown in Figure 1. The temperature
at the interface between a steel pipe and an isolating layer is measured using a skin
thermocouple. The inner pipe temperature can not be measured directly because of the
corrosion conditions of the fluid inside the pipe. The interface temperature is measured
as Ts,2 = 60 [◦ C]. The ambient temperature T∞ = 20 [◦ C]. The outer heat transfer
coefficient h∞ = 60 [W/(m2 K)]. The thermal conductivities are ksteel = 15 [W/(mK)],
and kinsulation = 0.022 [W/(mK)]. The radius of the insulation layer is r1 = 5 [cm].
The outer radius of the piple r2 = 3 [cm]. The inner radius of the pipe is r3 = 2 [cm].
Determine:
(a) (1.5 point) The inner pipe temperature Ts,3 .

(b) (1 point) The rate of heat transfer from the pipe to the surrounding.

Figure 1: insulated pipe in problem 1

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Problem 2 (2.5 points)
Consider a conical geometry with a circular cross-section as shown in Figure 2. The
diameter D = ax [m], where a = 0.25. The cone is made from a material with thermal
conductivity k = 3.46 [W/(mK)]. The small end is at x1 = 5 [mm]. The large end is at
x2 = 250 [mm]. The heat input is applied at the small side. The end temperatures are
T1 = 400 [K], and T2 = 600 [K]. The lateral surface is well insulated.

(a) (1.5 point) Derive a one-dimensional analytical expression for the temperature T (x).

(b) (1 point) Compute the heat transfer rate Q̇x .

Figure 2: Conical geometry of problem 2

Problem 3 (2.5 points)

A square fin of uniform cross-section A = 1 [cm] × 1 [cm] and length of 50 [mm] is
attached to a wall with a surface temperature of 300 [◦ C]. The fin is made of stainless
steel with thermal conductivity of 18 [W/(mK)]. The fin is exposed to ambient air of
50 [◦ C]. The convection heat transfer coefficient is 45 [W/(m2 K)]. Determine the fin
efficiency and the heat loss by the fin for the case of an adiabatic fin tip.

Problem 4 (2.5 points)

Consider a sphere of diameter 2.5 [cm] initially at a temperature of 25 [◦ C], and made
of a material with a thermal conductivity of 1.52 [W/(mK)]. The thermal diffusivity of
the material is α = 9.5 10−7 [m2 /s]. Suddenly the sphere is placed in an environment
with a temperature of 200 [◦ C]. The convection heat transfer coefficient from the sphere
to this environment is h = 110 [W/(m2 K)].

(a) (1.5 point) Determine the temperature at the center of the sphere after 4 minutes.

(b) (1 point) Determine the temperature at the location r = 6.4 [mm] from the center
after 4 minutes.

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Problem 5 (4.5 points)
Consider a horizontal cylinder of width B = 1.15 [m] and diameter D = 0.28 [m]
with a surface temperature Ts = 80 [◦ C] exposed to a uniform cross flow of air with
velocity U∞ = 20 [m/s]. The temperature of the surrounding air is T∞ = 20 [◦ C]. The
temperature of all surrounding surfaces for radiation heat exchange is Tr = 15 [◦ C].

(a) (0.5 point) Compute the Reynolds number for this case, based on the diameter.
Given this value of the Reynolds number make a schematic drawing of the stream-
lines of the flow around the cylinder. Clearly indicate the shape of the wake. Indicate
the boundary layers, show the veloccity proile in the boundary layers. Mark the
points where the flow detaches from the cylinder surface. Schematically draw the
variation of the heat transfer coefficient as a function of the location around the
cylinder in a separate figure. Explain the relation between the two figures.
(b) (1 point) Compute the rate of heat transfer by forced convection from the cylinder
to the flow. The effect of the ends on both sides of the cylinder may be neglected.
(c) (1 point) Compute the heat transfer rate from the cylinder to the surrounding flow
by natural convection, when there is no forced flow. The effect of the ends on both
sides of the cylinder may be neglected
(d) (1 point) Two students of the UT claim that the heat transfer from the cylinder to
the environment by forced convection can be approximated as the heat transfer by
forced convection from (both sides) of a horizontal flat plate of length L = πD/2,
where D is the diameter of the cylinder, and with the same width B = 1.15 [m].
They claim this is justified because the total surface area is the same. Compute the
total heat transfer rate from both sides of the plate to the flow. Assume the same
conditions as under (a).
(e) (0.5 point) Based on the results of exercise (d) discuss if the heat transfer by forced
convection from the cylinder to the flow is equivalent to the heat transfer from both
sides of a flat plate with the equivalent lenght L = πD/2 in forced convection. If
you did not get answers at (a) and (b) use logical reasoning.
(f) (0.5 point) Is the total rate of heat transfer by radiation from the cylinder to the
environment equivalent to the heat transfer from both sides of a flat plate with the
equivalent length L = πD/2 to the entire environment ? Is this also true for the
rate of heat transfer by radiation from the cylinder to a specific object ? Motivate
your answer.

Problem 6 (3 points) Consider the flow of water in a pipe with diameter D =

0.025 [m]. The average velocity is U = 0.4 [m/s]. The length of the pipe is L = 2 [m].
The pipe is heated with a constant heat flux q˙s [W/(m2 K)] over its entire length. At the
inlet of the pipe the mean temperature of the water is Ti = 20 [◦ C]. The required (mean)
temperature of the water at the end of the pipe is Te = 40 [◦ C].

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 (a) (0.5 point) Compute the Reynolds number for the flow in the pipe, and determine
the hydrodynamic and thermal entry length.

(b) (0.5 point) Determine the mass flow rate ṁ. Assume it is justified to consider the
flow to be fully developed.

(c) (1.0 point) Assuming it is justified to consider the flow to be fully developed deter-
mine the magnitude of the heat flux q̇s needed to obtain the required exit Te = 40
[◦ C]. If you could not answer (b) assume ṁ = 0.22 [kg/s].

(d) (1.0 point) Compute the difference between mean temperature Tm and the sur-
face temperature of the pipe Ts . If you could not answer (b) then assume q̇ =
1 105 [W/m2 ].

Problem 7 (2.5 points) Consider the configuration of two coaxial parallel disks of
diameter D = 1.2 [m] placed at a distance L = 1.05 [m] apart as shown in Figure 3. The
upper disk has a temperature Tu = 400 [◦ C]. The lower disk has a temperature Tl = 600
[◦ C]. For radiation heat transfer both disks can be considered as black surfaces.

(a) (1 piont) Determine the viewfactor Flu .

(b) (1 point) Determine the net rate of heat transfer by radiation from the lower to the
upper disk Q̇lu .

(c) (0.5 point) To reduce the net rate of heat transfer in (b) by 25 % how much must
L be increased.

Figure 3: Two discs in radiation heat exchange for problem 7.