HEAT & MASS TRANSFER

Unsteady-State or Transient
Heat Conduction cont.…
Arranged By
PROF. DR. ASAD NAEEM SHAH
anaeems@uet.edu.pk
 TRANSIENT HEAT FLOW IN A SOLID
PLATE WITH EXTERNAL RESISTANCE
▪ In this case the temperature of the surrounding fluid is suddenly
changed to, and maintained at, some temperature different from the
initial solid temperature.

𝑇𝐿

Fig. 1: Temperature Profile of a solid plate of thickness 2L.

Heat and Mass Transfer by Prof. Dr. Asad Naeem Shah
 TRANSIENT HEAT FLOW IN A PLATE WITH
EXTERNAL RESISTANCE Cont.
▪ For the analysis, consider the convective heating or cooling of a
large solid plate of constant thickness 2𝐿 (Fig. 1). The plate is
initially at a uniform temperature 𝑇𝑖 at 𝑡 = 0.
▪ The plate is suddenly exposed to, or immersed in, a large mass
of fluid at 𝑇∞ ∀ 𝑡 > 0. The 𝑇∞ & ℎ𝑐 remain uniform through
this period.
▪ The temperature–time history must satisfy the equation 𝑇 =
𝑇 𝑥, 𝑡 such that:
𝜕 2 𝑇 1 𝜕𝑇
2
= → (1)
𝜕𝑥 𝛼 𝜕𝑡
Heat and Mass Transfer by Prof. Dr. Asad Naeem Shah
 TRANSIENT HEAT FLOW IN A PLATE WITH
EXTERNAL RESISTANCE Cont.
▪ Let 𝜃 = 𝑇 − 𝑇∞ , where 𝑇∞ is constant.
𝜕2𝜃 𝜕2𝑇
⇒ 2= 2
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
▪ From Eqn. (1):
𝜕 2 𝜃 1 𝜕𝜃
2
= → (2)
𝜕𝑥 𝛼 𝜕𝑡
▪ The solution of Eqn. (2) is obtained by using the method of
separation of variable.
−𝜶𝝀𝟐𝒕
⇒ 𝜽 = (𝑪𝟏 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝝀𝒙 + 𝑪𝟐 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝝀𝒙) 𝒆 → (𝟑)
▪ The constants 𝐶1 , 𝐶2 & λ, are required to be evaluated by the
initial B.Cs.
Heat and Mass Transfer by Prof. Dr. Asad Naeem Shah
 TRANSIENT HEAT FLOW IN A PLATE WITH
EXTERNAL RESISTANCE Cont.
𝑘 λ𝐿
⇒ cot λ𝐿 = λ𝐿 = → (6)
ℎ𝑐 𝐿 Bi
▪ The points of intersection of two curves i.e., 𝒚𝟏 = 𝝀𝑳Τ𝑩𝒊 and
𝒚𝟐 = 𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝝀𝑳 will give the values of 𝝀𝑳 (Fig. 2). For a given
value of 𝐿, we can determine λ1 , λ2 , λ3 , ……. so on.
𝝀𝑳
▪ Therefore, the equation 𝒄𝒐𝒕 𝝀𝑳 = is satisfied for an infinite
𝑩𝒊
succession of values of the parameter𝝀𝑳. This succession of
values of λ (called Eigen values) will be denoted by λ𝑛 , and thus
depend on the Biot number (𝐵𝑖).

Heat and Mass Transfer by Prof. Dr. Asad Naeem Shah

TRANSIENT HEAT FLOW IN A PLATE WITH
EXTERNAL RESISTANCE Cont.

𝒚𝟏

𝜆𝐿
Fig. 2: Graphical solution of the transcendental equation 𝑐𝑜𝑡 𝜆𝐿 =
𝐵𝑖

Heat and Mass Transfer by Prof. Dr. Asad Naeem Shah

 TRANSIENT HEAT FLOW IN A PLATE WITH
EXTERNAL RESISTANCE Cont.
▪ The T.D given by Eqn. (4) now leads to:
∞
𝟐
𝜽 = ෍ 𝑪𝒏 𝒆−𝝀𝒏𝜶𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝝀𝒏 𝒙 → (𝟕)
𝒏=𝟏
where λ𝑛 is the nth root of the transcendental equation given by:
λ𝑛 𝐿
cot λ𝑛 𝐿 =
Bi
⇒ 𝝀𝒏 𝑳 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝝀𝒏 𝑳 − 𝐁𝐢 = 𝟎 → (𝟖)
▪ The value of 𝑪𝒏 for each value of λ𝑛 is next to be determined.
▪ Now using the B.C (a) {i.e., at 𝑡 = 0, 𝜃 = 𝜃𝑖 }, Eqn. (7) leads to:
∞

𝜃𝑖 = ෍ 𝐶𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑠λ𝑛 𝑥 → (9)
𝑛=1
▪ If λ𝑛 values were simple integers 𝑖. 𝑒. , 1, 2, 3, … . ., then Eqn. (9)
would have been a Fourier cosine series expansion i.e.,
Heat and Mass Transfer by Prof. Dr. Asad Naeem Shah
 TRANSIENT HEAT FLOW IN A PLATE WITH
EXTERNAL RESISTANCE Cont.
▪ 𝜃𝑖 = 𝐶1 cos 𝑥 + 𝐶2 cos 2𝑥 + 𝐶3 cos 3𝑥 + ⋯ + 𝐶𝑛 cos 𝑛𝑥 + ⋯ and
𝐶𝑛 would have been:
2 𝐿
𝐶𝑛 = න 𝜃𝑖 cos λ𝑛 𝑥𝑑𝑥 ; 𝑓𝑜𝑟 λ𝑛 = 1, 2, 3, …
𝐿 𝑜
▪ But λ𝑛 values are not integers and are the roots of the
trigonometric Eqn. (8). So, some other method has to be used to
determine 𝐶𝑛 values.
𝐿
▪ Now multiplying both sides of Eqn. (9) by ‫׬‬0 cos λ𝑚 𝑥𝑑𝑥
𝑳 𝑳
𝜽𝒊 ‫ = 𝒙𝒅𝒙 𝒎𝝀 𝒔𝒐𝒄 𝟎׬‬σ∞
𝒏=𝟏 𝑪𝒏 ‫)𝟎𝟏( → 𝒙 𝒏𝝀𝒔𝒐𝒄 𝒙𝒅𝒙 𝒎𝝀 𝒔𝒐𝒄 𝟎׬‬
▪ Let 𝜆𝑚 = 𝜆𝑛 , so from Eqn.(10):
𝐿 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜆𝑛 𝐿
Integrand of L.H.S = ‫׬‬0 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜆𝑛 𝑥𝑑𝑥 =
𝜆𝑛
Heat and Mass Transfer by Prof. Dr. Asad Naeem Shah
 TRANSIENT HEAT FLOW IN A PLATE WITH
EXTERNAL RESISTANCE Cont.
𝐿 𝐿 1+𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝜆𝑛 𝑥
Integrand of R.H.S = ‫׬‬0 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜆𝑛 𝑥𝑑𝑥 = ‫׬‬0 𝑑𝑥
2
𝐿
1 1 𝐿
= න 𝑑𝑥 + න 𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝜆𝑛 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
0 2 2 0
1 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜆𝑛 𝐿
= 𝐿+
2 2𝜆𝑛
1 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜆𝑛 𝐿 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜆𝑛 𝐿
= 𝐿+
2 𝜆𝑛
1 𝜆𝑛 𝐿 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜆𝑛 𝐿 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜆𝑛 𝐿
=
2 𝜆𝑛
▪ Thus, Eqn. (10) becomes:
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜆𝑛 𝐿 1 𝜆𝑛 𝐿 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜆𝑛 𝐿 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜆𝑛 𝐿
𝜃𝑖 = 𝐶𝑛
𝜆𝑛 2 𝜆𝑛
Heat and Mass Transfer by Prof. Dr. Asad Naeem Shah
 TRANSIENT HEAT FLOW IN A PLATE WITH
EXTERNAL RESISTANCE Cont.
2𝜃𝑖 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜆𝑛 𝐿
⇒ 𝐶𝑛 = → (11)
𝜆𝑛 𝐿 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜆𝑛 𝐿 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜆𝑛 𝐿
▪ For convenience, let 𝑎𝑛 = 𝜆𝑛 𝐿, then Eqn. (11) becomes:
2𝜃𝑖 sin 𝑎𝑛
𝐶𝑛 = → (12)
𝑎𝑛 + sin 𝑎𝑛 cos 𝑎𝑛
▪ Also, Eqn. (8) becomes:
𝜆𝑛 𝐿 tan 𝜆𝑛 𝐿 = 𝑎𝑛 tan 𝑎𝑛 = Bi
▪ Therefore, after substituting 𝝀𝒏 𝑳 = 𝒂𝒏 and value of 𝑪𝒏 from
Eqn. (12), Eqn. (7) becomes:
∞
2 𝛼𝑡
−𝑎𝑛 sin 𝑎𝑛 𝑥
𝜃 = 2𝜃𝑖 ෍ 𝑒 𝐿2 cos 𝑎𝑛
𝑎𝑛 + sin 𝑎𝑛 cos 𝑎𝑛 𝐿
𝑛=1

Heat and Mass Transfer by Prof. Dr. Asad Naeem Shah

 TRANSIENT HEAT FLOW IN A PLATE WITH
EXTERNAL RESISTANCE Cont.
▪ In dimensionless form, the T.D is given by:
∞
𝜃 −𝑎 2 𝐹𝑜 sin 𝑎𝑛 𝑥
=2෍𝑒 𝑛 cos 𝑎𝑛 → (𝟏𝟑)
𝜃𝑖 𝑎𝑛 + sin 𝑎𝑛 cos 𝑎𝑛 𝐿
𝑛=1
▪ Thus, Eqn. (13) depends on three dimensionless groups.
➢ HEAT TRANSFER RATE:
▪ Cumulative (total) heat loss from the plate is obtained from the
Fourier heat conduction equation as:
𝜕𝜃
𝑑𝑞 = −𝑘𝐴 𝑑𝑡 → (𝟏𝟒)
𝜕𝑥 𝑥=𝐿
▪ Differentiating Eqn.(13) with respect to 𝑥 and putting limit 𝑥 = 𝐿,
∞
𝜕𝜃 2 sin 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑛 𝑥
= 2𝜃𝑖 ෍ 𝑒 −𝑎𝑛 𝐹𝑜 −𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑛
𝜕𝑥 𝑥=𝐿
𝑎𝑛 + sin 𝑎𝑛 cos 𝑎𝑛 𝐿 𝐿 𝑥=𝐿
𝑛=1
Heat and Mass Transfer by Prof. Dr. Asad Naeem Shah
TRANSIENT HEAT FLOW IN A PLATE WITH
EXTERNAL RESISTANCE Cont.
∞ 2
𝜕𝜃 2𝜃𝑖 2
−𝑎𝑛 𝐹𝑜
𝑎 𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑛
⇒ =− ෍𝑒
𝜕𝑥 𝑥=𝐿
𝐿 𝑎𝑛 + sin 𝑎𝑛 cos 𝑎𝑛
𝑛=1
▪ Substituting the above expression in Eqn. (14):
∞ 2 𝑎
2𝜃𝑖 2 𝑎 𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑛
𝑑𝑞 = −𝑘𝐴 − ෍ 𝑒 −𝑎𝑛 𝐹𝑜 𝑑𝑡
𝐿 𝑎𝑛 + sin 𝑎𝑛 cos 𝑎𝑛
𝑛=1
▪ Integrating above with respect to 𝑡, with limits from 0 to 𝑡:
𝑡 ∞ 2 𝑎
2𝑘𝐴𝜃𝑖 2 𝑎 𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑛
𝑞= න ෍ 𝑒 −𝑎𝑛 𝐹𝑜 𝑑𝑡
𝐿 0 𝑎 𝑛 + sin 𝑎 𝑛 cos 𝑎 𝑛
𝑛=1
𝑡 ∞
2 𝛼𝑡 2 𝑎
𝑞 2𝑘𝜃𝑖 −𝑎𝑛 𝑎 𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑛
⇒ = න ෍𝑒 𝐿2 𝑑𝑡
𝐴 𝐿 0 𝑎𝑛 + sin 𝑎𝑛 cos 𝑎𝑛
𝑛=1
Heat and Mass Transfer by Prof. Dr. Asad Naeem Shah
 TRANSIENT HEAT FLOW IN A PLATE WITH
EXTERNAL RESISTANCE Cont.
∞ 𝑡
𝑞 2𝑘𝜃𝑖 𝑎𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑎𝑛 2 𝛼𝑡
−𝑎𝑛
⇒ = ෍ න 𝑒 𝐿2 𝑑𝑡
𝐴 𝐿 𝑎𝑛 + sin 𝑎𝑛 cos 𝑎𝑛 0
𝑛=1

∞ 𝑡
𝑞 2𝑘𝜃𝑖 𝑎𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑎𝑛 2 𝛼𝑡 −𝐿2
−𝑎𝑛
⇒ = ෍ 𝑒 𝐿2
𝐴 𝐿 𝑎𝑛 + sin 𝑎𝑛 cos 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑛2 𝛼 0
𝑛=1

∞
𝑞 2𝑘𝜃𝑖 𝑎𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑎𝑛 −𝐿2 2 𝛼𝑡
−𝑎𝑛
⇒ = ෍ 𝑒 𝐿2 −1
𝐴 𝐿 𝑎𝑛 + sin 𝑎𝑛 cos 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑛2 𝛼
𝑛=1

∞
𝑞 2𝑘𝐿 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑎𝑛 −𝑎 2 𝐹𝑜
⇒ = 𝜃𝑖 ෍ 2 1 −𝑒 𝑛 → (𝟏𝟓)
𝐴 𝛼 𝑎𝑛 + 𝑎𝑛 sin 𝑎𝑛 cos 𝑎𝑛
𝑛=1
Heat and Mass Transfer by Prof. Dr. Asad Naeem Shah
 TRANSIENT HEAT FLOW IN A PLATE WITH
EXTERNAL RESISTANCE Cont.
➢ CENTRE-LINE TEMPERATURE:
▪ As the temperature distribution in the slab 𝑇 𝑥, 𝑡 is given by Eqn.
(13). Thus, at 𝑥 = 0, the center-line temperature 𝑇𝑐 𝑡 varying
with time is given by:
∞
𝜽𝒄 𝑻𝒄 − 𝑻∞ −𝒂 𝟐 𝑭𝒐 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒏
= =𝟐෍𝒆 𝒏 → (𝟏𝟔)
𝜽𝒊 𝑻𝒊 − 𝑻∞ 𝒂𝒏 + 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝒂𝒏
𝒏=𝟏
▪ Figure 3 reproduces Heisler’s chart for the history of the
temperature in the midplane of a plate when 𝑇𝑐 (𝑡) = 𝑇(0, 𝑡).
This method of plotting the temperature history had been used
earlier by Hottel.
▪ Similarly, Heisler’s charts are also available to provide the history
of the temperature on the centerline and the center of a long
cylinder and sphere (Fig. 4-5).
Heat and Mass Transfer by Prof. Dr. Asad Naeem Shah
 TRANSIENT HEAT FLOW IN A PLATE WITH
EXTERNAL RESISTANCE Cont.

Fig. 3: Temperature history in the midplane of a plate (solid) immersed

suddenly in a fluid of a different temperature (𝐿 = 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠).
Heat and Mass Transfer by Prof. Dr. Asad Naeem Shah
 TRANSIENT HEAT FLOW IN A PLATE WITH
EXTERNAL RESISTANCE Cont.

Fig. 4: Temperature history on the centerline of a long cylinder immersed

suddenly in a fluid of a different temperature (𝑟𝑜 = 𝑐𝑦𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠).
Heat and Mass Transfer by Prof. Dr. Asad Naeem Shah
 TRANSIENT HEAT FLOW IN A PLATE WITH
EXTERNAL RESISTANCE Cont.

Fig. 5: Temperature history in the center of a sphere immersed suddenly in a

fluid of a different temperature (𝑟𝑜 = 𝑠𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠).
Heat and Mass Transfer by Prof. Dr. Asad Naeem Shah