Heat Diffusion Equation

Or
General Conduction Equation
 Conduction
T1 T2 < T1

q insulator

x
A

qx the conducted heat rate in the x-direction has

been found to adequately represented by:
Temperature gradient

dT
q x = − kA
dx
Conductivity
 Fourier’s Law
T1 T2 < T1

q insulator

x
A

qx dT
qx '' = = −k
A dx

 r ∂T r ∂T r ∂T 
q '' = −k ∇T = −k  i +j +k 
 ∂x ∂y ∂z 
 The heat diffusion equation
qz+dz
qy+dy
A homogenous medium in
which
Bulk velocity = 0
(No advection)
qx E& st E& g qx+dx
T(x,y,z)
dy dz
qy
dx
qz
 The heat diffusion equation
qz+dz
qy+dy out in

∂qx
qx + dx = qx + dx
∂x
& ∂q y
qx E& st Eg qx+dx q y + dy = q y + dy
∂y
dy dz ∂q
qz + dz = qz + z dz
qy ∂z
dx
qz
 The heat diffusion equation
qz+dz
qy+dy ∂qx
qx + dx = qx + dx
∂x
∂q y
q y + dy = q y + dy
∂y
&
E& st Eg qx+dx ∂q
qx qz + dz = qz + z dz
∂z
dy dz
qy E& g = qdxdydz
&
dx
qz ∂T
Est = ρ c p
& dxdydz
∂t
 ∂qx qy+dy qz+dz
qx + dx = qx + dx
∂x
∂q y
q y + dy = q y + dy
∂y qx
∂q E& st E& g
qx+dx
qz + dz = qz + z dz
∂z
dy dz

E& g = qdxdydz
& qy
dx
qz
∂T
E& st = ρ c p dxdydz
∂t E&in + E& g − E& st = E& out
 qy+dy qz+dz

qx E& st E& g
qx+dx

dy dz
qy
dx
qz

∂T
qx + q y + qz + qdxdydz
& − qx + dx − q y + dy − qz + dz = ρcp dxdydz
∂t
 ∂T
qx + q y + qz + qdxdydz
& − qx + dx − q y + dy − qz + dz = ρ c p dxdydz
∂t

Recall that
∂qx
qx + dx = qx + dx
∂x
∂q y
q y + dy = q y + dy
∂y
∂qz
qz + dz = qz + dz
∂z
 ∂qx ∂q y ∂qz ∂T
− dx − dy − dz + qdxdydz
& = ρcp dxdydz
∂x ∂y ∂z ∂t
Recall Fourier’s Law
Area

∂T
qx = −kdydz
∂x dz

qx qx+dx

dy
 ∂qx ∂q y ∂qz ∂T
− dx − dy − dz + qdxdydz
& = ρcp dxdydz
∂x ∂y ∂z ∂t

∂T
qx = −kdydz
∂x
∂T
q y = −kdxdz
∂y

∂T
qz = −kdxdy
∂z

Finally divide the whole equation by the volume dxdydz

 ∂  ∂T  ∂  ∂T  ∂  ∂T  ∂T
k + k + k  + &
q = ρ c
∂x  ∂x  ∂y  ∂y  ∂z  ∂z ∂t
p

qz+dz
qy+dy

& qx+dx
qx E& st Eg

dy dz
qy
dx
qz
If thermal conductivity is constant, you can divide the whole equation by k and
this leads to the simplification

∂ 2T ∂ 2T ∂ 2T q& 1 ∂T
+ 2 + 2 + =
∂x 2
∂y ∂z k α ∂t

Where α is the thermal diffusivity

given by

k
α=
ρcp
Under steady state conditions and with no heat generation then the storage
quantity reduces to zero and the heat equation reduces to

∂  ∂T  ∂  ∂T  ∂  ∂T 
k + k + k  + q& = 0
∂x  ∂x  ∂y  ∂y  ∂z  ∂z 

For one dimensional steady state heat transfer

∂  ∂T 
k =0
∂x  ∂x 

i.e the heat flux is constant in the direction of the heat transfer.
The electrical resistance analogy
1-Plan Wall
 q

T∞2,h∞2

Ts1 Ts2

T∞1,h∞1

x x=L

0 0 0
0
∂  ∂T  ∂  ∂T  ∂  ∂T  ∂T
k + k + k  + q = ρcp
&
∂x  ∂x  ∂y  ∂y  ∂z  ∂z  ∂t
 Q
T∞2,h∞2

Ts1
Ts2

T∞1,h∞1

x x=L

Integrate twice wrt x

∂  ∂T 
k =0 T ( x)= C1 x + C2
∂x  ∂x 
T ( x)= C1 x + C2 In order to calculate C1 and C2 we need to
apply the BOUNDARY CONDITIONS:

@x=0 T=Ts,1

@x=l T=Ts,2

C2=Ts,1

T ( x)= C1 x + Ts ,1

x
T ( x)= (Ts ,2 − Ts ,1 ) + Ts ,1
L
 x
T ( x)= (Ts ,2 − Ts ,1 ) + Ts ,1
L
For one dimensional steady state conduction in a plane wall with no
heat generation and constant thermal conductivity the temperature
varies linearly with x ,

Fourier’s law can now be stated as

dT A
qx = kA = k (Ts ,1 − Ts ,2 )
dx L

i.e the flux is

k
q ''x =
L
( Ts ,1 − Ts ,2 )
 The electrical resistance analogy
∆V
q

R
∆V ∆T
R=
I
Define conduction Resistance as:
Ts ,1 − Ts ,2 L
Rt ,cond = =
qx kA
also convection resistance based on:

q = hA (Ts − T∞ )
Can be defined as

Ts − T∞ 1
Rt ,conv = =
q hA
 q

Ts1
Ts2
T∞2,h∞2 T∞1 − T∞ 2
q=
T∞1,h∞1
Ts3
Ts4 ∑R
KA KB KC

x x=L

1 LA LB LC 1
h∞1 A kA A kB A kC A h A
∞2
 T∞1 − T∞ 2
qx =
1 LA LB LC 1
+ + + +
h∞1 A K A A K B A KC A h∞ 2 A

T∞1 − T∞ 2 Ts1 − Ts 2 Ts 2 − Ts 3 Ts 3 − Ts 4
qx = = = =
1 LA LB LC
h∞1 A KAA KB A KC A

qx = UA∆T
Rtot 1
Where U= =
A 1 L L L 1
+ A + B + C +
h∞1 K A K B K C h∞ 2
 Contact resistance
q”x
q”x

q”contact
A B
q”gap

TA − TB
R "t ,c =
q ''x
The electrical resistance analogy
2-Cylinderical
The heat equation for a steady state one
dimensional heat transfer and no energy
generation for a hollow cylinder

1 d  dT 
 kr 
r dr  dr 

r
 Fourier’s Law

The Fourier’s law of conduction in one dT

direction qx = −kA
dx

Fourier’s law of conduction in one dT dT

direction namely the radial qx = −kA = −k ( 2π rL )
dr dr
direction
 Cylindrical heat transfer
1 d  dT 
Steady state conditions with no heat generation  kr 
r dr  dr 
Cold fluid
h ∞2 ,T∞2
Why is it
curved ?

Ts1
r1 Ts2 Ts2
1 d  dT 
 kr 
r dr  dr 
r2 r1 r2
Hot fluid L

h ∞1 ,T∞1 Ts1
1 ln ( r2 / r1 )
h1 2π r1 L 2π Lk
 We would like to solve for the radial temperature field

Assume the conduction coefficient is constant and 1 d  dT 

integrate the heat equation twice ∫ ∫ r dr  kr dr 

T (r ) = C1 ln r + C2

Apply the boundary conditions

T(r1) = Ts1
T(r2) = Ts2

Ts1 = C1 ln r1 + C2
Which gives
Ts2 = C1 ln r2 + C2
 Ts1 − Ts2 r
Solving the two equations T (r )= ln + Ts2
ln r1 / r2 r2
simultaneously gives C1 and
C2 and substituting into the
general solution gives

The wall temperature in the cylinder is logarithmic and not linear

like the case for the plane wall under the same conditions

Take the derivative of T(r) wrt r and substitute dT/dr in Fourier’s

Law in cylindrical form

dT/dr
dT
qr = −k ( 2π rL )
dr

Ts1 − Ts2 r
qr = ( 2π kL ) ln
Which gives ln r2 / r1 r2
 Note that the heat rate is
NOT a linear function of
Ts1 − Ts2 r radius but a logarithmic
qr = ( 2π kL ) ln
ln r2 / r1 r2 function of the radius

Recall the electrical resistance Ts1 − Ts 2

Rt ,cond =
analogy qr

ln ( r2 / r1 )
Which gives the conductivity Rt ,cond =
resistance 2π Lk
 Cylindrical heat transfer
ln ( r2 / r1 )
Rt ,cond =
2π Lk
Cold fluid
h ∞2 ,T∞2

1 ln ( r2 / r1 ) 1
h1 2π r1 L 2π Lk h2 2π r1L

r1 Ts2
1 d  dT 
 kr 
r dr  dr 
r2
Hot fluid L

h ∞1 ,T∞1 Ts1
 Composite cylindrical
wall

1 ln(r2 / r1 ) ln(r3 / r2 ) ln(r4 / r3 ) 1

h1 2π r1 L 2π k L 2π k L 2π kC L h2 2π r4 L
A B
 The heat transfer rate

T∞1 − T∞ 2
qr =
1 ln(r2 / r1 ) ln(r3 / r2 ) ln(r4 / r3 ) 1
+ + + +
h1 2π r1 L 2π k A L 2π k B L 2π kC L h2 2π r4 L
 Wall with Heat generation
• We looked at a wall with no heat generation.
Many cases require the consideration of a wall
with heat generation.
• One such case is heat generation due to
resistance.
The rate at which energy is generated by passing
a current I through the resistance R E& g = I 2 R

If you assume the power generated is uniform In E& g I 2R

q& = =
this case Volume Volume

Let us solve for the temperature field starting with the

heat rate equation
 Plane wall with uniform heat generation
0 0 0
ss
∂  ∂T  ∂  ∂T  ∂  ∂T  ∂T
k + k + k  + q = ρcp
&
∂x  ∂x  ∂y  ∂y  ∂z  ∂z  ∂t

Plane wall Uniform

Assume conductivity means this
is constant term is
constant
The heat rate equation d 2T q&
simplifies to + =0
dx k

−q& 2
Integrate twice gives T= x + C1 x + C2
2k
 Plane wall with uniform heat generation

−q& 2
Solving for C1 and C2
depends on the boundary
T= x + C1 x + C2
conditions
2k

Case 1
T∞2,h∞2
The boundary conditions are
Ts1
T(-L)=Ts,1 and T(L)=Ts,2
Ts2

T∞1,h∞1
This gives

x=-L x x=L
 Plane wall with uniform heat
generation
−q& 2
T= x + C1 x + C2
2k

Ts ,2 − Ts ,1
C1 = C2 = Ts ,2
2L

& 2  x 2   Ts ,2 − Ts ,1  x Ts ,2 + Ts ,1
qL
T ( x) = 1 −  +   +
2k  L2   2 L 2
 Solving for C1 and C2 −q& 2
depends on the boundary T= x + C1 x + C2
conditions 2k

Case 2
Plane wall with uniform heat generation , both sides
maintained at the same temperature

T∞2,h∞2

The boundary conditions are Ts Ts

T(-L)=Ts and T(L)=Ts

This gives a symmetrical T∞1,h∞1

temperature distribution
& 2  x2 
qL
T ( x) = 1 − 2  + Ts
2k  L 
x=-L x x=L
• The maximum temperature for this case is
at the center and is given by

& 2
qL
T (0) = + Ts
2k
• The temperature gradient at this location is
d
(T ( x) ) = 0
dx
• Which means that no heat crosses the mid-plane
 T∞2,h∞2
The problem may be represented with an adiabatic
mid-plane
Ts

x x=L