NUMERICAL METHODS

IN HEAT TRANSFER

by Aminudin Ahmad
Objective

Solve steady one-dimensional conduction
problems numerically using the finite difference
method.


Figure 1 : Example conduction problem
Finite Difference Method

2
+

= 0

1
2

+
+1

= 0
Equation for 1D heat conduction with heat generation and
constant thermal conductivity
1D Steady Heat Conduction
Boundary Conditions
Specified Heat Flux,

(/2) = 0

Convection , (

) +

(/2) = 0

Radiation, (

) +

(/2) = 0

Combination convection and radiation,
(

) +(

) +

(/2) = 0

-derived from energy balance
Example
Consider a large uranium plate of thickness L= 4cm and thermal conductivity
k= 28 W/m.C in which heat is generated uniformly at a constant rate of = 5
106 W/m3. One side of the plate is maintained at 0 C by iced water while the
other side is subjected to convection to an environment at T = 30 C with the
heat transfer coefficient of h= 45w/m2.C . Estimate the exposed surface
temperature of the plate under steady conditions using finite difference
approach.
References

1. Heat and Mass Transfer ,A Practical Approach, Si Version
Yunus A. Cengel, Afshin J. Ghajar

2. Numerical Methods in Heat Transfer ,Yoav Peles
Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Thank You


Q & A