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and the
Heat Equation
Chapter Two
Fourier’s Law
Fourier’s Law
• A rate equation that allows determination of the conduction heat flux
from knowledge of the temperature distribution in a medium
• Cartesian Coordinates: T x, y , z
T T T
q k i k jk k (2.3)
x y z
qx qy qz
• Spherical Coordinates: T r , ,
T T T
q k i k jk k (2.27)
r r r sin
qr q q
Heat Flux Components (cont.)
– Cylinder
qr Ar qr 2 rLqr
or,
– Sphere
qr Ar qr 4 r 2 qr
Heat Equation
T T T T
k k k q c p
(2.19)
x x y y z z t
• Cylindrical Coordinates:
1 T 1 T T T
r r r r 2 z z
kr k k q c p (2.26)
t
• Spherical Coordinates:
1 2 T 1 T 1 T T
r r 2 sin 2 r 2 sin
kr k k sin q c (2.29)
p
r 2 r t
Heat Equation (Special Case)
T T
k c p
x x t
becomes
2T 1 T
x 2 t
k
thermal diffusivity of the medium m2 /s
c p
Boundary Conditions
T 0,t = Ts
T T
-k |x=0= qs |x=0= 0
x x
Convection:
T
-k |x=0= h T - T 0,t
x
Properties
Thermophysical Properties
Thermal Conductivity: A measure of a material’s ability to transfer thermal
energy by conduction.
For L / mfp 1,
k x / k 1 mfp / 3L (2.9a)
k y / k 1 2mfp / 3 L (2.9b)
Measured thermal conductivity of a ceramic material vs. grain size, L. mfp at T 300 K 25 nm.
• Fourier’s law does not accurately describe the finite energy carrier propagation
velocity. This limitation is not important except in problems involving extremely
small time scales.
Conduction Analysis
• Applications:
KNOWN: Plane wall, initially at a uniform temperature, is suddenly exposed to convective heating.
FIND: (a) Differential equation and initial and boundary conditions which may be used to find the
temperature distribution, T(x,t); (b) Sketch T(x,t) for the following conditions: initial (t 0), steady-
state (t ), and two intermediate times; (c) Sketch heat fluxes as a function of time at the two
surfaces; (d) Expression for total energy transferred to wall per unit volume (J/m 3).
SCHEMATIC:
Problem: Thermal Response (cont).
2T 1 T <
=
x 2 a t
<
Note that the gradient at x = 0 is always zero, since this boundary is adiabatic. Note also that the
gradient at x = L decreases with time.
Problem: Thermal Response (Cont).
c) The heat flux, qx x,t , as a function of time, is shown on the sketch for the surfaces x = 0 and
x = L.
<
Dividing both sides by AsL, the energy transferred per unit volume is
Ein h <
= T - T L,t dt J/m3
V L 0
Problem: Non-uniform Generation due to Radiation Absorption
Problem 2.37 Surface heat fluxes, heat generation and total rate of radiation
absorption in an irradiated semi-transparent material with a
prescribed temperature distribution.
FIND: (a) Expressions for the heat flux at the front and rear surfaces, (b) The heat generation rate
q x , and (c) Expression for absorbed radiation per unit surface area.
SCHEMATIC:
Problem : Non-uniform Generation (cont.)
ANALYSIS: (a) Knowing the temperature distribution, the surface heat fluxes are found using
Fourier’s law,
dT A
qx = -k = -k - 2 -a e-ax + B
dx ka
A A
Front Surface, x=0: qx 0 = -k + 1+ B = - + kB <
ka a
A A
Rear Surface, x=L: qx L = -k + e-aL + B = - e-aL + kB <
ka a
d A -ax
q x = -k + e + B = Ae-ax .
dx ka