CGE 642 : CHAPTER 4

CONDUCTION
DR. NUR HIDAYATI OTHMAN &
SIR MUNAWAR ZAMAN SHAHRUDDIN
 4.1 Rate equation for conduction
4.2 Thermal conduction
CHAPTEROUTLINE 4.3 Steady state conduction
4.4 Heat transfer in simple cases
4.5 Equipment and application

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 Introduction
Conduction
the transfer of energy from the more energetic particles of a substance to the adjacent less
energetic ones as a result of interactions between the particles (Cengel & Ghajar, 2015)

collisions and diffusion of the

Gases and Liquids molecules during their random
motion
Due
to
the combination of vibrations of the
Solids molecules in a lattice and the energy
transport by free electrons

Example: Cold canned drink in a warm room

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4.1 Rate equation for
conduction

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 Rate Equation

Thickness Material

Temperatur
Geometry
e difference
Rate of
heat
conduction

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 Rate Equation
Consider steady heat conduction through a large plane wall

  = wall thickness
Δx  
From the experiments:
ΔT = T2 - T1 = temperature difference 1. is double when ΔT or A is double
A = area 2. 𝑄 ̇ is halved when Δx is double
= rate of heat transfer

 ˙ 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 =𝑘𝐴 𝑇 1 −𝑇 2 =− 𝑘𝐴 ∆ 𝑇
˙
𝑄 k = Thermal Conductivity
∆𝑥 ∆𝑥

 ˙ 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 =− 𝑘𝐴 𝑑 𝑇
˙
𝑄 Fourier’s law of heat conduction
𝑑𝑥

𝑄 ˙
Fig. 1 (Cengel & Ghajar, 2015)  ˙ 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 =− 𝑘 𝑑 𝑇 Heat Flux
𝐴 𝑑𝑥

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 Example 1
Calculate the heat loss per m2 of surface area for an insulating wall composed of
25.4-mm-thick fiber insulating board, where the inside temperature is 352.7 K and the
outside temperature is 297.1 K. The thermal conductivity of fiber insulating board is
0.048 W/m.K

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4.2Thermal conduction

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 Thermal Conductivity
Thermal conductivity
a measure of the ability of a material to conduct heat

Thermal conductivity, k vs specific heat, cp

k cp
1. Unit W/m.K kJ/kg.°C
2. Water 0.607 4.18
3. Iron 80.2 0.45

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/thermodyna
mics/specific-heat-and-heat-transfer/v/thermal-conduction
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 Thermal Conductivity
Gas
-continuous random motion
-movement of molecule from high to low temperature regionkinetic
energy transferred
-smaller molecules move faster resulting higher thermal conductivity

Liquid
-same concept as gas but stronger effect on the energy exchange due to
molecules are packed so closely together
-water >organic type (benzene)

Solid
-via free electron flow and lattice vibration between adjacent atoms
-metallic solid, high k, non-metallic, low k
-good electrical conductor not necessary good heat conductor
-ice>water; frozen>unfrozen
Fig. 2 (Cengel & Ghajar, 2015)
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/thermodyna
mics/specific-heat-and-heat-transfer/v/thermal-conduction
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Thermal Conductivity
Table 1 (Geankoplis, 1993)

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4.3 Steady state
conduction

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 Flat Slab/Wall

For thermal conductivity that varies with temperature,

Fig. 3 (Geankoplis, 1993)

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 Example 2
Consider a 3-m-high, 5-m-wide, and 0.3-m-thick wall whose thermal conductivity is k
=0.9 W/m·K (Fig. 3). On a certain day, the temperatures of the inner and the outer
surfaces of the wall are measured to be 16°C and 2°C, respectively. Determine the rate
of heat loss through the wall on that day.

A = 3 x 5 = 15 m2
Δx = 0.3 m
T1 = 16 °C; T2 = 2 °C
k = 0.9 W/m·K

Fig. 4 (Cengel & Ghajar, 2015)

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 Hollow Cylinder
Fourier’s Law, just change x to r instead

Multiplying numerator and denominator by (r2-r1)

Fig. 5 (Geankoplis, 1993)

Alm Log mean area

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKW2iOljags
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 Example 3
A thick-walled cylindrical tubing of hard rubber having an inside radius of 5 mm and an
outside radius of 20 mm is being used as a temporary cooling coil in a bath. Ice water
is flowing rapidly inside and the inside wall temperature is 274.9 K. The outside
surface temperature is 297.1 K. A total of 14.65 W must be removed from the bath by
the cooling coil. Given the value of k is 0.151 W/m.K. Find the suitable tubing length.
r1 = 5 mm = 5 x 10-3 m ; r2 = 20 mm = 2 x 10-2 m
T1 = 297.1 K; T2 = 274.9 K
k = 0.151 W/m·K

 q=; R= = = =1.50 K/W

L== = 0.964 m

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 Hollow Sphere
Fourier’s Law, just change x to r instead

Fig. 6 (Geankoplis, 1993)

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 Example 4
A hollow spherical iron container with outer diameter 20 cm and thickness 0.2 cm is
filled with iced water at 0°C. If the outer surface temperature is 5°C, determine the
approximate rate of heat loss from the sphere, in kW. Given value of k for iron is 94
W/m.K
r2 – r1 = 0.2 cm = 2 x 10-3 m ; r2 = 20 cm = 0.2 m
T1 = 5 °C = 278.15 K; T2 = 0°C = 273.15 K
k = 80.2 W/m·K

 R= = =5.01 x 10-5 K/W

q=

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Plain Walls in Series

same q (steady state)

Fig. 7 (Geankoplis, 1993)

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 Example 5
A cold-storage room is constructed of an inner layer of 12.7 mm of pine, a middle layer of 101.6 mm of
cork board, and an outer layer of 76.2 mm of concrete. The wall surface temperature is 255.4 K inside
the cold room and 297.1 K at the outside surface of the concrete. Use conductivities for pine, 0.151 ; for
cork board, 0.0433; and for concrete, 0.762 W/m.K. Calculate the heat loss in W for
1 m2 and the temperature at the interface between the wood and cork board and between cock board
and concrete.
ΔxA = 12.7 mm = 1.27 x 10-2 m; kA = 0.151 W/m.K
ΔxB = 101.6 mm = 0.10 m; kB = 0.0433 W/m.K
ΔxC = 76.2 mm = 7.62 x 10-2 m; kC = 0.762 W/m.K
T2 = 255.4-(-16.72 x 0.08) = 256.7 K
T1 = 255.4 K; T4= 297.1 K
T3 = 297.1 + (-16.72 x 0.1) = 295.4 K
A = 1 m2

RA = ΔxA/kA.A = 1.27 x 10-2/(0.151 x 1) = 0.08; RB = 2.31; RC = 0.1

RTotal = 2.49 K/W
q = (T1-T4)/RTotal = (255.4-297.1)/2.49 = -16.72 W
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Multilayer Cylinders

same with plain wall in series

Fig. 8 (Geankoplis, 1993)
with different term of R

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 Example 6
A thick-walled tube of stainless steel (A) having a k = 21.63 W/m.K with dimensions of 0.0254 m ID and
0.0508 m OD is covered with a 0.0254-m layer of asbestos (B) insulation, k = 0.2423 W /m . K. The inside
wall temperature of the pipe is 811 K and the outside surface of the insulation is at 310.8K. For a 0.305-
m length of pipe, calculate the heat loss and also the temperature at the interface between the metal
and the insulation.
r1 = 0.0254/2 = 0.0127 m; r2 = 0.0254 m;
r3 = 0.0254+0.0254 = 0.0508 m; L=0.305 m
kA = 21.63 W/m.K; kB = 0.2423 W/m.K
T1 = 811 K; T3= 310.8 K

A1 = 2πr1L = 2π(0.0127)(0.305) = 0.0243 m2 RA = (0.0254-0.0127)/(21.63 x 0.0351) = 0.017 K/W

A2 = 0.0487 m2; A3 = 0.974 m2
AAlm = (0.0487 – 0.0243)/ln(0.0487/0.0243) = 0.0351 m2
ABlm = 0.0703 m2
RB = 1.491 K/W
RTotal = 1.508 K/W
q = (T1-T3)/RTotal = (811-310.8)/1.508 = 331.7 W
T2 = T1- (q x RA) = 811 - (331.7 x 0.017) = 805.3 K

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 Materials in Parallel

assume T1=T3, T2=T4

Fig. 9 (Cengel & Ghajar, 2015)

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Combined Convection and Conduction and Overall Coefficients
Case 1: Plane Wall

in terms of R:

in terms overall heat transfer:

Fig. 10 (Geankoplis, 1993)

overall heat transfer coefficient

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Combined Convection and Conduction and Overall Coefficients
Case 2: Cylindrical Wall

in terms of U:

Fig. 11 (Geankoplis, 1993)

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 Example 7
Saturated steam at 267°F is flowing inside a 3/4-in. steel pipe having an ID of 0.824 in. and an OD of
l.050 in. The pipe is insulated with 1.5 in. of insulation on the outside. The convective coefficient for the
inside steam surface of the pipe is estimated as hi = 1000 btu/h.ft2.°F, and the convective coefficient on
the outside of the lagging is estimated as ho 2 btu/h.ft2 .°F. The mean thermal conductivity of the metal
is 26 btu/h.ft.°F and 0.037 btu/h.ft2.°F for the insulation. Calculate the heat loss for 1 ft of pipe using
resistances if the surrounding air is at 80°F.
T4 = 267 °F ; T1= 80 °F
ri = 0.824/2 = 0.412 in. = 0.412/12 = 0.034 ft
r0 = 0.044 ft; rins = r0+1.5 in = 0.169 ft
hi = 1000 btu/h.ft2.°F; h0 = 2 btu/h.ft2 .°F Ri = 1/hiAi = 1/(1000)(0.214) = 0.005 °F.h/btu
kA = 26 btu/h.ft.°F; kB = 0.037 btu/h.ft2.°F Rins = 0.471 °F.h/btu
L = 1 ft RA = (ro-ri)/kAAAlm = (0.044-0.034)/(26)(0.244) = 0.001 °F.h/btu
RB = 5.785 °F.h/btu
Ai = 2πriL = 2π(0.034)(1) = 0.214 ft2 RTotal = 6.262 °F.h/btu
AA0 = 0.276 ft)/ln(A
= (A -A
2
; Ains =/A
1.062 ft2 – 0.214)/ln(0.276/0.214)
) = (0.276 q = (T1-T4)/RTotal = (267-80)/6.262 = 29.863 btu/h
Alm 0 i 0 i
=0.244 m 2

ABlm = 0.584 m2
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 Internal Heat Generation
Case 1: Plane Wall Case 2: Solid Cylinder

T0  Center Temperature:

Fig. 12 (Geankoplis, 1993) Fig. 13 (Thirumaleshwar, 2016)

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 Example 8
An electric current of 200 A is passed through a stainless steel wire having a radius R of 0.001268 m.
The wire is L = 0.91 m long and has a resistance R of 0.126 Ω. The outer surface temperature T W, is held
at 422.1 K. The average thermal conductivity is k 22.5 W/m.K. Calculate the center temperature

I = 200 A; Radius = 0.001268 m; L = 0.91 m; R = 0.126 Ω;

TW = 422.1 K; k = 22.5 W/m.K

qT = I2R = 2002 x 0.126 = 5040 W = qπR2L

q = 5040/π(0.0012682)(0.91) = 1.096 x 109 W/m3

T0 = qR2/4k + TW = (1.096 x 109)(0.0012682)/4(22.5)+422.1

= 441.7 K

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Critical Thickness of Insulation for a Cylinder

Critical Radius, rcr

So, Critical Thickness = rcr – r1

Fig. 14 (Cengel & Ghajar, 2015)

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 Example 8
A 3-mm-diameter and 5-m-long electric wire is tightly wrapped with a 2-mm thick plastic cover whose
thermal conductivity is k = 0.15 W/m·K. Electrical measurements indicate that a current of 10 A passes
through the wire and there is a voltage drop of 8 V along the wire. If the insulated wire is exposed to a
medium at T∞=30°C with a heat transfer coefficient of h=12 W/m2·K, determine the temperature at the
interface of the wire and the plastic cover in steady operation. Also determine whether doubling the
thickness of the plastic cover will increase or decrease this interface temperature.

r1 = 3/2 = 1.5 mm; L= 5 m; thickness = 2 mm = 2 x 10 -3 m

k = 0.15 W/m.K; I = 10 A; V = 8 V; T∞ = 30°C; h = 12 W/m2.K

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Critical Thickness of Insulation for a Sphere

Critical Radius, rcr

Fig. 15 (Thirumaleshwar, 2016)

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