CHAPTER 2

Heat Conduction Equation

Kyoung Hoon Kim

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2.1 Introduction
temperature and heat transfer
temperature: scalar (magnitude)
heat transfer = vector
(magnitude and direction)
driving force of heat
transfer: temperature
difference
temperature: function of
position and time

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2.1 Introduction

Steady vs transient heat

transfer
1) steady: time independent
transient (unsteady): time
dependent
2) lumped systems: variation
with time, but not with
position
Steady and transient heat
conduction in a plane wall

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2.1 Introduction
Multidimensional heat transfer
dT
1) three, two, one dimensional
one dimensional : Q = -kA
2) Fourier's law of heat conduction:
dx
general : Q = -ka

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T
n

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2.1 Introduction
Heat generation
G = gV
G = heat generation rate, W
g = heat generation rate per
unit volume, W/m3

The absorption of solar

radiation by water can be
treated as heat generation.

Heat is generated
in the heating coils
of an electric range.
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2.2 One dimensional heat conduction equation

[qA]x - [qA]x+Dx + [gADx] = [r ( ADx)c p T ]

energy balance
(rate of heat conduction
at x)
-(rate of heat conduction
- at x+Dx)
+ ( rate of heat generation
inside the element)
= (rate of change of
energy content of
the element)

t
T
1
1 [qA]x + Dx - [qA]x

+ g = r cp
: Dx
t
ADx
A
T
1 ( Aq)
Dx 0 : + g = r cp
t
A x
T
1 T g r c p T
q = -k
:
A
+ =
x
A x x k
k t
1 n T g 1 T
general form : n
r
+ =
r x x k a t

2T g 1 T
+ =
cartesian(A = DyDz n = 0) :
x 2 k a t
1 T g 1 T
cylindrical(A = 2prDr n = 1) :
r
+ =
r x x k a t
1 2 T g 1 T
r
+ =
2
r x x k a t
where a = thermal diffusivity = k/r c p

spherical(A = 4pr 2 n = 2) :

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2.3 General heat conduction equation

g 1 T
T+ =
k a t
2

cylindrical coordinates

spherical coordinates

rectangular coordinates

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2.4 Boundary and initial conditions

st

Specified temperature BC (1 kind)

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2.4 Boundary and initial conditions

Specified heat flux BC (2

specified
heat flux
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nd

kind)

insulation

symmetric

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2.4 Boundary and initial conditions

rd

Convection BC (3 kind)

convection boundary conditions on

the two surfaces of a plane wall
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the assumed direction of heat

transfer at a boundary has no
effect on the boundary
condition expression

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2.4 Boundary and initial conditions

Radiation BC

radiation boundary conditions on

both surfaces of a plane wall

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2.4 Boundary and initial conditions

Interface BC

boundary conditions at the

interface of two bodies in
perfect contact

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<Ex 2-11> Heating conduction in a plane wall

Consider a large plane wall of
thickness L, thermal
conductivity k, and surface area
A. The two sides of the wall are
maintained at constant
temperatures T1 and T2,
respectively. Determine a) the
variation of temperature within
the wall and the value of
temperature at x0 and b) the
rate of heat conduction through
the wall under steady conditions.

Input Data
thickness of the plateL := 20 cm
2

surface area

A := 15 m

thermal conductivity k := 1.20

Solution

m K

governing eq:

d 2T
=0
dx 2

BCs:

T (0) = T1

dT
= C1
dx

T = C1 x + C 2

T (0) = C 2 = T1 &
T -T
T = T1 + 2 1 x
L
T - T2
Q = kA 1
L
T0 := T1 +
Q := k A

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T2 - T1
L

T1 - T2
L

x0

&

left surface temperature

T1 := 120 C

right surface temperature

T2 := 50 C

a position

x0 := 10 cm

T ( L) = T2

T ( L ) = C1 L + C 2 = T2
or

T - T1
x
=
T2 - T1 L

T0 = 85C
Q = 6.3kW

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<Ex 2-12> A wall with various sets of boundary conditions

Consider steady one-dimensional heat conduction in a large plane wall of thickness L and
constant thermal conductivity k with no heat generation. Obtain expressions for the variation of
temperature within the wall for the following pairs of boundary conditions.

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<Ex 2-13> Heat conduction in the base plate of an iron

Consider the base plate of a Q0 household iron that has a thickness of L, base area A, and
thermal conductivity of k. The inner surface of the base plate is subjected to uniform heat flux
generated by the resistance heaters inside, and the outer surface loses heat to the
surroundings at Ta by convection. Taking the convection heat transfer coefficient to be h and
disregarding heat loss by radiation, obtain for the variation of temperature in the base plate, and
evaluate the temperatures at the inner and the outer surfaces.
Input Data
-2 -1
heat transfer coefficient
h := 80 W m K

thickness of the plate L := 0.50 cm

surface area
thermal conductivity

temperature of air

A := 300 cm

-1

k := 15 W m

Ta := 20 C

- 1 electric power of iron

Q := 1200 W
K

Solution

A, k
heat
flux

cond

governing eq:

conv

BCs:

h, Ta
L

d 2T
=0
dx 2
-k

dT (0)
= q0
dx

-k

dT ( L)
= h[T ( L) - Ta ]
dx

dT
T = C1 x + C 2
= C1
dx
dT ( L )
dT (0)
-k
= q 0 = h[(C1 L + C 2 ) - Ta ]
-k
= - kC1 = q 0
dx
dx
L- x 1
+ + Ta
T ( x) = q 0
h
k
heat flux

q0 :=

q0 = 40

T0 := q0

+ Ta
k h
1
TL := q0 + Ta
h

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kW
2

T0 = 533.333C
TL = 520C

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<Ex 2-14> Heat conduction in a solar heated wall

Consider a large plane wall of thickness L and thermal conductivity k in space. The wall is
covered with white porcelain tiles that has an emissivity of e and a solar absorptivity of a. The
inner surface of the wall is maintained at T1 at all times, while the outer surface is exposed to
solar radiation that is incident at a rate of qsolar. The outer surface is also losing heat by
radiation to deep space at Tspace. Determine the temperature of the outer surface of the wall
and the rate of heat transfer through the wall when steady operating conditions are reached.
What would you response be if no solar radiation was incident on the surface?
k
T1

cond

Solution

solar

governing eq:
BCs:

e
L

radiation

dT
= C1
dx

Tspace

T (0) = T1
dT ( L )
4
-k
= es T ( L) 4 - Tspace - aq solar
dx
T = C1 x + C 2

T (0) = C 2 = T1

- kC1 = es (C1 L + T1 ) 4 - Tspace - aq solar : nonlinear eq for C1

Input Data
thickness of the plate

d 2T
=0
dx 2

TL = T ( L) = C1 L + T1
dT
q = -k
= - kC1
dx
solution for C1
C1 := 0

L := 6 cm

thermal conductivity

k := 1.20

emissivity

e := 0.85

absorptivity

a := 0.26

W
m K

C1 := root e s ( C1 L + T1) - T2 - a qsolar + k C1, C1

C1 = -121.497

inner surface temperatureT1 := 300 K m

TL := C1 L + T1

TL = 292.71K

deep spacetemperature T2 := 0 K

q := -k C1

q = 145.796W m

solar heat flux

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qsolar := 800

W
2

K
m
-2

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<Ex 2-15> Heat loss through a steam pipe

Consider a steam pipe of length L, inner radius r1, outer radius r2, and thermal conductivity k.
The inner and outer surfaces of the pipe are maintained at average temperatures T1 and T2,
respectively. Obtain a general relation for the temperature distribution inside the pipe under
steady conditions, and determine the rate of heat loss from the steam through the pipe.
L

Solution

r2

r1

T1

1 d dT
r
=0
r dr dr

T ( r1 ) = T1 & T ( r2 ) = T2

dT
r
= C1
dr

T2

T = C1 ln r + C 2

T ( r1 ) = C1 ln r1 + C 2 = T1 & T ( r2 ) = C1 ln r2 + C 2 = T2

Q := 2 pk L

T1 - T2
ln

r2

r1

Q = 786.266kW

T - T1
ln( r / r1 )
=
T2 - T1 ln( r2 / r1 )

Input Data
inner radius

r1 := 6 cm

outer radius

r2 := 8 cm

length of the pipe

L := 20 m

Q = - k (2prL)

T -T
dT
= 2pkL 1 2
dr
ln( r2 / r1 )

thermal conductance of the pipek := 20 W m- 1 K- 1

inner surface temperature

T1 := 150 C

outer surface temperature

T2 := 60 K

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<Ex 2-16> Heat conduction through a spherical shell

Consider a spherical container of inner radius r1, outer radius r2, and thermal conductivity k.
The inner and outer surfaces of the container are maintained at constant temperatures of
T1 and T2, respectively, as a result of some chemical reactions occurring inside. Obtain a
general relation for the temperature distribution inside the shell under steady conditions,
and determine the rate of heat loss from the container.
Input Data
inner radius

r1 := 8 cm

outer radius
thermal conductance of the shell

r2 := 10 cm
W
k := 45
m K

inner surface temperature

T1 := 200 C

outer surface temperature

T2 := 80 K

r1

T1
T2

Solution

1 d 2 dT
T (r1 ) = T1 & T (r2 ) = T2
r
=0
r 2 dr dr
C
dT
T = - 1 + C2
r2
= C1
r
dr
C
C
T (r1 ) = - 1 + C 2 = T1 & T ( r2 ) = - 1 + C 2 = T2
r1
r2
1 1
T - T1
r1 r
=
T2 - T1 1 1
r1 r2
T - T2
dT
Q = - k (4pr 2 )
= 4pkr1r2 1
dr
r2 - r1

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r2

Q := 4 pk r1 r2

T1 - T2
r2 - r1

Q = 27.143kW

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