Chemical Engineering Department

Faculty of Engineering
Alexandria University

Heat Transfer
(CHE 252)

Lecture 3: Conduction (Cont’d)

Dr. Samar Mahmoud Fouad

samar.fouad@alexu.edu.eg
samar.fouad@alexu.edu.eg
Heat Generation in a Solid
❖ Many practical heat transfer applications involve the conversion of
some form of energy into thermal energy in the medium. Such media
are said to involve internal heat generation, which manifests itself as a
rise in temperature throughout the medium.
❖ Some examples of heat generation are:
◦ Resistance heating in wires (electrical to thermal)
◦ Exothermic chemical reactions in a solid (chemical to thermal)
◦ Nuclear reactions in nuclear fuel rods (nuclear to thermal)
❖ Heat generation is usually expressed per unit volume of the medium
and is denoted by 𝑞,ሶ whose unit is W/m3.
Heat Generation in a Solid
❖ For example, heat generation in an electrical wire of outer radius 𝑟𝑜 and
length L can be expressed as
𝐸ሶ𝑔 𝐼2 𝑅𝑒
𝑞ሶ = = 2
𝑉𝑤𝑖𝑟𝑒 𝜋𝑟 𝐿
❖ The temperature of a medium rises during heat generation as a result of
the absorption of the generated heat by the medium during the
transient start-up period.
❖ As the temperature of the medium increases, so does the heat transfer
from the medium to its surroundings.
❖ This continues until steady operating conditions are reached and the
rate of heat generation equals the rate of heat transfer to the
surroundings.
❖ Once steady operation has been established, the temperature of the
medium at any point no longer changes.
Heat Generation in a Solid
❖ The maximum temperature 𝑇𝑚𝑎𝑥 in a solid that involves uniform heat
generation occurs at a location farthest away from the outer surface
when the outer surface of the solid is maintained at a constant
temperature 𝑇𝑠 .
❖ For example, 𝑇𝑚𝑎𝑥occurs at:
• the midplane in a plane wall (both sides at 𝑇𝑠)
• the centerline in a long cylinder
• the midpoint in a sphere.

❖ The temperature distribution within the solid in these cases is

symmetrical about the center of symmetry.
❖ The quantities of major interest in a medium with heat generation are
𝑇𝑠 and 𝑇𝑚𝑎𝑥 in the medium in steady operation.
Heat Generation in a Solid
To Get 𝑻𝒔
❖ Consider a solid medium of surface area A, volume V, and constant
thermal conductivity k, where heat is generated at a constant rate of 𝑞ሶ
per unit volume.
❖ Heat is transferred from the solid to the surrounding medium at 𝑇∞ ,
with a constant heat transfer coefficient of h. All the surfaces of the solid
are maintained at a common temperature 𝑇𝑠 .
❖ Under steady conditions, the energy balance at the surface of this solid
can be expressed as:
❖ 𝑞𝑔𝑒𝑛 = 𝑞𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣
❖ 𝑞𝑉
ሶ = ℎ𝐴(𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇∞ )
Heat Generation in a Solid
𝑞𝑉
ሶ = ℎ𝐴(𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇∞ )

❖ For plane wall (𝑳𝟎.𝟓 = 𝟎. 𝟓 𝑳) ❖ For cylinder

◦ 𝑉 = 𝐴𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝐿 = 2𝐴𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝐿0.5 ◦ 𝑉 = 𝜋𝑟𝑜2 𝐿
◦ 𝐴 = 2𝐴𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙 ◦ 𝐴 = 2𝜋𝑟𝑜 𝐿
◦ 𝑞(2𝐴
ሶ 𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝐿0.5 ) = ℎ(2𝐴𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙 )(𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇∞ ) ሶ 𝑜2 𝐿) = ℎ(2𝜋𝑟𝑜 𝐿)(𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇∞ )
◦ 𝑞(𝜋𝑟
ሶ 0.5
𝑞𝐿 ሶ 0.5
𝑞𝐿
◦ 𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇∞ = ◦ 𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇∞ =
ℎ ℎ
ሶ 0.5
𝑞𝐿 ሶ 𝑜
𝑞𝑟
◦ 𝑇𝑠 = + 𝑇∞ ◦ 𝑇𝑠 = + 𝑇∞
ℎ 2ℎ
Heat Generation in a Solid
𝑞𝑉
ሶ = ℎ𝐴(𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇∞ )

❖ For sphere
4
◦𝑉 = 𝜋𝑟𝑜3
3

◦ 𝐴 = 4𝜋𝑟𝑜2
4
◦ 𝑞(
ሶ 𝜋𝑟𝑜3 ) = ℎ(4𝜋𝑟𝑜2 )(𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇∞ )
3

ሶ 0.5
𝑞𝐿
◦ 𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇∞ =
ℎ

ሶ 𝑜
𝑞𝑟
◦ 𝑇𝑠 = + 𝑇∞
3ℎ
Heat Generation in a Solid
To Get 𝑻𝒎𝒂𝒙
❖ Consider a solid medium of surface area A, volume V, and constant
thermal conductivity k, where heat is generated at a constant rate of 𝑞ሶ
per unit volume.
❖ We will first determine the temperature distribution within the
generation volume, then we will get the temperature at the centerline
(or midpoint)
❖ To get the T distribution, apply the heat conduction equation for:
◦ Steady state operation
◦ 1-D
◦ Constant properties
◦ Uniform heat generation
Heat Generation in a Solid
❖ For plane wall (𝑳𝟎.𝟓 = 𝟎. 𝟓 𝑳)
𝑑2 𝑇 𝑞ሶ
◦ 2 + =0
𝑑𝑥 𝑘
𝑑2 𝑇 𝑞ሶ
◦ 2 = −
𝑑𝑥 𝑘
𝑑𝑇 𝑞ሶ
◦ 1st integration: = − 𝑥 + 𝐶1
𝑑𝑥 𝑘
𝑞ሶ 2
◦ 2nd integration: 𝑇 = − 𝑥 + 𝐶1 𝑥 + 𝐶2
2𝑘
𝑑𝑇
◦ B.C.1: at 𝑥 = 0 (dist. from centerline) =0 ∴ 𝐶1 = 0
𝑑𝑥
𝑞ሶ
◦ B.C.2: at 𝑥 = 𝐿0.5 𝑇 = 𝑇𝑠 ∴ 𝐶2 = 𝑇𝑠 + 𝐿0.5 2
2𝑘
𝑞ሶ 𝑞ሶ 𝐿0.5 2
◦ T. dist.: 𝑇 = (𝐿0.5 2 - 𝑥 2 )+ 𝑇𝑠 ∴ At 𝑥 = 0, 𝑇𝑚𝑎𝑥 = + 𝑇𝑠
2𝑘 2𝑘
Heat Generation in a Solid
❖ For cylinder
1 𝑑 𝑑𝑇 𝑞ሶ
◦ 𝑟 + = 0
𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝑘
𝑑 𝑑𝑇 𝑞ሶ
◦ 𝑟 =− 𝑟
𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝑘
𝑑𝑇 𝑞ሶ 2 𝑑𝑇 𝑞ሶ 𝐶1
◦ 1st integration: 𝑟 = − 𝑟 + 𝐶1 ∴ = − 𝑟 +
𝑑𝑟 2𝑘 𝑑𝑟 2𝑘 𝑟
𝑞ሶ 2
◦ 2nd integration: 𝑇 = − 𝑟 + 𝐶1 ln 𝑟 + 𝐶2
4𝑘
𝑑𝑇
◦ B.C.1: at 𝑟 = 0 =0 ∴ 𝐶1 = 0
𝑑𝑟
𝑞ሶ
◦ B.C.2: at 𝑟 = 𝑟𝑜 𝑇 = 𝑇𝑠 ∴ 𝐶2 = 𝑇𝑠 + 𝑟𝑜 2
4𝑘
𝑞ሶ 𝑞ሶ 𝑟𝑜 2
◦ T. dist.: 𝑇 = (𝑟𝑜 2 - 2
𝑟 )+ 𝑇𝑠 ∴ At 𝑟 = 0, 𝑇𝑚𝑎𝑥 = + 𝑇𝑠
4𝑘 4𝑘
Heat Generation in a Solid
❖ For sphere
1 𝑑 2 𝑑𝑇 𝑞ሶ
◦ 2 𝑟 + =0
𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝑘
𝑑 2 𝑑𝑇 𝑞ሶ 2
◦ 𝑟 =− 𝑟
𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝑘
2 𝑑𝑇 𝑞ሶ 3 𝑑𝑇 𝑞ሶ 𝐶1
◦ 1 integration: 𝑟
st =− 𝑟 + 𝐶1 ∴ = − 𝑟 +
𝑑𝑟 3𝑘 𝑑𝑟 3𝑘 𝑟2
𝑞ሶ 2 𝐶1
◦ 2nd integration: 𝑇 = − 𝑟 − + 𝐶2
6𝑘 𝑟
𝑑𝑇
◦ B.C.1: at 𝑟 = 0 =0 ∴ 𝐶1 = 0
𝑑𝑟
𝑞ሶ
◦ B.C.2: at 𝑟 = 𝑟𝑜 𝑇 = 𝑇𝑠 ∴ 𝐶2 = 𝑇𝑠 + 𝑟𝑜 2
6𝑘
𝑞ሶ 𝑞ሶ 𝑟𝑜 2
◦ T. dist.: 𝑇 = (𝑟𝑜 2 2
− 𝑟 )+ 𝑇𝑠 ∴ At 𝑟 = 0, 𝑇𝑚𝑎𝑥 = + 𝑇𝑠
6𝑘 6𝑘
Thermal Resistance Concept
❖ For the special case of:
• Steady state
• One-dimensional heat transfer
• No internal heat generation and with
• Constant properties, a very important concept is suggested
❖ An analogy exists between the rate of heat transfer and the rate of
electrical charge transfer (≡electric current flow).
𝑇1 −𝑇2 𝑉1 −𝑉2
𝑞= is analogous to 𝐼 =
𝑅 𝑅𝑒
Thermal Resistance Concept
❖ Therefore, the resistance can be defined as the ratio of a driving force to
the corresponding transfer rate.
❖ For conduction through a plane wall:
𝑘𝐴 𝑇1 −𝑇2 𝐿
𝑞= 𝑇1 − 𝑇2 = ∴𝑅=
𝐿 𝑅 𝑘𝐴

❖ For convection at the surface of a plane wall:

𝑇𝑠 −𝑇∞ 1
𝑞 = ℎ𝐴 𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇∞ = ∴𝑅=
𝑅 ℎ𝐴

❖ For radiation at the surface of a plane wall:

𝑇𝑠 −𝑇𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑟 1
𝑞 = ℎ𝑟 𝐴 𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑟 = ∴𝑅=
𝑅 ℎ𝑟 𝐴
Thermal Resistance Concept
❖ Circuit representations provide a useful tool
for both conceptualizing and quantifying
heat transfer problems.

❖ The equivalent thermal circuit for a plane

wall with convection surface conditions is
shown in the figure.

❖ The heat transfer rate may be determined

from separate consideration of each
element in the network
𝑇∞,1 − 𝑇𝑠,1 𝑇𝑠,1 − 𝑇𝑠,2 𝑇𝑠,2 − 𝑇∞,2
𝑞= = =
1Τ(ℎ1 𝐴) 𝐿Τ(𝑘𝐴) 1Τ(ℎ2 𝐴)
Thermal Resistance Concept
❖ In terms of the overall temperature
difference, 𝑇∞,1 − 𝑇∞,2 , and the total
thermal resistance, 𝑅𝑡𝑜𝑡 , the heat transfer
rate may also be expressed as:
𝑇∞,1 − 𝑇∞,2
𝑞=
𝑅𝑡𝑜𝑡

where,
1 𝐿 1
𝑅𝑡𝑜𝑡 = + +
ℎ1 𝐴 𝑘𝐴 ℎ2 𝐴
Composite Wall
Composite Wall
𝑇∞,1 −𝑇𝑠,1 𝑇𝑠,1 −𝑇2 𝑇2 −𝑇3 𝑇3 −𝑇𝑠,4 𝑇𝑠,4 −𝑇∞,4
❖𝑞= = = = =
(1Τ(ℎ1 𝐴)) (𝐿𝐴 Τ(𝑘𝐴 𝐴)) ( 𝐿𝐵 Τ 𝑘 𝐵 𝐴 ) (𝐿𝐶 Τ(𝑘𝐶 𝐴)) (1Τ(ℎ4 𝐴))
𝑇∞,1 −𝑇∞,4
❖𝑞=
𝑅𝑡𝑜𝑡
𝑇∞,1 −𝑇∞,4
❖𝑞=
(1Τ(ℎ1 𝐴))+(𝐿𝐴 Τ(𝑘𝐴 𝐴))+(𝐿𝐵 Τ(𝑘𝐵 𝐴))+(𝐿𝐶 Τ 𝑘𝐶 𝐴 )+(1Τ(ℎ4 𝐴))
❖ With composite systems, it is often convenient to work with an overall
heat transfer coefficient 𝑼, which is defined by an expression
analogous to Newton’s law of cooling.
❖ 𝑞 = 𝑈𝐴 ∆𝑇
∴ The overall heat transfer coefficient is related to the total thermal
resistance by
1 1
❖ 𝑈= =
𝑅𝑡𝑜𝑡 𝐴 (1Τℎ1 )+(𝐿𝐴 Τ𝑘𝐴 )+(𝐿𝐵 Τ𝑘𝐵 )+(𝐿𝐶 Τ𝑘𝐶 )+(1Τℎ4 )
Composite Wall
❖ Composite walls may also be characterized by
series–parallel configurations
❖ Although the heat flow is now multidimensional,
it is often reasonable to assume one-dimensional
conditions.
❖ According to this assumption, two different
thermal circuits may be used.
• For case (a) it is presumed that surfaces normal to the x-
direction are isothermal
• For case (b) it is assumed that surfaces parallel to the x-
direction are adiabatic.
❖ Different results are obtained for 𝑅𝑡𝑜𝑡 and the
corresponding values of 𝑞.
❖ These differences increase with increasing
𝑘𝐹 − 𝑘𝐺 ,as multidimensional effects become
more significant.
 Example on Composite Wall
❖ Composite wall dimensions:
• 𝐿𝐸 = 1 𝑚
• 𝐿𝐹 = 𝐿𝐺 = 3 𝑚
• 𝐿𝐻 = 2 𝑚
• 𝐴𝐸 = 𝐴𝐻 = 2 𝑚 2
• 𝐴𝐹 = 𝐴𝐺 = 1 𝑚 2
❖ Thermal conductivity values:
• 𝑘𝐸 = 50 𝑊/𝑚 ∙ 𝐾
• 𝑘𝐹 = 10 𝑊/𝑚 ∙ 𝐾
• 𝑘𝐺 = 30 𝑊/𝑚 ∙ 𝐾
• 𝑘𝐻 = 40 𝑊/𝑚 ∙ 𝐾
❖ Temperature values:
• 𝑇1 = 80 ℃
• 𝑇2 = 20 ℃
 Example on Composite Wall
❖ Case (a) surfaces normal to the x-direction are isothermal
• 𝑅𝐸 = 0.01 𝐾/𝑊 •𝑞=
𝑇1 −𝑇𝑖1
𝑅𝐸
• 𝑅𝐹 = 0.3 𝐾/𝑊
• 𝑇𝑖1 = 75.6 ℃
• 𝑅𝐺 = 0.1 𝐾/𝑊 𝑇1 −𝑇𝑖2
• 𝑅𝐻 = 0.05 𝐾/𝑊 •𝑞=
𝑅𝐸 +𝑅𝐹𝐺
𝑅𝐹 ×𝑅𝐺
• 𝑅𝐹𝐺 = = 0.075 𝐾/𝑊 • 𝑇𝑖2 = 42.3 ℃
𝑅𝐹 +𝑅𝐺
𝑇𝑖1 −𝑇𝑖2 75.6−42.3
• 𝑅𝑡𝑜𝑡 = 𝑅𝐸 + 𝑅𝐹𝐺 + 𝑅𝐻 = 0.135 𝐾/𝑊 • 𝑞𝐹 = = = 111 𝑊
𝑅𝐹 0.3
80−20 𝑇𝑖1 −𝑇𝑖2
•𝑞= = 444 𝑊 • 𝑞𝐺 = = 𝑞 − 𝑞𝐹 = 333 𝑊
0.135 𝑅𝐺
 Example on Composite Wall
❖ Case (b) surfaces parallel to the x-direction are adiabatic
𝑇1 −𝑇2
• 𝑅𝐸1 = 𝑅𝐸2 = 0.02 𝐾/𝑊 • 𝑞𝐸𝐹𝐻 = = 171.4 𝑊
𝑅𝐸𝐹𝐻
• 𝑅𝐹 = 0.3 𝐾/𝑊 𝑇1 −𝑇𝐹1
• 𝑞𝐸𝐹𝐻 = ∴ 𝑇𝐹1 = 76.6 ℃
• 𝑅𝐻1 = 𝑅𝐻2 = 0.025 𝐾/𝑊 𝑅𝐸1
𝑇1 −𝑇𝐹2
• 𝑅𝐺 = 0.1 𝐾/𝑊 • 𝑞𝐸𝐹𝐻 = ∴ 𝑇𝐹2 = 25.2 ℃
𝑅𝐸1 +𝑅𝐹
• 𝑅𝐸𝐹𝐻 = 0.35 𝐾/𝑊 • 𝑞𝐸𝐺𝐻 =
𝑇1 −𝑇2
= 𝑞 − 𝑞𝐸𝐹𝐻 = 400 𝑊
𝑅𝐸𝐺𝐻
• 𝑅𝐸𝐺𝐻 = 0.15 𝐾/𝑊 𝑇1 −𝑇𝐺1
𝑅𝐸𝐹𝐻 ×𝑅𝐸𝐺𝐻 • 𝑞𝐸𝐺𝐻 = ∴ 𝑇𝐺1 = 72 ℃
• 𝑅𝑡𝑜𝑡 = = 0.105 𝐾/𝑊 𝑅𝐸2
𝑅𝐸𝐹𝐻 +𝑅𝐸𝐺𝐻 𝑇1 −𝑇𝐺2
80−20 • 𝑞𝐸𝐺𝐻 = ∴ 𝑇𝐺2 = 32 ℃
•𝑞= = 571.4 𝑊 𝑅𝐸2 +𝑅𝐺
0.1
𝒒𝑬𝑭𝑯 𝑻𝑭𝟏 𝑻𝑭𝟐

𝒒𝑬𝑮𝑯 𝑻𝑮𝟏 𝑻𝑮𝟐

 Contact Resistance
❖ In composite wall systems, the
temperature drop across the interface
between materials may be appreciable.
❖ This temperature change is attributed
to the thermal contact resistance, 𝑅𝑐 .
❖ 𝑅𝑐 is mainly due to surface roughness
effects.
❖ Heat transfer is therefore due to
conduction across the actual contact
area (contact spots) and to conduction
and/or radiation across the air gaps.
1 𝐴(𝑇𝐴 −𝑇𝐵 ) where:
❖ 𝑞 = ℎ𝑐 𝐴 𝑇𝐴 − 𝑇𝐵 ∴ 𝑅𝑐 = = ℎ𝑐 : thermal contact conductance
ℎ𝑐 𝑞
Contact Resistance
❖ The contact resistance may be viewed as two parallel resistances:
• Resistance at the contact spots
• Resistance at the gaps.

❖ The contact area is typically small, and, especially for rough

surfaces, the major contribution to the resistance is made by the
gaps.
❖ To reduce 𝑹𝒄 :
• Increase the joint pressure
• Reduce the roughness of the surfaces
• Apply a thermally conducting liquid called a thermal grease such as silicon oil on
the surfaces before they are pressed against each other.
• Insert a soft metallic foil such as tin, silver, copper, nickel, or aluminum between
the two surfaces
Resistance in Radial Systems: Cylinder
Resistance in Radial Systems: Cylinder
𝑑 𝑑𝑇
◦ 𝑟 =0
𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝑟
𝑑𝑇 𝑑𝑇 𝐶1
◦ 1st Integration: 𝑟 = 𝐶1 ∴ =
𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝑟
◦ 2nd Integration: 𝑇 = 𝐶1 ln 𝑟 + 𝐶2
◦ B.C.1: at 𝑟 = 𝑟1 𝑇 = 𝑇𝑠,1 ∴ 𝑇𝑠,1 = 𝐶1 ln 𝑟1 + 𝐶2 → (1)
◦ B.C.2: at 𝑟 = 𝑟2 𝑇 = 𝑇𝑠,2 ∴ 𝑇𝑠,2 = 𝐶1 ln 𝑟2 + 𝐶2 → (2)
𝑇𝑠,1 −𝑇𝑠,2 𝑇𝑠,1 −𝑇𝑠,2
◦ 1 − 2 : 𝐶1 = Sub. in 2 :𝐶2 = 𝑇𝑠,2 − ln 𝑟2
ln 𝑟1 Τ𝑟2 ln 𝑟1 Τ𝑟2
𝑇𝑠,1 −𝑇𝑠,2 𝑟
◦ ∴ T. dist.: 𝑇 = Τ
ln + 𝑇𝑠,2
ln 𝑟1 𝑟2 𝑟2
𝑑𝑇 𝑑𝑇 𝑑𝑇
◦ 𝑞 = −𝑘𝐴 = −𝑘 2𝜋𝑟𝐿 = − 2𝜋𝑘𝐿 𝑟 = − 2𝜋𝑘𝐿 𝐶1
𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝑟
𝑇𝑠,1 −𝑇𝑠,2 𝑇𝑠,1 −𝑇𝑠,2 ln 𝑟2 Τ𝑟1
◦ 𝑞 = − 2𝜋𝑘𝐿 = 2𝜋𝑘𝐿 𝑅 =
ln 𝑟1 Τ𝑟2 ln 𝑟2 Τ𝑟1 2𝜋𝑘𝐿
Composite Cylindrical Wall
Composite Cylindrical Wall
𝑇∞,1 −𝑇∞,4
❖𝑞= 1 ln 𝑟2 Τ𝑟1 ln 𝑟3 Τ𝑟2 ln 𝑟4 Τ𝑟3 1 = 𝑈𝐴(𝑇∞,1 − 𝑇∞,4 )
(2𝜋𝑟1 𝐿) ℎ1
+ 2𝜋𝑘𝐴 𝐿
+ 2𝜋𝑘 + 2𝜋𝑘 +(2𝜋𝑟 𝐿) ℎ
𝐵𝐿 𝐶𝐿 4 2

1
❖ 𝑈𝐴 = 𝑈1 𝐴1 = 𝑈2 𝐴2 = 𝑈3 𝐴3 = 𝑈4 𝐴4 =
𝑅𝑡𝑜𝑡

1 1
❖ 𝑈1 = = 1 𝑟1 𝑟 𝑟 𝑟3 𝑟 𝑟 𝑟 1
𝑅𝑡𝑜𝑡 +
ℎ1 𝑘𝐴
ln 𝑟2 +𝑘 1 ln 𝑟2
+𝑘1 ln 𝑟4 +𝑟1 ℎ
1 𝐵 𝐶 3 4 2

❖ 𝑈1 ≠ 𝑈2 ≠ 𝑈3 ≠ 𝑈4
Resistance in Radial Systems: Sphere
𝑑 2 𝑑𝑇
◦ 𝑟 =0
𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝑟
2 𝑑𝑇 𝑑𝑇 𝐶1
◦ 1st Integration: 𝑟 = 𝐶1 ∴ =
𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝑟2
𝐶1
◦ 2nd Integration: 𝑇 = − + 𝐶2
𝑟
𝐶1
◦ B.C.1: at 𝑟 = 𝑟1 𝑇 = 𝑇𝑠,1 ∴ 𝑇𝑠,1 = − + 𝐶2 → (1)
𝑟1
𝐶1
◦ B.C.2: at 𝑟 = 𝑟2 𝑇 = 𝑇𝑠,2 ∴ 𝑇𝑠,2 = − + 𝐶2 → (2)
𝑟2
𝑇𝑠,1 −𝑇𝑠,2 𝑇𝑠,1 −𝑇𝑠,2 1
◦ 1 − 2 : 𝐶1 = 1 1 Sub. in 2 :𝐶2 = 𝑇𝑠,2 + 1 1
− − 𝑟2
𝑟2 𝑟1 𝑟2 𝑟1
𝑇𝑠,1 −𝑇𝑠,2 1 1
◦ ∴ T. dist.: 𝑇 = 1 1 − + 𝑇𝑠,2
− 𝑟2 𝑟
𝑟2 𝑟1
Resistance in Radial Systems: Sphere
𝑑𝑇 2 𝑑𝑇 2 𝑑𝑇
◦ 𝑞 = −𝑘𝐴 = −𝑘 4𝜋𝑟 = − 4𝜋𝑘 𝑟 = − 4𝜋𝑘 𝐶1
𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝑟
𝑇𝑠,1 −𝑇𝑠,2 𝑇𝑠,1 −𝑇𝑠,2
◦ 𝑞 = − 4𝜋𝑘 1 1 = 4𝜋𝑘 1 1
−
𝑟2 𝑟1
−
𝑟1 𝑟2

1 1
−
𝑟1 𝑟2
◦𝑅=
4𝜋𝑘
Critical Radius of Insulation
❖ We know that adding more insulation to a plane wall always decreases
heat transfer.
❖ The thicker the insulation, the lower the heat transfer rate.
❖ This is expected, since the heat transfer area A is constant, and adding
insulation always increases the thermal resistance of the wall without
increasing the convection resistance.
❖ Adding insulation to a cylindrical pipe or a spherical shell,
however, is a different matter.
❖ The additional insulation increases the conduction resistance of
the insulation layer but decreases the convection resistance of the
surface because of the increase in the outer surface area for convection.
❖ The heat transfer from the pipe may increase or decrease, depending on
which effect dominates.
Critical Radius of Insulation
❖ Consider a cylindrical pipe of outer radius 𝑟1 whose outer surface
temperature 𝑇1 is kept constant.
❖ The pipe is now insulated with a material whose thermal conductivity is
𝑘 and whose outer radius is 𝑟2 .
❖ Heat is lost from the pipe to the surrounding medium at temperature
𝑇∞ , with a convection heat transfer coefficient ℎ.
❖ The rate of heat transfer from the insulated pipe to the surrounding air
can be expressed as
𝑇1 −𝑇∞ 𝑇1 −𝑇∞
❖𝑞= = ln 𝑟2Τ𝑟1 1
𝑅𝑖𝑛𝑠 +𝑅𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣 +
2𝜋𝑘𝐿 2𝜋𝑟2 𝐿ℎ
Critical Radius of Insulation
❖ The variation of 𝑞 with the outer radius of
the insulation 𝑟2 is plotted in the figure.
❖ The value of 𝑟2 at which 𝑞 reaches a
maximum is determined from the
𝑑𝑞
requirement that = 0 (zero slope).
𝑑𝑟2
𝑘
❖ 𝑟𝑐𝑟,𝑐𝑦𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 =
ℎ
2𝑘
❖ 𝑟𝑐𝑟,𝑠𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 =
ℎ
 Practice
Problems
Problem 1
Heat Loss Through an Insulated Steam Pipe
Steam at 𝑇∞1 = 320° C flows in a cast iron pipe (k = 80 W/m⋅K) whose inner
and outer diameters are D1 = 5 cm and D2 = 5.5 cm, respectively. The pipe is
covered with 3-cm-thick glass wool insulation with k = 0.05 W/m⋅K. Heat is
lost to the surroundings at 𝑇∞2 = 5 °C by natural convection and radiation,
with a combined heat transfer coefficient of h2 = 18 W/ m2⋅K. Taking the
heat transfer coefficient inside the pipe to be h1 = 60 W/ m2⋅K.
Determine:
a) 𝑟𝑐𝑟 and compare the radius of the insulation to 𝑟𝑐𝑟
b) rate of heat loss from the steam per unit length of the pipe without insulation
c) rate of heat loss from the steam per unit length of the pipe with insulation
d) rate of heat loss from the steam per unit length of the pipe with insulation if there is a
contact resistance between the iron pipe and the insulation 𝑅𝑐 = 5 × 10−5 m2⋅K/W