MODULE II
HEAT TRANSFER BY CONDUCTION
Lesson 1: Conduction Rate Equation
Lesson 2: Steady-State Conduction of Plane
Walls (Composite Walls) and Radial
Systems
Lesson 3: Conduction with Film Coefficient of
Convection
THELMA T. OBILLO, PME
FACULTY, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
1ST SEMESTER SY 2021-2022
Module II
28
HEAT TRANSFER BY CONDUCTION THROUGH RADIAL WALLS
A. HOLLOW CYLINDER
Heat transfer across a rectangular solid is the
most direct application of Fourier’s law. Heat transfer
across a pipe or heat exchanger tube wall is more
complicated to evaluate. Across a cylindrical wall, the
heat transfer surface area is continually increasing or
decreasing. Figure 2-3 is a cross-sectional view of a pipe
constructed of a homogeneous material.
Consider a long cylinder of inside radius ri,
outside radius ro, and length L, such as the one shown
in Figure 2-3. We expose this cylinder to a temperature
differential Ti−To and ask what the heat flow will be.
For a cylinder with length very large compared to
diameter, it may be assumed that the heat flows only
in a radial direction, so that the only space coordinate
needed to specify the system is r. Again, Fourier’s law
is used by inserting the proper area relation. The
surface area (A) for transferring heat through the pipe
(neglecting the pipe ends) is directly proportional to
the radius (r) of the pipe and the length (L) of the pipe.
The area for heat flow in the cylindrical system is
Ar=2πrL
From Fourier’s law,
dT
q = −kA where: A = 2 rL
dr
Substituting and applying integration:
dT
q = −k ( 2 rL )
dr
o dr 2 kL o
i r = − q i dT
o 2 kL o
ln r i = − T
q i
2 kL
ln ro − ln ri = − T − T
q o i
ro 2 kL
ln = T − T
ri q i o
Module II Heat Transfer by Conduction THELMA T. OBILLO, PME
Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
29
2 kL
q= Ti − To
r
ln o
ri
Ti − To
q=
r
ln o
ri
2 kL
But:
ri = r1 Di = D1 Ti = T1
ro = r2 Do = D2 To = T2
Then:
ro r2
ln = ln
ri r1
and
Do D2
ln = ln
D
i D1
Therefore:
Ti − To T −T
q= = 1 2
ro D ---------Equation 2.9
ln ln 2
ri D1
2 kL 2 kL
Rate of heat transfer through a hollow cylinder
Parameter Description SI Engg MKS
s
q heat transfer rate W Btu/hr Kcal/hr
L length of hollow cylinder, m; ft m ft m
ri & ro inside and outside radii of m ft m
cylinder respectively
o o o
Ti & T o inside and outside surface C F C
temperatures of hollow
cylinder
k thermal conductivity of W/m-oC Btu/hr-ft- kcal/ m-oC
o
material F
Module II Heat Transfer by Conduction THELMA T. OBILLO, PME
Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
30
B. COMPOSITE CYLINDERS
The thermal-resistance concept may be
used for multiple-layer cylindrical walls
just as it was used for plane walls. For the
three-layer system shown in Figure 2-4
the solution is
2 kL(Ti −To )
q=
ln ro r
i
and the equivalent thermal resistance is
r
ln o
Rth =
ri
2 kL
The thermal-resistance concept may be used for multiple-layer cylindrical walls just
as it was used for plane walls. For the three-layer system shown in Figure 2-4 the
solution is
2 L (T1 − T4 )
q= ---------Equation 2.10
ln r2 r ln r3 r ln r4 r
1 + 2 + 3
kA kB kC
Solved Problems:
Problem 5:
A stainless-steel pipe with a length of 35 ft has an inner diameter of 0.92 ft and
an outer diameter of 1.08 ft. The temperature of the inner surface of the pipe is
122oF and the temperature of the outer surface is 118oF. The thermal conductivity
of the stainless steel is 108 Btu/hr-ft-oF.
a. Calculate the heat transfer rate through the pipe.
b. Calculate the heat flux at the outer surface of the pipe.
Given:
L=35 ft
D1=0.92 ft D2=1.08 ft
t1=122oF
t2=118oF
k=108 Btu/hr-ft-oF
Module II Heat Transfer by Conduction THELMA T. OBILLO, PME
Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
31
Required:
a. Heat transfer rate,
q
b. Heat flux, q”
Solution:
a. Solving for the rate of heat transfer, q
2 kL ( t1 − t2 )
q=
ln 2
D
D1
Btu
2 108 ( 35 ft )(122 − 118) F
o
hr − ft − F
o
q=
1.08
ln
0.92
q = 592, 492.152 Btu
hr
b. Solving for the rate of heat flux, q”
q q q
q" = = =
A 2 ro L Do L
592, 492.152 Btu
q" = hr = 4,989.315 Btu
( )(1.08 ft )( 35 ft ) hr ft 2
Problem 6:
A 10 ft length of pipe with an inner radius of 1 in and an outer radius of 1.25 in has
an outer surface temperature of 250°F. The heat transfer rate is 30,000 Btu/hr. Find
the interior surface temperature. Assume k = 25 Btu/hr-ft-°F.
Given:
L=10 ft Required:
r1=1in
Inside surface
D1 D2 r2=1.25 in
q=30,000 Btu/hr temperature, t1
t2=250oF
k=25 Btu/hr-ft-oF
Solution:
Using Fourier’s heat transfer by conduction equation for a hollow cylinder:
Module II Heat Transfer by Conduction THELMA T. OBILLO, PME
Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
32
2 kL ( t1 − t2 )
q=
ln 2
r
r1
(10 ft ) ( t1 − 250 F )
Btu
2 25 o
hr − ft − o
F
30, 000 Btu =
hr 1.25in
ln
1in
t1 = 254.262 F
Problem 7:
A thick-walled nuclear coolant pipe (ks = 12.5 Btu/hr-ft-°F) with 10 in. inside
diameter (ID) and 12 in. outside diameter (OD) is covered with a 3 in. layer
of asbestos insulation (ka = 0.14 Btu/hr-ft-oF) as shown in Figure 5. If the inside
wall temperature of the pipe is maintained at 550°F, calculate (a) the heat
loss per foot of length, (b) temperature between the pipe and insulation
material. The outside temperature is 100°F.
Given:
Required:
a. Heat loss per foot of length, q/L
b. t2
Module II Heat Transfer by Conduction THELMA T. OBILLO, PME
Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
33
Solution:
a. Solving for the heat transfer rate per pipe length
q 2 ( t1 − t3 )
=
L ln r2 ln r3
r
1 + r2
ks ka
2 ( 550 − 100 ) F
o
q
=
L 6in 9in
ln ln
5in + 6in
Btu Btu
12.5 0.14
hr − ft − F
o
hr − ft − o F
q = 971.371 Btu
hr ft
b. Solving for t2
q 2 ( t1 − t2 ) 2 ( t2 − t3 )
= =
ln 2 ln 3
L r r
r1 r2
ks ka
2 ( 550o F − t2 )
971.371 Btu =
hr ft 6in
ln
5in
Btu
12.5
hr − ft −o F
t2 = 547.745o F
or
q 2 ( t1 − t2 ) 2 ( t2 − t3 )
= =
ln 2 ln 3
L r r
r1 r2
ks ka
2 ( t2 − 100o F )
971.371 Btu =
hr ft 9in
ln
6in
Btu
0.14
hr − ft −o F
t2 = 547.745o F
Module II Heat Transfer by Conduction THELMA T. OBILLO, PME
Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
34
C. HEAT TRANSFER BY CONDUCTION THROUGH A HOLLOW SPHERE
Hollow Sphere
Consider heat conduction through a hollow sphere of inner radius r 1, outer
radius r2 and made of a material of constant thermal conductivity. The inner and
outer surfaces are maintained at constant but different temperatures t 1 and t2
respectively. Geometrical symmetry indicates that heat flow is limited to radial
direction only. Further if temperature t1 at the inner surface is greater than
temperature t2 at the outer surface, the heat flows radially outwards.
Consider an infinitesimal thin spherical element radius r. let thickness of this
elementary ring be dr and the change of temperature across it be dt. Then invoking
Fourier’s law of heat conduction.
= −k ( 4 r 2 )
dt dt
q = −kA
dr dr
Separating the variables and integrating within the prescribed boundary conditions
= −k ( 4 r 2 )
dt dt
q = −kA
dr dr
q 2 dr
4 k r1 r 2
r
= − dt
t 2
t1
q 1 1
− = ( t1 − t2 )
4 k r1 r2
t1 − t2
q=
1 1
−
r1 r2 ---------Equation 2.11
4 k
Module II Heat Transfer by Conduction THELMA T. OBILLO, PME
Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
35
where:
1 1 r2 − r1
−
r1 r2 r1r2 ---------Thermal resistance
or
4 k 4 k
For a hollow sphere with insulation:
Considering a steady state condition, the rate of heat transfer through the composite
sphere is:
q = q12 = q23 = q34 = q1− 4
4 k1 ( t1 − t2 ) 4 k1r1r2 ( t1 − t2 )
q12 = =
1 1
− r2 − r1
r1 r2
4 k2 ( t2 − t3 ) 4 k2 r2 r3 ( t2 − t3 )
q23 = =
1 1
− r3 − r2
r2 r3
4 k3 ( t3 − t4 ) 4 k3 r2 r3 ( t3 − t4 )
q34 = =
1 1
− r3 − r2
r2 r3
Module II Heat Transfer by Conduction THELMA T. OBILLO, PME
Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
36
4 ( t1 − t4 )
q14 =
1 1 1 1 1 1
− − −
r1 r2 + r2 r3 + r3 r4
k1 k2 k3
4 ( t1 − t4 )
q14 =
r2 − r1 r3 − r2 r4 − r3
r1r2 + r2 r3 + r3r4 ---------Equation 2.12
k1 k2 k3
Problem 8:
A hollow sphere is constructed of aluminum with a diameter of 4 cm and an
outer diameter of 8 cm. The inside temperature is 100 oC, and the inside
temperature is 50 oC. Calculate the heat transfer. (k=207 W/m-K)
Given:
Required: heat transferred, q
Solution:
Using Fourier's equation for heat conduction through a hollow sphere:
4 k ( ti − to )
q= ; ti = t1 and to = t2
1 1
−
ri ro
q=
(
4 207 W
m − o
C )
(100 − 50 ) oC
1 1
−
0.02m 0.04m
q = 5, 202.477W
Module II Heat Transfer by Conduction THELMA T. OBILLO, PME
Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
37
Problem 9:
A hollow sphere with inner radius of 7.62 cm, outer radius of 12.7 cm (k s=46.15
W/m-oC) is lagged by a 10 cm magnesia insulation (k m=0.67 W/m-oC). The
temperature at the inside surface is 426.7oC and the surface temperature of the
insulation is 100oC. Calculate the heat loss and the interface temperature.
Given:
Required:
a) heat loss, q
b) Interface temperature, t2
Solution:
a) heat loss, q
Using Fourier's equation for heat conduction through a hollow sphere:
q=
( t1 − t3 )
1 1 1 1
− −
r1 r2 + r2 r3
4 ks 4 km
4 ( 426.7 − 100 ) oC
q=
1 1 1 1
0.0762 − 0.127 0.127 − 0.227 1
m
+
W
46.15 46.15 m − oC
q = 775.935W
Module II Heat Transfer by Conduction THELMA T. OBILLO, PME
Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
38
b) Interface temperature, t2
For a steady state heat conduction:
q = q12 = q23 = q1−3
q=
( t1 − t3 ) =
( t1 − t2 ) =
( t 2 − t3 )
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
− − − −
r1 r2 + r2 r3 r1 r2 r2 r3
4 k s 4 km 4 k s 4 km
4 ( 426.7 − t2 ) oC
775.935W =
1 1
0.0762 − 0.127 1
m
W
46.15 m − oC
t2 = ______ C
o
Or
q=
( t2 − t3 )
1 1
−
r2 r3
4 km
4 ( t2 − 100 oC )
775.935W =
1 1
0.127 − 0.227 1
m
W
0.67 m − oC
t2 = ______ C
o
Module II Heat Transfer by Conduction THELMA T. OBILLO, PME
Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
39
Module II Heat Transfer by Conduction THELMA T. OBILLO, PME
Faculty, Mechanical Engineering