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

MODULE II
HEAT TRANSFER BY CONDUCTION

 INTRODUCTION

Conduction is primarily a molecular phenomenon requiring temperature

gradient as the driving force. Experimental evidence does indicate that steady-state
one-dimensional flow of heat by conduction through a homogenous material is given
by Fourier Law. This module is focused on the salient features of Fourier’s law of
heat conduction through composite plane walls and radial walls under steady-state
one-dimensional heat flow, derivation of the heat transfer rate equation, and
conduction heat transfer with convection film coefficient.

OBJECTIVES

After studying the module, you should be able to:

1. Describe how heat is transmitted through conduction.

2. Derive the Fourier’s Law of heat conduction through composite walls and
radial walls.
3. Write the heat transfer rate equation for a steady-state one-dimensional
heat flow
4. Derive the overall heat transfer conductance.
5. Solve conduction problems for composite plane walls and radial composite
walls.

 DIRECTIONS/ MODULE ORGANIZER

There are three lessons in the module. Read each lesson carefully then
answer the exercises/activities to find out how much you have benefited from it.
Work on these exercises carefully and submit your output to your instructor.

In case you encounter difficulty, discuss this with your instructor during the
face-to-face meeting.

Good luck and happy reading!!!

Module II Heat Transfer by Conduction THELMA T. OBILLO, PME

Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
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Lesson 1

 Conduction Rate Equation

In conduction heat transfer, the most common means of correlation is through

Fourier’s Law of Conduction. The law, in its equation form, is used most often in
its rectangular or cylindrical form (pipes and cylinders), both of which are presented
below.

qx dT
Rectangular: 
A dx

qx dT
Cylindrical: 
A dr

When a temperature gradient exists in a body, experience has shown that

there is an energy transfer from the high-temperature region to the low-temperature
region. We say that the energy is transferred by conduction and that the heat-
transfer rate per unit area is proportional to the normal temperature gradient.

qx dT Equation 2.1
=-k
A dx

When the proportionality constant k is inserted, where qx is the heat-transfer

rate and dT/dx is the temperature gradient in the direction of the heat flow. The
positive constant k is called the thermal conductivity of the material, and the minus
sign is inserted so that the second principle of thermodynamics will be satisfied; i.e.,
heat must flow downhill on the temperature scale, as indicated in the coordinate
system of Figure 1-1. Equation 2.1 is called Fourier’s law of heat conduction after
the French mathematical physicist Joseph Fourier, who made very significant
contributions to the analytical treatment of conduction heat transfer. It is important
to note that Equation 2.1 is the defining equation for the thermal conductivity and
that k has the units of watts per meter per Celsius degree in a typical system of units
in which the heat flow is expressed in watts.

Module II Heat Transfer by Conduction THELMA T. OBILLO, PME

Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
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Temperature Difference and Temperature Gradient

If a temperature difference exists between two points, then heat will flow
from hotter to the colder point. The temperature difference between the two points
is often thought as the driving force in heat transfer. The temperature gradient
between two points is:

Temperature gradient=
( higher temperature - lower temperature )
distance between points

Thermal Conductivity
Thermal conductivity, k [W/m-K] is a measure of a material’s ability to
conduct heat. The thermal conductivity is defined as the rate of heat transfer
through a unit thickness of material per unit area per unit temperature
difference. Thermal conductivity changes with temperature and is determined
through experiments. The thermal conductivity of certain materials shows a
dramatic change at temperatures near absolute zero, when these solids become
superconductors. An isotropic material is a material that has uniform properties in
all directions. Insulators are materials used primarily to provide resistance to heat
flow. They have low thermal conductivity.

Module II Heat Transfer by Conduction THELMA T. OBILLO, PME

Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
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Lesson 2

 Steady-State Conduction of Plane Walls

(Composite Walls) and Radial Systems

A. Steady-State Heat Conduction in Plane Walls

Conduction is the transfer of energy from the more energetic particles of a
substance to the adjacent less energetic ones as result of interactions between the
particles. Consider steady conduction through a large plane wall of thickness Δx = L
and surface area A. The temperature difference across the wall is ΔT = T2 – T1.
Note that heat transfer is the only energy interaction; the energy balance for
the wall can be expressed:

qx dT

A dx

It has been experimentally observed that the rate of heat conduction through a layer
is proportional to the temperature difference across the layer and the heat transfer
area, but it is inversely proportional to the thickness of the layer.

For steady‐state operation, considering Fourier’s law of heat conduction and

applying integration:

qx dT
=-k
A dx
kA
qx  dx = − q  dT
x

kA
x=− T 2
− T1 
qx
T − T1 
qx = − 2

x
kA

qx =
T1 − T2  ---------Equation 2.2
x
kA

Module II Heat Transfer by Conduction THELMA T. OBILLO, PME

Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
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Where:

Parameters Description Engg MKS SI

qx Heat transfer rate Btu/hr kcal W

A Heat transfer area normal or ft2 m2 m2
perpendicular to heat flow
o o o
T1, T2 Surface temperatures of hot side F C C
and cold side of the wall
respectively
x Wall thickness ft m m
k Thermal conductivity of wall Btu/hr- kcal/m- oC W/m- oC
material ft-oF

B. COMPOSITE WALLS:
Walls in Series

If more than one material is present, as in the multilayer wall shown

in Figure 2-1, the analysis would proceed as follows: The temperature
gradients in the three materials are shown, and the heat flow may be written

qx = k A A
T1 − T2  = k A T2 − T3  = k A T3 − T4 
x A xB xC
B C

Equivalent electrical analog or thermal circuit

Solving these three equations simultaneously, the heat flow is written

Module II Heat Transfer by Conduction THELMA T. OBILLO, PME

Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
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q=
T1 − T4 
---------Equation 2.3
xA xB xC
+ +
k A A k B A kC A

At this point we retrace our development slightly to introduce a different conceptual

view-point for Fourier’s law. The heat-transfer rate may be considered as a flow,
and the combination of thermal conductivity, thickness of material, and area as a
resistance to this flow. The temperature is the potential, or driving, function for the
heat flow, and the Fourier equation may be written a relation quite like Ohm’s law
in electric-circuit theory.

potential thermal difference

Heat flow= ---------Equation 2.4
thermal resistance

In Equation 1.1 the thermal resistance is ∆x/kA, and in Equation 2.3 it is the sum of
the three terms in the denominator. We should expect this situation in Equation 2.3
because the three walls side by side act as three thermal resistances in series. The
equivalent electric circuit is shown in Figure 2-1b. The electrical analogy may be
used to solve more complex problems involving both series and parallel thermal
resistances. A typical problem and its analogous electric circuit are shown in Figure
2-2. The one-dimensional heat-flow equation for this type of problem may be written

T
q= ---------Equation 2.5
 Rthoverall
where the Rth are the thermal resistances of the various materials. This is also
referred to as the Equivalent Resistance Method. The units for the thermal resistance
are ◦C/W or ◦F·h/Btu.

Series and Parallel Composite Walls

It is well to mention that in some systems, like that in Figure 2-2, two-
dimensional heat flow may result if the thermal conductivities of materials B, C, and
D differ by an appreciable amount. In these cases, other techniques must be
employed to effect a solution.

Module II Heat Transfer by Conduction THELMA T. OBILLO, PME

Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
 34

T
q=
 Rthoverall
Referring to Figure 2-2, the corresponding thermal resistances are as follows:

xA xB xC xD

RA = RB = RC = RD =
k A AA kB AB kC AC kD AD
xE xF xG
RE = RF = RG =
kE AE kF AF kG AG

The total thermal resistance will be:

 Rth overall = R12 + R23 + R34 + R35

Where:

R12 = thermal resistance across 1 to 2 or across material A

R23 = thermal resistance across 2 to 3 or across materials B, C and D
R34 = thermal resistance across 3 to 4 or across material E
R45 = thermal resistance across 4 to 5 or across materials F and G

Considering the parallel walls B, C, and D, the reciprocal of the resistance across the
wall 2-3 will be equal to the sum of the reciprocals of the individual thermal
resistances each material. In equation form:

Module II Heat Transfer by Conduction THELMA T. OBILLO, PME

Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
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1 1 1 1
= + +
R23 RB RC RD

And for the equivalent thermal resistance across parallel walls F and G

RF RG
R45 =
RF + RG

Heat Conduction through Plane Walls

Solved Problems:

Problem 1.
1000 Btu/hr is conducted through a section of insulating material shown in
Figure 1 that measures 1 ft2 in cross-sectional area. The thickness is 1 in and
the thermal conductivity is 0.12 Btu/hr-ft-°F. Compute the temperature
difference across the material.

Given:

Required: temperature difference across the slab

Module II Heat Transfer by Conduction THELMA T. OBILLO, PME

Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
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Solution:
q = kA A
 T  = k A T1 − T2 
x A x A
A

T = q
 x 
kA
 Btu  1 
1000  ft 
T = 
hr  12 
 
 0.12 hr − ft − F  (1 ft )
Btu 2

 
T = 694 F

Problem 2.
A concrete floor with a conductivity of 0.8 Btu/hr-ft-°F measures 30 ft by 40 ft
with a thickness of 4 inches. The floor has a surface temperature of 70°F and
the temperature beneath it is 60°F. What is the heat flux and the heat transfer
rate through the floor?

Given:

Required: temperature difference across the slab

Solution:

Solving for the heat flux,

Module II Heat Transfer by Conduction THELMA T. OBILLO, PME

Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
 37

q  T 
= q" = k  
A xA
q  Btu  10o F 
=q "= 0.80
A 
 hr ft F  0.333 ft 

q Btu
= q " = 24
A hr ft 2

Solving for the rate of heat transfer:

 T 
q = kA  
xA
 Btu 
q= 24

( 1200 ft 2
hr ft 2  )
Btu
q = 28,800
hr

Problem 3.
A composite protective wall is formed of a 1 in. copper plate, a 1/8 in. layer
of asbestos, and a 2 in. layer of fiberglass. The thermal conductivities of the
materials in units of Btu/hr-ft-oF are as follows: kCu = 240, kasb = 0.048, and
kfib = 0.022. The overall temperature difference across the wall is 500°F.
Calculate the thermal resistance of each layer of the wall and the heat
transfer rate per unit area (heat flux) through the composite structure.

Module II Heat Transfer by Conduction THELMA T. OBILLO, PME

Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
 38

Given:

Required:
a. thermal resistance of each layer
b. heat flux

Solution:
a. For the individual resistances,

 1 ft 
1in 
xCu  12in  hr ft 2 o F
RCu = = Btu = 0.000347
kCu 240 Btu
hr ft o F
 1 ft 
0.125in  2o
x Asb  12in  =0.2170 hr ft  F
RAsb = =
k Asb 0.48 Btu Btu
o
hr ft  F
 1 ft 
2in 
xFib  12in  hr ft 2 o F
RFib = = Btu = 7.5758
k Fib 0.022 Btu
o
hr ft  F

b. Solving for the heat flux, q”=q/A

Module II Heat Transfer by Conduction THELMA T. OBILLO, PME

Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
 39

q T1 − T4
=
A x A + xB + xC
kA kB kC
q T
=
A RCu + RAsb + RFib
q 500 F
=
hr  ft 2  F
A
0.000347 + 0.2170 + 7.5758
Btu
q Btu
= 64.159
A hr  ft 2

Problem 4.
A composite wall is made of 8 in. of fine clay brick (k=0.63 Btu-in/hr-ft2-oF); 6
in. diatomaceous earth brick (k=0.18) and an outer layer of 4 in. of the common
brick (k=0.4). If the inside surface temperature is held at 1,900 oF and the
outside surface temperature is held at 300oF, find:
a. the heat transferred per sq. ft.
b. the temperature between junction of different layers
c. and the temperature at point 6 in. from the outer surface.

Given:

Required:
a. heat flux
b. t2, t3
c. t @ 6” from the outer layer
Solution:

Module II Heat Transfer by Conduction THELMA T. OBILLO, PME

Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
 40

a. heat flux
q t1 − t4
=
A x x x
1
+ 2 + 3
k FCB k DAB kCB

q
=
(1900 − 300 ) F
A  8 6 4  in
 0.63 + 0.18 + 0.40  Btu − in
 
hr  ft 2  F

q Btu
= 28.555
A hr  ft 2
b. t2, t3

solving for t2,

q t1 − t2 t2 − t 4 t −t t −t
= = = 2 3= 3 4
A x x x x2 x3
1 2
+ 3
k FCB k DAB kCB k DAB kCB

28.555
Btu
=
(1900 F − t ) 2

hr  ft 2 8in
Btu − in
0.63
hr  ft 2  F
t2 = 1537.39o F

solving for t3,

q t3 − t4
=
A x3
kCB

28.555
Btu
=
(t
3 − 300 F )
hr  ft 2 4in
Btu − in
0.40
hr  ft 2  F
t3 = 585.55o F

c. t @ 6” from the outer layer

q t6" − t4
=
A x( 6"−4") x3
+
k DAB kCB

28.555
Btu
=
(t6" − 300 F )
hr  ft 2 2in
+
4in
Btu − in Btu − in
0.18 0.40
hr  ft 2  F hr  ft 2  F
t3 = 902.828 o F

Module II Heat Transfer by Conduction THELMA T. OBILLO, PME

Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
 41

References:

1. Principles of Heat Transfer by Frank Kreith, Cengage Learning. 2018

2. Gate 2017 Mechanical Engineering. Sharma, D.P. Phi learning. 2016
3. Mechanical Engineering (Objective). Kumar, D.S. S.K. Kataria & Sons. 2016
4. Heat and Mass Transfer, 3G eLearning. 2014
5. Heat and Mass Transfer by D. S. Kumar, S K Kataria and Sons Publications.2014
6. Foundation of Heat Transfer, Incropera, Frank. John Wiley. 2013
7. Engineering Heat Transfer 2nd ed. Rathore, M.M. Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
2011
8. Basics of Heat and Mass Transfer. Kumar, D.S. S.K. Kataria & Sons.2011

Prepared by: Recommending Approval: Approved:

THELMA T. OBILLO ROY N. LAQUIDAN LORENZO L. BACANI

Instructor/Professor Program Chair Dean
August 10, 2021 August 16, 2021 August 16, 2021

Module II Heat Transfer by Conduction THELMA T. OBILLO, PME

Faculty, Mechanical Engineering