Chapter: 01: Introduction
What is heat transfer?
Heat transfer is the transport of heat energy from one point to another point
in the presence of temperature differences.
Heat is always transfer from higher temperature to lower temperature.
Heat transfer is essential in designing various engineering systems such
as engines, refrigerators, air conditioners, boilers, heat exchangers, and
many industrial processes.
Driving force: Temperature difference or Temperature gradient
Modes of heat transfer:
There are three primary modes of heat transfer:
1. Conduction
> Conduction is the transfer of heat through a solid material or between
materials that are in direct physical contact.
> It occurs due to the vibration and movement of molecules inside the
substance.
Examples:
Heating one end of a metal rod makes the other end hot
Heat flow through walls, pans, or solid machine components
Conduction is governed by Fourier’s law.
2. Convection
Convection is the transfer of heat between a solid surface and a moving
fluid (liquid or gas).
Convection means the transport of heat energy by way of displacement of
fluid elements from one point to another point which is at a different
temperature.
There are two types of convection:
1. Natural (Free) Convection: Fluid motion due to density differences
caused by temperature variation (e.g., warm air rising).
2. Forced Convection: Fluid motion caused by external devices like pumps
or fans (e.g., water flowing in a pipe).
Convection is governed by Newton’s law of cooling.
3. Radiation
Radiation is the transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves.
It does not require any medium — heat can travel through vacuum.
Example:
Heat from the sun reaching the earth
Infrared heaters
Radiation is governed by Stefan–Boltzmann law.
Heat Transfer Equipment
Different types of equipment are used to facilitate heat exchange between bodies or fluids:
1. Heat Exchangers
Devices that transfer heat between two or more fluids without mixing them.
Examples:
Shell and tube heat exchanger
Plate heat exchanger
Condensers and evaporators
2. Boilers
Used to convert water into steam by applying heat.
Common in power plants and industrial applications.
3. Condensers
Equipment where vapor is cooled and converted back into liquid form.
Used in refrigeration, air conditioning, and power plants.
4. Evaporators
Used to remove moisture or concentrate solutions by heating.
5. Cooling Towers
Used to reject waste heat into the atmosphere by cooling water streams.
Systems of Measurement
Measurement systems are standard ways to measure physical quantities.
Two major systems used in engineering:
1. SI (International System of Units)
This is the most widely used measurement system globally.
Examples:
Length → meter (m)
Mass → kilogram (kg)
Time → second (s)
Temperature → kelvin (K)
2. FPS/CES (Foot-Pound-Second) System
Used mostly in the United States.
Examples:
Length → foot (ft)
Mass → slug or pound-mass
Force → pound-force (lbf)
Temperature → Rankine or Fahrenheit
Units and Dimensions
Dimensions
Dimensions represent the physical nature of a quantity.
Examples:
Length → [L]
Mass → [M]
Time → [T]
Temperature → [Θ]
A physical quantity can be expressed using these base dimensions.
Example:
Velocity = distance/time = [L][T⁻¹]
Units
Units are standardized values used to measure physical quantities.
Example:
Heat transfer coefficient unit (SI): W/m²·K
Thermal conductivity unit (SI): W/m·K
Units allow us to express numerical values meaningfully.
MLT Form:
Force = mass * acceleration
= m* a
= Kg * m/ s2
= M1L1T-2
Pressure = Force/ Area
= N/ m2
𝐤𝐠.𝐦
=
𝒔𝟐∗𝒎𝟐
𝐤𝐠
=
𝒔𝟐∗𝒎
= M1L-1T-2
NOTE:DO THE OTHER MLT FORM AS PER WE DISCUSSED IN
CLASS.
Question Bank
1. Heat transfer is defined as_______
A. Conversion of heat into work
B. Transport of heat energy due to temperature difference
C. Generation of heat energy
D. Storage of thermal energy
2. Heat always flows from_______
A. Lower temperature to higher temperature
B. Higher pressure to lower pressure
C. Higher temperature to lower temperature
D. Lower mass to higher mass
3. The driving force for heat transfer is_____
A. Pressure difference
B. Density difference
C. Velocity difference
D. Temperature difference
4. How many primary modes of heat transfer are there?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four
5. Conduction mainly occurs in___
A. Liquids only
B. Gases only
C. Solids
D. Vacuum
6. Conduction heat transfer takes place due to____
A. Bulk motion of fluid
B. Electromagnetic waves
C. Molecular vibration and interaction
D. Chemical reaction
7. Heating one end of a metal rod make other end hot is an example of_____
A. Convection
B. Radiation
C. Conduction
D. Evaporation
8. Conduction is governed by:
A. Newton’s law of cooling
B. Fourier’s law
C. Stefan–Boltzmann law
D. Boyle’s law
9. Convection occurs between_____
A. Two solids
B. Solid and vacuum
C. Solid surface and moving fluid
D. Two stationary fluids
10. Convection involves heat transfer by______
A. Molecular vibration only
B. Displacement of fluid particles
C. Radiation waves
D. Phase change
11. Which of the following is NOT a type of convection?
A. Natural convection
B. Forced convection
C. Free convection
D. Molecular convection
12. Warm air rising is an example of_____
A. Forced convection
B. Natural convection
C. Radiation
D. Conduction
13. Water flowing through a pipe using a pump is:
A. Natural convection
B. Radiation
C. Forced convection
D. Conduction
14. Convection is governed by:
A. Fourier’s law
B. Stefan–Boltzmann law
C. Newton’s law of cooling
D. Ohm’s law
15. Radiation heat transfer occurs through______
A. Solids only
B. Liquids only
C. Fluids only
D. Electromagnetic waves
16. Radiation does not require_____
A. Temperature difference
B. Medium
C. Energy
D. Surface
17. Heat from the sun reaching the earth is an example of______
A. Conduction
B. Convection
C. Radiation
D. Evaporation
18. Radiation is governed by:
A. Newton’s law
B. Fourier’s law
C. Stefan–Boltzmann law
D. Pascal’s law
19. Select one which is not the heat transfer equipment.
A. Boiler
B. Condenser
C. Heat exchanger
D. Pump
20. Which is an example of a heat exchanger?
A. Boiler
B. Shell and tube exchanger
C. Pump
D. Compressor
21. Boilers are mainly used to:
A. Condense steam
B. Cool fluids
C. Convert water into steam
D. Store heat
22. Select one which is not the mode of heat transfer.
A. Conduction
B. Radiation
C. Condensation
D. Convection
23. Evaporators are used to:
A. Reject heat to atmosphere
B. To concentrate solutions
C. Generate electricity
D. Store steam
24. SI unit of temperature is:
A. Celsius
B. Fahrenheit
C. Rankine
D. Kelvin
25. 1 bar = _______pascal
A. 105
B. 10-5
C. 104
D. 103
26. 1 calorie = ________ joule
A. 3.184
B. 4.184
C. 4.814
D. 3.814
27. SI unit of thermal conductivity is________
A. W/m²·K
B. W/m·K
C. J/kg·K
D. N/m²
28. Dimension of velocity is____
A. [M0L²T⁻¹]
B. [M0LT⁻¹]
C. [ML0T⁻¹]
D. [MLT⁻²]
29. Dimensional formula of force is_____
A. M1L1T⁻¹
B. M1L²T⁻²
C. M1L1T⁻²
D. M²L1T⁻²
30. Dimensional formula of pressure is:
A. M1L⁻¹T⁻¹
B. M1L⁻¹T⁻²
C. M1L1T⁻²
D. M²L⁻¹T⁻²
2 & 3-MARKS QUESTION:
1. What is heat transfer?
2. Write the heat transfer equipment’s used in industry.
3. Write the MLT form of energy with explanation.
4. Write the definition of 1. Unit and 2. Dimensions
4- & 5-MARKS QUESTION:
1. Discuss in details: Modes of heat transfer.
2. What is convection? Differentiate between natural and forced
convection.