1. Consider a 3-m-high, 5-m-wide, and 0.
3-m-thick wall whose thermal conductivity is
k=0.9 W/m·K . On a certain day, the temperatures of the inner and the outer
surfaces of the wall are measured to be 16°C and 2°C, respectively. Determine the
rate of heat loss through the wall on that day.
A = 3 × 5 = 15m 2
L = 0.3m
k = 0.9W/mK
T=
1 T=
in 16 aC ( Heat flows from inside )
=
T2 T=
out 2 aC ( Heat flows outside )
T −T T −T
Q cond =
−kA 2 1 = kA 1 2
L L
16 − 2
Q cond =
0.9 ×15 = 630W
0.9
2. Consider a 0.8-m-high and 1.5-m-wide glass window with a thickness of 8 mm and a
thermal conductivity of k= 0.78 W/m·K. Determine the steady rate of heat transfer
through this glass window and the temperature of its inner surface for a day during
which the room is maintained at 20°C while the temperature of the outdoors is
–10°C. Take the heat transfer coefficients on the inner and outer surfaces of the
window to be h1 = 10 W/m2·K and h2 = 40 W/m2·K, which includes the effects of
radiation.
A = 0.8 ×1.5 = 1.2 m 2
= L 8= mm 0.008m
k = 0.78W/mK
=
T∞1 T=
room 20a C ( Heat flows from room )
T∞ 2 = Tout = −10 aC ( Heat flows to outdoor )
h1 = 10 W/m 2 K
h2 = 40 W/m 2 K
Q = qA
T∞1 − T∞ 2
q =
Rtotal
Rtotal =Rin + Rglass + Rout
1 L 1
Rtotal = + +
h1 k h2
1 0.008 1
=
Rtotal + + = 0.135 m 2 K/W
10 0.78 40
T∞1 − T∞ 2 20 − ( −10 )
=q = = 222.22 W/m 2
Rtotal 0.135
Q = qA
= 222.22 ×1.2 = 266.67W
Temperature of inner surface
The mode of heat transfer from the room to the inner surface is by convection
Therfore we use Newtons law of cooling
=Q hA (TSurface − T∞ ) or
= h (TSurface − T∞ )
Q
=
q
A
However, in this case, Heat is transfered from the room to the surface, Therfore we use
=q h (T∞ − TSurface )
q
= T∞ − TSurface
h
q
TSurface= T∞ −
h
Substituting in this case
q 222.22
T1 = T∞1 − = 20 − =
−2.22 o C
h1 10
Discussion Note that the inner surface temperature of the window glass is -2.2°C even though the
temperature of the air in the room is maintained at 20°C. Such low surface temperatures are highly
undesirable since they cause the formation of fog or even frost on the inner surfaces of the glass
when the humidity in the room is high.
3. Consider a 0.8-m-high and 1.5-m-wide double-pane window consisting of two 4-mm-
thick layers of glass (k= 0.78 W/m·K) separated by a 10-mm-wide stagnant air space
(k = 0.026 W/m·K). Determine the steady rate of heat transfer through this double-
pane window and the temperature of its inner surface for a day during which the
room is maintained at 20°C while the temperature of the outdoors is – 10°C. Take
the convection heat transfer coefficients on the inner and outer surfaces of the
window to be h1 = 10 W/m2·K and h2 = 40 W/m2·K, which includes the effects of
radiation.
A = 0.8 ×1.5 = 1.2 m 2
=L1 4=
mm 0.004m
k1 = 0.78W/mK
= =
L2 10 mm 0.01m
k2 = 0.026W/mK
=
T∞1 T=
room 20a C ( Heat flows from room )
T∞ 2 = Tout = −10 a C ( Heat flows to outdoor )
h1 = 10 W/m 2 K
h2 = 40 W/m 2 K
T∞1 − T∞ 2
q =
Rtotal
Rtotal =Rin + Rglass + Rair + Rglass + Rout
1 0.004 0.01 0.004 1
Rtotal = + + + + =
0.52m 2 K/W
10 0.78 0.026 0.78 40
T∞1 − T∞ 2 20 − ( −10 )
=q = = 57.69 W/m 2
Rtotal 0.52
Q = qA = 57.69 × 1.2 = 69.23W
Temperature of inner surface, T1
q 57.69
T1 = T∞1 − = 20 − = 14.23 o C
h1 10
Discussion
69.23 W is about one-fourth of the result obtained in 2. This explains the popularity of the double-
and even triple-glazed windows in cold climates. The drastic reduction in the heat transfer rate in this
case is due to the large thermal resistance of the air layer between the glasses.
The inner surface temperature is 14.23 °C Which is considerably higher than the -2.2°C obtained in 2.
Therefore, a double-glazed window will rarely get fogged. A double glazed window will also reduce
the heat gain in summer, and thus reduce the air conditioning costs.