CHAPTER 3

STEADY-STATE
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CONDUCTION

Steady-State, One-Dimensional Conduction

The term one-dimensional refers to the fact that only one
coordinate is needed to describe the spatial variation of the
dependent variables.
In one dimensional system, temperature gradients exists along
only a single coordinate direction.
In this chapter we will
- Learn how to obtain temperature profiles for common
geometries with and without heat generation.
- Introduce the concept of thermal resistance and
thermal circuits

The Plane Wall

Consider a simple case of one-dimensional conduction in a plane
wall, separating two fluids of different temperature, without energy
generation
Cold fluid
T,1
T ,h
, 2

Temperature is a function of x
Heat is transferred in the x-direction

Ts ,1

Must consider

Ts ,2

Convection from hot fluid to wall

Conduction through wall
Convection from wall to cold fluid

T,1 , h1

Hot fluid

qx

x=0
x

T,2

x=L

Temperature Distribution

Heat diffusion equation in the x-direction for steady-state

conditions, with no energy generation:

d dT
qx is constant
k
0
dx dx

Integrate twice
to obtain
the general solution:
T(x) = C1x + C2

To obtain C1 and C2, boundary conditions must be introduced

at
x=0,
T(0) = Ts,1
at
x=L,
T(L) = Ts,2

Apply the condition at x=0 to the general solution

Ts,1 = C2
Apply the condition at x=L to the general solution
Ts,2 = C1L + C2 = C1L + Ts,1
C1 = Ts,2 Ts,1
L

Temperature Distribution

Apply to the general solution, the temperature profile, assuming

constant k:
x

T ( x ) (Ts,2 Ts,1 )

Ts,1

From Fouriers Law, we can determine the conduction heat transfer rate:
qx = -kAdT = kA (Ts,1 Ts,2)
dx L
And heat flux:
qx = qx = k (Ts,1 Ts,2)
A L

Problem 3.1
Consider the plane wall, separating hot
and cold fluids at temp. T,1 and T,2
respectively. Using surface energy
balances as boundary conditions at x=0
and x=L, obtain the temp. distribution
within the wall and the heat flux in terms
of T,1 , T,2 , h1 , h2 , k and L.

Thermal Resistance
Based on the previous solution, the conduction hear transfer rate
can be calculated:

Ts,1 Ts,2
dT kA
Ts,1 Ts,2
qx kA

dx
L
L / kA
Similarly for heat convection, Newtons law of cooling applies:
(T T )
qx hA(TS T ) S
1 / hA

And for radiation heat transfer:

qrad

(Ts Tsur )
hr A(Ts Tsur )
1 / hr A

Recall electric circuit theory - Ohms law for electrical resistance:

Electric current =

Potential Difference
Resistance

Thermal Resistance
We can use this electrical analogy to represent heat transfer
problems using the concept of a thermal circuit (equivalent to an
electrical circuit).

Overall Driving Force Toverall

q

Resistance
R

The temperature difference is the potential or driving force for the

heat flow
The combinations of thermal conductivity, convection coefficient,
thickness and area of material act as a resistance

Rt ,cond

L
1
1

, Rt ,conv
, Rt ,rad
kA
hA
hr A

CONDUCTION CONVECTION RADIATION

Thermal Resistance for Plane Wall

Cold fluid

T,1

T,2 , h2
qx

Ts ,1
Ts ,2

T,1 , h1

Hot fluid

qx

x=0
x

T,2

x=L

T,1 Ts,1
1 / h1 A

Ts,1 Ts,2
L / kA

Ts,2 T,2

In terms of overall
temperature difference:

qx
Rtot

T,1 T,2
Rtot

1
L
1

h1 A kA h2 A

1 / h2 A

Thermal Resistance for Composite Walls

Thermal Resistance for Composite Walls

Heat transfer rate for composite wall:
qx = T,1 - T ,4
Rt
T,1 - T ,4
=
[(1/h1A) + (LA/kAA) + (LB/kBA) + (LC/kCA) + (1/h4A)]
-Alternatively:
qx= T,1 Ts,1 = Ts,1 T2 = T2 T3 = U = overall heat transfer coefficient
(1/h1A)
(LA/kAA) (LB/kBA)
T = temperature difference (overall)

1
Rtot A

1
[(1 / h1 ) ( LA / k A ) ( LB / k B ) ( LC / kC ) (1 / h4 )]

q x UAT
Rtot

T
1
Rt

q
UA

Composite Walls

For resistances in series:

Rtot=R1+R2++Rn
For resistances in parallel:
1/Rtot=1/R1+1/R2++1/Rn

Contact Resistance
In composite systems, the temperature drop
across the interface between materials may be
appreciable, due to surface roughness effects.
This temperature change is attribute to thermal
contact resistance:

"
Rt ,c

TA TB

"
qx

See tables 3.1, 3.2 for typical values of Rt,c

Problem 3.4
In a manufacturing process, a transparent film is being bonded to a
substrate. To cure the bond at a temperature To, a radiant source is used
to provide a heat flux qo (W/m2), all of which is absorbed at the
bonded surface. The back of the substrate is maintained at T1 while the
free surface of the film is exposed to air at T and a convection heat
transfer coefficient, h.
a) Show a thermal circuit representing the steady
state heat transfer situation.
b) Assume the following conditions:
T = 20C, h = 50 W/m2K, T1 = 30C
Calculate the heat flux qo that is required to
maintain the bonded surface at To = 60C

Problem 3.15
Consider a composite wall that includes an 8-mm thick hardwood siding (A), 40-mm by 130mm hardwood studs (B) on 0.65-m centers with glass fiber insulation (D) (paper faced, 28
kg/m3) and a 12-mm layer of gypsum (vermiculite) wall board (C).
What is the thermal resistance associated with a wall that is 2.5 m high by 6.5 m wide (having
10 studs, each 2.5 m high?)
(Note: Consider the direction of heat transfer to be downwards, along the x-direction)

Given:

PROPERTIES from Table A-3 (T 300K):

Hardwood siding, kA = 0.094 W/mK
Hardwood, kB = 0.16 W/mK
Gypsum, kC = 0.17 W/mK
Insulation (glass fiber paper faced, 28 kg/m3), kD = 0.038W/mK.

Problem 3.20
A composite wall separates combustion gases at 2600C
from a liq coolant at 100C with gas and liq side convection
coefficients of 50 and 1000 W/m2K. The wall is composed of
a 10mm thick layer of beryllium oxide on the gas side. The
contact resistance between the oxide and the steel is 0.05
m2K/W.
a) What is the heat loss per unit surface area of the composite?
b) Sketch the temp. distribution from the gas to the liquid.
Assume temperature of beryllium oxide at 1500 K
and stainless steel at 1000 K.

Problem 3.22
Consider a plane composite wall that is composed of two
materials of thermal conductivities kA = 0.1 w/m.k and kB =
0.04 w/m.k and thicknesses LA = 10mm and LB = 20mm.
The contact resistance at the interface between the two
mterials is known to be 0.30 m2k/w. Material A adjoins a
fluid at 200c for which h = 10w/m2k and material B
adjoins a fluid at 40c for which h = 20w/m2k
a)
What is the rate of heat transfer through a wall that is 2m
high by 2.5m wide
b) Sketch the temp. distribution

Radial Systems-Cylindrical
Coordinates
Consider a hollow cylinder, whose inner and outer surfaces are
exposed to fluids at different temperatures

qr = - kA

dT
dT
= - k(2rL)
dr
dr

Radial Systems-Cylindrical
Coordinates
Heat diffusion equation in the r-direction for steady-state
conditions, with no energy generation (for cylinder):

1 d dT
kr
0
r dr dr
Integrate twice to obtain general soution
T(r) = C1 ln r + C2
To obtain C1 and C2 , boundary conditions:
T(r1) = Ts,1 and T(r2) = Ts,2
Apply to the general solution:
Ts,1 = C1 ln r + C2
Ts,2 = C1 ln r + C2

Solve C1 and C2 and substitute into general solution:

(Ts,1 Ts,2 ) r
T (r)
ln Ts,2
ln(r1 / r2 ) r 2
The conduction heat transfer rate can be calculated:
- Fouriers Law :
dT
dT
qr kA
k (2rL)
const
dr
dr
qr

2Lk Ts,1 Ts,2

ln(r2 / r1 )

Ts,1 Ts,2
ln(r2 / r1 ) /(2Lk )

Ts,1 Ts,2
Rt ,cond

In terms of equivalent thermal circuit:

qr
Rtot

T,1 T,2
Rtot
1
ln(r2 / r1 )
1

h1 (2r1L)
2kL
h2 (2r2 L)

Composite Walls

The heat transfer rate may be expressed as

qr =

T,1 - T ,4
1
+ ln (r2/r1) + ln (r3/r2) + ln (r4/r3) + 1
2r1Lh1
2kAL
2kBL
2kcL
2r4Lh4

The heat transfer rate may also be expressed in terms of an overall heat
transfer coefficient:
qr = T,1 - T ,4 = UA(T,1 - T ,4)
Rtot
where U is the overall heat transfer coefficient. If A = A1 = 2r1L

1
1 r1
r2 r1
r3 r1
r4 r1 1

ln
ln
ln
h1 k A r1 k B r2 kC r3 r4 h4

 Alternatively we can use:

A2 = 2r2L , A3 = 2r3L ,

etc

U1 A1 U 2 A2 U 3 A3 U 4 A4

Radial Systems-Sphere
Coordinates
Heat diffusion equation in the r-direction for steady-state
conditions, with no energy generation (for sphere):
1 d
2 dT
kr
=0
2 dr
dr
r
Integrate twice to obtain general soution

C1
+ C2
r
To obtain C1 and C2 , boundary conditions:
T(r1) = Ts,1 and T(r2) = Ts,2
T(r ) = -

Apply to the general solution:

C1
Ts,1 = + C2
r1
C1
Ts,2 = + C2
r2

Solve C1 and C2 and

substitute into general
solution

Sphere
Fouriers law:

dT
qr kA
dr
dT
k ( 4 r )
dr
2

Assuming constant k,
qr = 4k (Ts,1 Ts,2) = (Ts,1 Ts,2)
(1/r1) (1/r2)
1/ 4k [1/r1 1/r2]
Thermal resistance:
Rt,cond = 1 [ 1/r1 - 1/r2 ]
4k

Problem 3.37
A thin electrical heater is wrapped around the outer surface of a
long cylindrical tube whose inner surface is maintained at a
temperature of 5C. The tube wall has inner and outer radii of 25
and 75 mm respectively, and a thermal conductivity of 10
W/m.K. The thermal contact resistance between the heater and
the outer surface of the tube (per unit length of the tube) is
Rt,c=0.01 m.K/W. The outer surface of the heater is exposed to a
fluid of temperature 10C and a convection coefficient of h=100
W/m2 .K. Determine the heater power per unit length of tube
required to maintain the heater at To=25C.

Problem 3.60
A spherical vessel used as a reactor for producing
pharmaceuticals hs a 10mm thick stainless steel wall (k =
17w/m.k) and an inner diameter of 1m. The exterior surface of the
vessel is exposed to ambient air (T = 25c) for which a
convection coefficient of 6 w/m2k may be assumed.
a) During steady-state operation, an inner surface temp.of 50c is
maintained by energy generated within the reactor. What is the
heat loss from the vessel?
b) If a 20mm thick layer of fiber glass insulation (k = 0.04 w/m.k) is
applied to the exterior of the vessel and the rate of thermal energy
generation is unchanged, what is the inner surface temp. of the
vessel?

Summary
We obtained temperature distributions and thermal
resistances for problems involving steady-state, onedimensional conduction in orthogonal, cylindrical
and spherical coordinates, without energy
generation