One-Dimensional, Steady-State

Conduction with
Thermal Energy Generation
Chapter Three
Section 3.5, Appendix C

Implications

Implications of Energy Generation

Involves a local (volumetric) source of thermal energy due to conversion

from another form of energy in a conducting medium.
The source may be uniformly distributed, as in the conversion from
electrical to thermal energy (Ohmic heating):

Eg

I 2 Re
q

(3.38)

or it may be non-uniformly distributed, as in the absorption of radiation

passing through a semi-transparent medium. For a plane wall,
g

q exp x

Generation affects the temperature distribution in the medium and causes

the heat rate to vary with location, thereby precluding inclusion of
the medium in a thermal circuit.

The Plane Wall

The Plane Wall

Consider one-dimensional, steady-state conduction
in a plane wall of constant k, uniform generation,
and asymmetric surface conditions:
Heat Equation:

d dT
dT q
k q0 2 0
dx dx
dx
k

(3.39)

Is the heat flux q independent of x?

General Solution:

T x q/ 2k x 2 C1 x C2

What is the form of the temperature distribution for

q 0?

q > 0?

q < 0?

How does the temperature distribution change with increasing q ?

Plane Wall (Cont.)

Symmetric Surface Conditions or One Surface Insulated:

What is the temperature gradient
at the centerline or the insulated
surface?
Why does the magnitude of the temperature
gradient increase with increasing x?
Temperature Distribution:

q L2
x 2
T x
1 2 Ts
2k
L

(3.42)

How do we determine Ts ?
Overall energy balance on the wall

E out E g 0

hAs Ts T q As L 0

qL
Ts T
h

(3.46)

How do we determine the heat rate at x = L?

Radial Systems

Radial Systems

Cylindrical (Tube) Wall

Solid Cylinder (Circular Rod)

Heat Equations:
Cylindrical

1 d
dT
kr q 0
r dr
dr

Spherical Wall (Shell)

Solid Sphere

Spherical

1 d 2 dT
kr
q0
r 2 dr
dr

Radial Systems (Cont.)

Solution for Uniform Generation in a Solid Sphere of Constant k

with Convection Cooling:
Temperature Distribution

Surface Temperature

dT
q r3
kr

C1
dr
3

Overall energy balance:

E out Eg 0 Ts T

q r 2 C1
T
C2
6k
r
dT
|r 0 0 C1 0
dr

q ro
3h

Or from a surface energy balance:

q ro 2
T ro Ts C2 Ts
6k

2
q ro
r 2
T r
1 2 Ts
6k
ro

E in E out 0

qcond ro qconv Ts T

A summary of temperature distributions is provided in Appendix C

for plane, cylindrical and spherical walls, as well as for solid
cylinders and spheres. Note how boundary conditions are specified
and how they are used to obtain surface temperatures.

q ro
3h

Problem: Nuclear Fuel Rod

Problem 3.91 Thermal conditions in a gas-cooled nuclear reactor

with a tubular thorium fuel rod and a concentric
graphite sheath: (a) Assessment
of thermal integrity
g
8
for a generation rate of q 10 W/m3. (b) Evaluation of
temperature distributions in the thorium
and graphite

8
for generation rates in the range 10 q 5x108
Schematic:

Assumptions: (1) Steady-state conditions, (2) One-dimensional conduction, (3) Constant

properties, (4) Negligible contact resistance, (5) Negligible radiation, (6) Adiabatic surface at r1.
Properties:

Table A.1, Thorium: Tmp 2000 K ; Table A.2, Graphite: Tmp 2300 K .

Problem: Nuclear Fuel Rod (cont.)

Analysis: (a) The outer surface temperature of the fuel, T2 , may be determined from the rate equation

q
where

T2 T

Rtot

Rtot

1n r3 / r2
2 k g

1
0.0185 m K/W
2 r3h

The heat rate may be determined by applying an energy balance to a control surface about the fuel

element,
Eout E g
or, per unit length,

E out E g

Since the interior surface of the element is essentially adiabatic, it follows that

q q r22 r12 17,907 W/m

Hence,

T 17,907 W/m 0.0185 mgK/W 600 K 931K

T2 qRtot

With zero heat flux at the inner surface of the fuel element, Eq. C.14 yields

2
qr
r1 q r12 r2
T1 T2
1 2
1n 931K 25 K 18 K 938 K
4 kt
r2 2kt
r1

2
2

<

Problem: Nuclear Fuel Rod (cont.)

Since T1 and T2 are well below the melting points of thorium and graphite, the prescribed
operating condition is acceptable.
(b) The solution for the temperature distribution in a cylindrical wall with generation is

q r22
r 2
Tt r T2
1 2
4 kt
r2
2

q
r
r
2
1

1 2 T2 T1
4kt

r2

1n r2 / r

(C.2)

1n r2 / r1

Boundary conditions at r1 and r2 are used to determine T1 and T2.

r r1 :

r r2 :

q r 2

r12
2

k
1 2 T2 T1

r2
4 kt

qr1

q1 0

2
r11n r2 / r1

U 2 T2 T

qr 2

r
2
1
k
1 2 T2 T1

r2
4 kt

q r2

2
r21n r2 / r1

U 2 A2 Rtot

2 r2 Rtot

(C.14)

(C.17)

(3.32)

Problem: Nuclear Fuel Rod

(cont.)

The following results are obtained for temperature distributions in the graphite.

Operation at q 5x108 W/m 3 is clearly unacceptable since the melting point of

thorium would be exceeded. To prevent softening of the material, which would occur

below the melting point, the reactor should not be operated much above q 3x108 W/m 3 .
The small radial temperature gradients are attributable to the large value of k .
t

Problem: Nuclear Fuel Rod (cont.)

Using the value of T2 from the foregoing solution and computing T3 from the surface condition,

2 k g T2 T3
1n r3 / r2

(3.27)

the temperature distribution in the graphite is

Tg r

r
T2 T3
1n T3
1n r2 / r3 r3

(3.26)

Problem: Nuclear Fuel Rod (cont.)

8
3
Operation at q 5x10 W/m is problematic for the graphite. Larger temperature gradients
are due to the small value of k g .

Comments: (i) What effect would a contact resistance at the thorium/graphite interface have on

temperatures in the fuel element and on the maximum allowable value of q? (ii) Referring
to the schematic, where might radiation effects be significant? What would be the influence of such

effects on temperatures in the fuel element and the maximum allowable value of q ?