CHAPTER 3

STEADY-STATE
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CONDUCTION

Prepared by
NURHASLINA CHE RADZI
FKK, UITM
 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 2
Temperature is a function of x
Ts ,1
Heat is transferred in the x-direction
Must consider
Ts ,2
Convection from hot fluid to wall
Conduction through wall T,1 , h1 qx T ,2
Convection from wall to cold fluid

Hot fluid x=L

x=0
x
 Temperature Distribution
Heat diffusion equation in the x-direction for steady-state
conditions, with no energy generation:
d dT
k 0 qx is constant
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
L
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:

q x kA
dT kA
Ts,1 Ts,2 Ts ,1 Ts ,2
dx L L / kA
Similarly for heat convection, Newtons law of cooling applies:
(T T )
q x hA(TS T ) S
1 / hA
And for radiation heat transfer:
(Ts Tsur )
qrad hr A(Ts Tsur )
1 / hr A

Recall electric circuit theory - Ohms law for electrical resistance:

Potential Difference
Electric current =
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
L 1 1
Rt ,cond , Rt ,conv , Rt ,rad
kA hA hr A
CONDUCTION CONVECTION RADIATION
 Thermal Resistance for Plane Wall
Cold fluid
T,1 T,2 , h2
T,1 Ts ,1 Ts ,1 Ts ,2 Ts ,2 T,2
Ts ,1 qx
1 / h1 A L / kA 1 / h2 A

Ts ,2 In terms of overall
temperature difference:
T,1 , h1 qx T,2 T,1 T,2
qx
Rtot
1 L 1
Hot fluid
x=0 x=L Rtot
h1 A kA h2 A
x
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 1
U
Rtot A [(1 / h1 ) ( LA / k A ) ( LB / k B ) ( LC / kC ) (1 / h4 )]

q x UAT
T 1
Rtot 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:

" TA TB
Rt ,c "
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 T 1
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 130-mm 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/m 3), 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

dT dT
qr = - kA = - 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 r1 + C2
Ts,2 = C1 ln r2+ 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
2 Lk Ts ,1 Ts , 2 Ts,1 Ts,2 Ts ,1 Ts,2
qr
ln( r2 / r1 ) ln( r2 / r1 ) /( 2 Lk ) Rt ,cond

In terms of equivalent thermal circuit:

T,1 T,2
qr
Rtot
1 ln( r2 / r1 ) 1
Rtot
h1 ( 2 r1L) 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
U
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

1
U1 A1 U 2 A2 U 3 A3 U 4 A4
R t
 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
2 dr
kr =0
r dr
Integrate twice to obtain general soution
C1
T( r) = - + C2
r
To obtain C1 and C2 , boundary conditions:
T(r1) = Ts,1 and T(r2) = Ts,2

Solve C1 and C2 and

Apply to the general solution:
substitute into general
C1 solution
Ts,1 = - + C2
r1
C1
Ts,2 = - + C2
r2
 Sphere
Fouriers law:

dT
qr kA
dr
2dT
k ( 4 r )
dr
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, one-dimensional conduction in
orthogonal, cylindrical and spherical
coordinates, without energy generation