Umm Al-Qura University

College of Engineering & Islamic Architecture

Mechanical Engineering Department

Course # 8043304-3 : Heat Transfer

Solution of Tutorial 1
1. Define:

▪ Heat transfer
Heat transfer (or heat) is thermal energy in transit due to a spatial temperature difference.

▪ Conduction:
It is the heat transfer that occurs across a stationary medium (a solid or a fluid) when a
temperature gradient exists in the medium.

▪ Thermal conductivity:
The thermal conductivity is the property of a material to conduct heat

▪ Fourier’s law:
dT dT
Q cond
"
= −k or Q cond = − kA
dx dx
where Q cond
"
(W/m2 ) ≡ heat flux = heat transfer in the x-direction per unit area

perpendicular to the direction of transfer and k (W/m.K) ≡ thermal conductivity of

the medium. Q cond (W) is the heat transfer rate.

▪ Conductor:

It is a material which can transfer heat through conduction.

▪ Insulation:
It is material used to reduce the rate of heat transfer (with low thermal conductivity).

▪ Convection:
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 It is is the transfer of heat from one place to another by the movement of fluids.

▪ Newton law of cooling:

Q conv
"
= h(Ts − T ) or Q conv = hA(Ts − T )

where Q conv
"
is the heat flux, Ts is the surface temperature, T is the fluid

temperature and h (W/m2 .K) is termed the average convection heat transfer
coefficient.

▪ Radiation:
The net heat transfer that occurs between two surfaces at different temperatures as a result
of energy emitted in the form of electromagnetic waves.

▪ Stefan-Boltzmann law:

Q rad
"
(
=   Ts4 − Tsur
4
) ; or (
Q rad =  A Ts4 − Tsur
4
)

▪ Blackbody:
It refers to an object or system which absorbs all radiation incident upon it and re-radiates
energy which is characteristic of this radiating system only, not dependent upon the type
of radiation which is incident upon it.

2. Arrange the following materials from the highest to the lowest thermal conductivity:

Air Alloys pure metal nonmetallic Water

Rank 5 2 1 3 4

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3. A certain insulation has a thermal conductivity of 10 W/m°C. What thickness is necessary to
effect a temperature drop of 500 °C for a heat flux of 400 W/m2 ?

Known:

T = 500C ; Q " = 400 W/m 2 ; k = 10 W/mC

T1 T2

x
0 L
Find: the thickness, L

Solution:

Assumptions: 1D heat conduction, steady state, without heat generated

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 dT
We apply Fourier’s law: Q cond = − k
"

dx

T kT
Integrating this equation: Q cond = k L= "
"

L 
Qcond

10  500
NA: L = m = 12.5 m
400

4. The wall of an industrial furnace is constructed from 0.2 m thick fireclay brick having a thermal
conductivity of 2.0 W/mK. Measurements made during steady state operation reveal
temperatures of 1500 and 1250 K at the inner and outer surfaces, respectively. What is the
rate of heat loss through a wall which is 0.5 m by 4 m on a side?

Known:

L = 0.2m; k = 2 W/mK ; T1 = 1500 K ; T2 = 1250 K ; A = (0.5  4 ) m 2 = 2 m 2

T1 T2

x
0 L

Find: the rate of heat loss through this wall Q

Solution:

Assumptions: 1D heat conduction, steady state, without heat generated

dT
We apply Fourier’s law: Q cond = − kA
dx

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 T −T
Integrating this equation: Q cond = kA 1 2
L

1500 − 1250
NA: Q cond = 2  2  W = 5000 W = 5 kW
0.2

5. Consider steady-state conditions from one-dimensional conduction in a plane wall having a

thermal conductivity k = 10 W/mK and thickness L = 0.2 m, with no internal generation.

T1 T2

x
0 L

Determine the unknown quantities for each case, indicating the direction of the heat flux.

Known:

L = 0.2m; k = 10 W/mK ;

Solution:

Assumptions: 1D heat conduction, steady state, without heat generated

To complete this table, we apply the following equations:

dT T2 − T1 T2 − T1 dT Q "
✓ = = or = − cond
dx x 2 − x1 L dx k
dT
✓ Fourier’s law: Q cond = − k
"

dx
 dT
 T1 = T2 − L
dT T2 − T1  dx
✓ = 
dx L T = T + L dT

2 1
dx

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 ✓ Direction of heat transfer is, always, from hot to cold face

Case T1 (o C) T2 (o C) 𝒅𝑻
(K/m) Heat Flux Q cond
" Direction
𝒅𝒙
(W/m2 )
A -40 -10 150 -1500 From T2 to T1
B 25 25 0 0 No heat transfer
C 70 50 -100 1000 From T1 to T2
D 50 10 -200 2000 From T1 to T2

6. Air at 20℃ blows over a hot plate 50 by 75 cm maintained at 250℃. The convection heat-
transfer coefficient is 25 W/m2 ·℃. Calculate the heat transfer rate.

Known:
Air (T∞=20 ℃; h= 25 W/m2℃)

Ts = 250 ℃; A= 0.75×0.5 m2=0.325 m 2

Find: the heat transfer rate, Q

Solution:

From Newton’s law of cooling Q conv = hA(Ts-T∞)

NA: Q conv = (25)(0.50)(0.75)(250-20)

= 2.156 kW

7. Two infinite black plates at 800 and 300℃ exchange heat by radiation. Calculate the heat
transfer per unit area.

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 Known:

Infinite plate: Tsur= 300℃; blackbody (ℇ=1)

Infinite plate: Ts= 800℃; blackbody (ℇ=1)

Ts = 800 C = (800 + 273.15) K = 1073.15 K

Tsur = 300 C = (300 + 273.15) K = 573.15 K

Find: the heat transfer per unit area (heat flux), Q rad
"

Solution:

From Stefan-Boltzmann law Q rad

"
(
=  Ts4 − Tsur
4
)
NA: Q rad
"
(
= 1  5.67  10−8 1073.154 − 573.154 ) W/m 2

 Q rad
"
= 69082 W/m 2 = 69.082 kW/m 2

8. Assuming that the plate in Ex. 6 is made of carbon steel (1%) 2 cm thick and that 300 W is lost
from the plate surface by radiation, calculate the inside plate temperature.
Known:

Outside
Air (T∞=20 ℃; h= 25 W/m2℃)
Heat rate by radiation Q rad = 300 W

Heat rate by convection Q conv = 2156 W (from Ex 6.)

Ts = 250 ℃

dT
L = 2 cm Heat rate by conduction Q cond = −kA (from Fourier’s law)
dx

Ti = ?
Inside

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 A = 0.75×0.5 m2 =0.325 m2 ; k is taken from data base : k = 43 W/mK

Find: the inside plate temperature, Ti

Solution:

Assumptions: 1D heat conduction, steady state, without heat generated

The heat conducted through the plate must be equal to the sum of convection and radiation heat
losses (the energy balance equation):

Ein + E g = Eout + E st where E g = 0 ; E st = 0 (steady - state)

and Ein = Q cond ; Eout = Q conv + Q rad

Thus,

Q cond = Q conv + Q rad

T
-kA = 2156 + 300 = 2456 W
x

(−2456)(0.02)
T = = -3.05°C where T = Ts - Ti
(0.5)(0.75)(43)

where the value of k is taken from data base (k = 43 W/mK). The inside plate temperature is
therefore

Ti = 250 – (- 3.05) = 253.05 °C

9. An uninsulated steam pipe passes through a room in which the air and walls are at 25°C. The
outside diameter of pipe is 80 mm, and its surface temperature and emissivity are 180°C and
0.85, respectively. If the free convection coefficient from the surface to the air is 6 W/m2 K,
what is the rate of heat loss from the surface per unit length of pipe?

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 Known:

Tsur = 25 ℃

Air (T∞=25 ℃; h = 6 W/m2K) Heat rate by radiation Q rad

Heat rate by convection Q conv

Ts = 180℃; emissivity ℇ=0.85; diameter D=80 mm

Find: the rate of heat loss from the surface per unit length of pipe, q'

Solution:

Assumptions: 1D heat conduction, steady state, without heat generated

The heat loss from the surface per unit length of pipe must be equal to the sum of
convection and radiation heat losses:

Q cond
'
= Q conv
'
+ Q rad
'
where

Q conv
'
= hA' (Ts − T ) ; A' = D is the surface per unit length

Q rad
'
(
= A' Ts4 − Tsur
4
)
 Q cond
'
(
= hA' (Ts − T ) + A' Ts4 − Tsur
4
)
 Q cond
'
(
= hD(Ts − T ) + D Ts4 − Tsur
4
)
NA:

Q conv
'
= 6    0.08(180 − 25) W/m = 233.734 W/m

Q rad
'

= 0.85  5.67  10−8    0.08  (180 + 273.15) 4 − (25 + 273.15) 4 W/m = 415.036 
 Q cond
'
= Q conv
'
+ Q rad
'
= (233.734 + 415.0.36) W/m = 648.77 W/m

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10. The inner and outer surfaces of a 25-cm-thick wall in summer are at 27°C and 44°C,
respectively. The outer surface of the wall exchanges heat by radiation with surrounding
surfaces at 40°C, and convection with ambient air also at 40°C with a convection heat transfer
coefficient of 8 W/m2 ·°C. Solar radiation is incident on the surface at a rate of 150 W/ m2 . If
both the emissivity and the solar absorptivity of the outer surface are 0.8, determine the effective
thermal conductivity of the wall.

Known:

Radiation Tsur = 40 ℃

Inside Qradiator=150 W/m2

Conduction

Convection

Air (T∞=40 ℃; h = 8 W/m2K)

Ti= 27 ̊C To= 44 ̊C

L=25 cm Outside

Find: the effective thermal conductivity of the wall, k

Solution:

Assumptions: 1D heat conduction, steady state, without heat generated

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 The heat flux conducted through the plate must be equal to the sum of convection and
radiation heat fluxes (the energy balance equation):

Ein + E g = Eout + E st where E g = 0 ; E st = 0 (steady - state)

and Ein = Q radiator

'
; Eout = Q cond
"
+ Q conv
"
+ Q rad
"

Thus,

Q cond
"
+ Q conv
"
+ Q rad
"
= Q radiator
"

 Q cond
"
= Q radiator
"
− Q conv
"
+ Q rad
"
(1)

where

dT k (Ti − To ) k (To − Ti )
• Conduction heat flux: Q cond = −k =− =
"

dx L L

• Convection heat flux: Q conv

"
= h(To − T ) = 8  (44 − 40) W/m 2 = 32 W/m 2

• Radiation heat flux to cold walls:

Q rad
"
(
=  To4 − Tsur
4
)
=  To4 − Tsur
4
( )
= 5.67  10 −8
(44 + 273.15) 4
− (40 + 273.15) 4 
= 22.72 W/m 2

• Radiative heat flux absorbed by the solar radiator:

Q radiator
"
=   Q Solar −radiator
= (0.8  150) W/m 2
= 120 W/m 2

Thus, equation (1) becomes

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 k (To − Ti )
 Q cond
"
= = (120 − 22.72 − 32) W/m 2 = 65.28 W/m 2
L

L  Q cond
"
k = where To = 44 C; Ti = 27 C ; L = 25 cm = 0.25 m and Q cond
"
= 65.28 W/m 2
(To − Ti )

0.25  65.28
k = W/m  K = 0.96 W/m  K
(44 − 27)

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