Heat Transfer
Conduction - Unsteady Heat Conduction
Dr. M. Subramanian
Department of Chemical Engineering
SSN College of Engineering
October 14, 2019
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Objectives
To introduce the methodologies of solving simple unsteady
heat conduction problems.
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Outcome
To obtain the equation for variation of temperature with time,
using lumped system approach.
To estimate the parameters of one dimensional unsteady heat
transfer using transient-temperature charts.
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Lumped Parameter Formulation
A lumped parameter formulation is an approximation which
facilitates the solution of heat transfer problems. The key
assumption is the neglect of temperature gradients (dT /dx ) inside
the body of volume V and surface area A, so that its temperature
is only a function of time. However, this assumption clearly
amounts to the neglect of the heat conduction processes inside the
material and should be used with caution.
This approximation is valid if
hL
Bi = < 0.1
k
where L = V /A
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Lumped Parameter Formulation (contd..)
If the only mechanism for energy exchange with the surroundings is
convection through the bounding surface, the differential thermal
energy balance equation (in W) becomes
dT
−hA(T − T∞ ) = ρCP V
dt
This is a first order ordinary differential equation which can be
solved easily. Rearranging the above,
dT hA
+ (T − T∞ ) = 0
dt ρCP V
dT
+ m(T − T∞ ) = 0
dt
where
hA
m=
ρCP V
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Lumped Parameter Formulation (contd..)
dθ dT
Let θ = T − T∞ . Then, = . Therefore,
dt dt
dθ
+ mθ = 0
dt
Solution of the above ODE is given by
dθ
= −mdt
θ
Integrating,
ln θ = −mt + C1
Initial condition: At t = 0, θ = θ0 = T0 − T∞ . Substituting this in
the above, we get
ln θ0 = C1
Hence,
θ
ln θ = −mt + ln θ0 =⇒ = e −mt
θ0
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Lumped Parameter Formulation (contd..)
T − T∞
= e −mt
T0 − T∞
hA 1
m= =
ρCP V τ
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Biot Number
hL resistance to internal heat flow
Bi = =
k resistance to external heat flow
Whenever the Biot number is small, the internal temperature
gradients are also small and a transient problem can be treated by
the“lumped thermal capacity” approach. The lumped capacity
assumption implies that the object for analysis is considered to
have a single temperature.
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Biot Number (contd..)
TH − TS L/(kA) internal resistance to H.T hL
= = = = Bi
TS − T∞ 1/(hA) external resistance to H.T k
Rint Rext : the Biot number is small and we can conclude
TH − TS TS − T∞ and in the limit TH ≈ TS
Rext Rint : the Biot number is large and we can conclude
TS − T∞ TH − TS and in the limit TS ≈ T∞
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
A 150 micrometer diameter steel sphere of ρ = 7, 700 kg/m3 ,
CP = 460 J/(kg.K), k = 25 W/(m.K) is quenched from a
temperature of 1200 K using an air jet with h = 100 W/(m2 .K), at
room temperature (T∞ = 300 K). Calculate the value of Bi for
this system and, if possible, use the lumped parameter model to
estimate the time it takes for the temperature of the sphere to
reach 325 K.
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Use of Transient Temperature Charts
If the lumped capacitance approximation can not be made,
consideration must be given to spatial, as well as temporal,
variations in temperature during the transient process.
For slab of of thickness 2L, considering symmetry with respect to
x = 0 at the midplane, with constant k, and no heat generation,
we have
∂2T 1 ∂T
2
= in 0 < x < L, for t > 0
∂x α ∂t
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Use of Transient Temperature Charts (contd..)
Slab
Boundary and Initial Conditions:
∂T
=0 at x = 0, for t > 0
∂x
∂T
k + hT = hT∞ at x = L, for t > 0
∂x
T = Ti for t = 0, in 0 ≤ x ≤ L
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Use of Transient Temperature Charts (contd..)
Slab
Dimensionless Quantities:
T (x , t) − T∞
θ= dimensionless temperature
Ti − T∞
x
X= dimensionless coordinate
L
hL
Bi = Biot number
k
αt
τ= 2 dimensionless time, or Fourier number
L
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Fourier Number (Fo)
rate of heat conduction
αt k(1/L)L2
∆T across L in volume L3
τ = Fo = 2 = =
L ρCP L3 ∆T /t rate of heat storage
in volume L3
Fourier number is a measure of heat conducted through a body
relative to heat stored. Thus, a large value of the Fourier number
indicates faster propagation of heat through a body.
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Use of Transient Temperature Charts (contd..)
Slab
Dimensionless Equations:
∂2θ ∂θ
2
= in 0 < X < 1, for τ > 0
∂X ∂τ
∂θ
=0 at X = 0, for τ > 0
∂X
∂θ
+ Bi θ = 0 at X = 1, for τ > 0
∂X
θ=1 in 0 ≤ X ≤ 1, for τ = 0
For plane wall, the solution involves several parameters:
T = T (x , L, k, h, α, Ti , T∞ , t)
By using dimensional groups, we can reduce the number of
parameters.
θ = θ(X , Bi, Fo)
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Use of Transient Temperature Charts (contd..)
Slab
The solution for temperature will now be function of the
dimensionless quantities:
θ = θ(X , Bi, Fo)
The transient temperature charts shown in next slides for a large
plane wall (also available for long cylinder, and sphere) were
presented by M. P. Heisler in 1947 and are called Heisler charts.
There are three charts associated with each geometry:
1 The first chart is to determine the temperature T at the
0
center of the geometry at a given time t.
2 The second chart is to determine the temperature at other
locations at the same time in terms of T0 .
3 The third chart is to determine the total amount of heat
transfer up to the time t.
These plots are valid for Fo > 0.2.
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Heisler Charts
Assumptions:
Uniform initial temperature (Ti ) over the entire body.
Constant T∞ , step change in temperature.
Simple geometry: slab, cylinder, and sphere.
Limitations:
No heat generation.
For Fo > 0.2.
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Heisler Charts (contd..)
Mid Plane Temperature:
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Heisler Charts (contd..)
Temperature Distribution:
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Heisler Charts (contd..)
Change in Thermal Energy Storage:
Q0 = ρVCP (Ti − T∞ )
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Heisler Chart Usage - Solved Problem
Example 1: Transient Heat Transfer in Cylinder
A 2 m long 0.2 m diameter steel cylinder (k = 40 W/m.K,
α = 1 × 10−5 m2 /s, ρ = 7854 kg/m3 , CP = 434 J/kg.K), initially
at 400◦ C, is suddenly immersed in water at 50◦ C for quenching
process. If the convection coefficient is 200 W/m2 .K, calculate
after 20 minutes:
(a) the center temperature
(b) the surface temperature
(c) the heat transfer to the water
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Heisler Chart Usage - Solved Problem (contd..)
Solution:
L/D = 2/0.2 = 10; we assume infinitely long cylinder.
Check Lumped Capacitance Method (LCM):
hL h(V /A) h(ro /2) 200 × (0.1/2)
Bi = = = = = 0.25
k k k 40
Since Bi > 0.25, we can not use LCM, instead we can use Heisler
charts.
From the definition of Bi as given in Heisler chart,
hro 200 × 0.1 1 1
Bi = = = 0.5 =⇒ = =2
k 40 Bi 0.5
and,
αt 1 × 10−5 × (20 × 60)
Fo = τ = = = 1.2
ro2 0.12
Bi2 τ = 0.52 × 1.2 = 0.3
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Heisler Chart Usage - Solved Problem (contd..)
Centreline Temperature (T0 ):
For 1/Bi = 2, and τ = 1.2, from figure (a), we get θ0 = 0.38.
T0 − T∞
θ0 = = 0.38
Ti − T∞
=⇒ T0 = (400 − 50) × 0.38 + 50 = 183◦ C
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Heisler Chart Usage - Solved Problem (contd..)
Surface Temperature (T ):
For r /ro = 1, and 1/Bi = 2, from figure (b), we get θ = 0.78.
T − T∞
θ= = 0.78
T0 − T∞
=⇒ T = (183 − 50) × 0.78 + 50 = 153.74◦ C
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Heisler Chart Usage - Solved Problem (contd..)
Heat Transfer (Q):
For Bi2 τ = 0.3, and Bi = 0.5, from figure (c), we get Q/Q0 = 0.6.
Q0 = ρVCP (Ti − T∞ )
= 7854 × π × 0.12 × 2 × 434 × (400 − 50)
= 7.5 × 107 J
Q = Q0 × 0.6 = 4.5 × 107 J
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
Dr. M. Subramanian Conduction
