Example Problems (Heat Transfer)

19.2/Faires. It desired that no more than 1 892 W/m2 be conducted through a 30 cm thick wall
whose average thermal conductivity is k = 0.865 W/m-K; the conducted heat will be controlled
by insulating one side. Find the least thickness of insulating material (k = 0.346 W/m-K) that will
assure this heat constraint if the surface temperatures of the composite wall are 1 150 oC and 40
o
C.
Given:
Q/m2 ≤ 1 892 W/m2
L1 = 30 cm t1
k1 = 0.865 W/m-K
k2 = 0.346 W/m-K
t1 = 1 150 oC
t2 = 40 oC t2
Req’d: L2 = ?
L1 L2

k1 k2
Solution:

Q = A¿¿

L 1 L2
[ +
k1 k2] = ¿¿

k 2 (t 1−t 2) k L
2 1
L2 = Q -
k1
A

W
0.346 ( 1150−40 ) K
m−K 0.346
L2 = - ( 0.30 m )
W 0.865
1 892 2
m
L2 = 0.083 m =8.3 cm

19.3 (a) Find an equation for the heat conducted through a plate of area A, thickness L, having
surface temperatures of t1 and t2, when the conductivity varies in accordance with k = ko(1 + αt).
(b) Data for a plane plate glass door are the following: A = 1.86 m 2, L = 1.905 cm, t1 = 4.4 oC,
t2 = 26.7 oC, ko = 0.721 W/m-K,α = 0.031/oC. Determine the hourly heat flow.

Solution:
Since the thermal conductivity varies, reconsider Fourier’s equation.

Q = - kA ( dLdt )
 QdL = - kAdt
Substitute the equation for the variation of the thermal conductivity and integrate.

L t2

Q∫ dL= - A∫ ¿ ¿
0 t1

Applying the limits,

α 2
[ 2
QL = Ako ( t 1 −t 2 ) + (t 1 −t 2 )
2 ]
Solving for Q and factoring the term (t1 – t2),

α
Q= [
A k o ( t 1−t 2 ) 1+ ( t 1+t 2 )
2 ]
L

To solve for the hourly heat flow, substitute the given values in the derived equation.

w 1
Q= (
1.86 m2 0.721
m−K ) [
( 26.7−4.4 ) K 1+ ( 0.031/C )( 26.7+ 4.4 ) C
2 ]
0.019 05 m

Q = 2 326.6 W(J/s) x 3 600 s/h

Q = 8 375 760 W/h

19.15 A composite plane wall consisting of two layers of materials (3.81 cm steel and 5.08 cm
aluminum) separates a hot gas at ti = 93 oC, hi = 11.4 W/m2-K, from a cold gas at to = 27 oC,
ho = 28.4 W/m2-K. If the hot fluid is on the aluminum side, find (a) the transmittance U, (b) the
resistance R, (c) the interface temperature at the junction of the two metals, and (d) the heat
through 9.3 m2 of the surface area under steady state conditions.

Solution:

Ti = 93 oC
2
hi = 11. 4 W/m -K

t2 = 27 oC

ho = 28.4 W/m2-K
Al steel
k1 k2
L1 L2
L1 = 5.08 cm L2 = 3.81 cm
From Table VII,
k1 = 204 W/m-K (interpolation) k2 = 45 W/m-K
Required:
(a) U = ?
(b) R = ?
(c) tint. = ?
(d) Q = ? (if A = 9.3 m2)

1
(a) U = 1 L
∑ h +¿ ∑ k ¿
1
1 m −K 0.0508 0.0381 m 2−K
2
U= 1
( +
11.4 28.4 W
+ )
204
+
45 W ( )
1
2
U=
( 0.122 9+1.096 x 10−3 ) m −K
W

W
U = 8.06 2
m −K

1 L
(b) R = ∑ + ∑
h k

R = 0.122 9 + 1.096 x 10-3

m2−K
R = 0.123 996
W

Since the heat flow is constant across the resistances, then

(c) Q = A ¿ ¿

t∫ ¿ t ∫ ¿−27
93− = ¿¿
1 0.050 8 0.038 1 1
+ +
11.4 204 45 28.4
t∫ ¿ t ∫ ¿−27
93− = ¿¿
0.087 97 0.036 06

The units in the denominator will cancel out leaving only the oC, and solving for tint. ,
 tint. = 46.2 oC

(d) Q = AU∆t

W
(
Q = 9.3 m2 8.06 2
m −K )
( 93−27 )K

Q = 4 947.2 W

19.17 Steam is flowing from a boiler to a small turbine through 61 m of 8.90 cm steel pipe
(10.16 cm OD, 9.012 cm ID). The steam leaves the boiler saturated at 1 206.25 kPaa (175 psia)
and enters the turbine at 1 194.74 kPaa (173.33 psia) and with a moisture content of 1 %. The
turbine develops 37.3 bkW with a break steam rate of 25 kg/bkW-hr. The ambient temperature is
32 oC; hi = 5 675 and ho = 10.8 W/m2-K. If the pipe is lagged with a 6.35 cm layer of insulation,
compute the value of the thermal conductivity for the insulation.

Given: Boiler Turbine

z = 61 m

p1 = 1 206.25 kPaa p2 = 1 194.74

kPaa
and saturated y2 = 1 %

tamb = 32 oC
ti
Ẇ b = 37.3 bkW
kg
ṁ =25
bkW −hr
Details of pipe:

ho = 10.8 W/m2-K
6.35 cm insulation
hi = 5 675 W/m2-K
9.012 cm
steel pipe 10.16 cm

insulation

Req’d: kins = ?

Solution:

Determine the enthalpies of steam at the given conditions as well as the temperature of the steam
leaving the boiler.
At p1 = 1 206.25 kPaa and saturated:
T1 = 188.2 oC
h1 = 2 777 kJ/kg

At p2 = 1 194.74 kPaa and y = 1 %

h2 = 2 756.7 kJ/kg
The values obtained were taken from the Steam Tables whose units are in English and just
converted to SI units.
For a composite curved wall,

∆t
Do
Q= ln
1 Di
∑ Ah +∑
2 πzk

where:

Q = ṁ W˙ b ( h 1−h2 )

kg kJ
Q = 25 ( 37.3 bKW )( 2 777−2756.7 )
bkW −hr kg

kJ 1hr 1000 J
Q = 18 929.75 x x
hr 3600 s kJ

Q = 5 258.3 W

1 1 1
∑ Ah = A h + A
i i oho

1 1
+
= W W
(
π ( 0.090 12 m ) ( 61 m ) 5 675 2
m −K ) (
π ( 0.101 6 m )( 61 m ) 10.8 2
m −K )
1 K
∑ Ah = 4.765 78 x 10−3 W
For the outside diameter of the insulation, Dins = 10.16 cm + 2(6.35cm) = 22.86 cm. Then,

10.16
Do 22.86 ln
ln ln 9.012
Di = 10.16 +
∑ 2 πzk 2 π ( 61 m) ( k ins ) 2 π ( 61 m) 45 W
m−K ( )
 Do
ln 2.115 8 x 10−3 −6 K

∑
Di =
2 πzk
[k ins
+ 6.95188 x 10
W ]
Therefore,
( 188.2−32 ) K
5 258.3 W = 2.115 8 x 10−3 K
[ 4.765 78 x 10−3+
k ins ]
+ 6.95188 x 10−6
W

156.2
−3
5 258.3 = 2.115 8 x 10
[ k ins
+4.772 73 x 10−3
]
11.126
+25.096 = 156.2
k ins

kins (156.2 – 25.096) = 11.126

W
kins = 0.084 86
m−K
19.18 A hollow steel sphere contains a 100 watt electric filament, and these data are known:
ri = 22.86 cm, ro = 30.48 cm. The film coefficients for the inner and outer surfaces are h i = 34 and
ho = 11.4 W/m2-K; the environmental temperature is 27 oC. Assuming steady state, compute the
temperature of the inside air. r o

Given: hollow sphere r

Q = 100 W
ri = 22.86 cm ti
ro = 30.48 cm ri
hi = 34 W/m2-K
ho = 11.4 W/m2-K
tenv = 27 oC
Req’d: ti = ?

Solution:
Determine first the equation for conducted heat for a hollow sphere.

to

dr
Let: A = 4πr2
dt dt
=
dL dr

Reconsider Fourier’s equation

Q = -kA ( drdt )
2
Q = -k( 4 π r ) ( dtdr )
Separate the variables and integrate with Q and k treated as constants.
ro to
dr
Q∫ 2 = -4πk ∫ dt
r r i t i

Q ( r1 − r1 )=4 πk ( t −t )
i o
i o

Solving for Q gives

4 πk ∆ t
Q = 1−1
ri r0

Making use of electrical analogy,

1 1

If the film coefficients are considered,

∆t
Q
=R=
−
ri r o
4 πk
[ ]
1 1
Ri = and Ro =
A i hi A o ho
Thus, the heat flow is

∆t
Q=
∑R
∆t
1 1
Q=
1
∑ +∑
( r r )
−
i o

Ah 4 πk

The resulting equation is for composite curved wall with film coefficients included.

Solving for ∆ t=t i−t env and substituting the values given in the derived equation gives

1 1
ti - tenv =Q 1
[ +
1
+
−
ri r o
A i hi A o ho 4 πk ]
1 1 1
where:
∑ R=¿ 2
1
2 W
¿
+
1 [ +
−
0.1143 0.1524 m]
4 π ( 0.1143 ) m ( 34 ) 2 2
4 π ( 0.1524 ) ( 11.4 ) W
m −K 4 π ( 45 )
m−K

= 0.179 15 + 0.300 55 + 3.867 9 x 10-3

K
∑ R=¿ ¿ 0.483 57 W
C
ti = 100 W (0.483 57) + 27 oC
W

ti = 75.357 ≈ 75.4 oC

Note: The unit oC/W is the same as K/W. If K/W is retained, the temperature tenv must be
converted to Kelvin, thus tenv = 27 + 273 = 300 K. And so,

K
ti = 100 W(0.483 57) + 300 K
W

ti = 348.357 K - 273

ti = 75.357 ≈ 75.4 oC