PROBLEM 4.

KNOWN: Diameters and temperatures of horizontal circular cylinders. Eccentricity factor. Heat
transfer rate per unit length. Fluid thermal conductivity.
FIND: Effective thermal conductivity.
SCHEMATIC:
T1= 53°C z = 10 mm

g
D = 60 mm
d = 20 mm

T2=15°C

ASSUMPTIONS: (1) Constant properties, (2) Steady state conditions.

PROPERTIES: Given: k = 0.255 W/m⋅K.

ANALYSIS: In the absence of free convection the conduction heat transfer per unit length may be found
by using the shape factor expression and applying Case 7 of Table 4.1. Hence

S 2π k (T1 − T2 ) 2π × 0.255 W/m ⋅ K ( 53 − 15) °C

'
=
qcond k (T1 − T2=
) =
 D + d − 4z  
( ) ( ) ( ) 
L 2 2 2 −3 2 −3 2 2
cosh −1   −  60 × 10 m + 20 × 10 m − 4 × 10 × 10−3 m 
 2 Dd  cosh 1
   2 × 60 × 10−3 m × 20 × 10−3 m 
 
 
= 63.3 W/m

The free convection heat transfer rate is

S
q=
'
conv keff (T1 −=
T2 ) 110 W/m
L

Therefore the effective thermal conductivity is

q 110 W/m
= = 0.255 W/m ⋅ K ⋅
keff k conv = 0.44 W/m ⋅ K <
qcond 63.3 W/m

COMMENTS: Buoyancy-induced fluid motion increases the heat transfer rate between the
cylinders by 74%.