Geometrical Variations of Heat Conduction Equation

P M V Subbarao
Professor
Mechanical Engineering Department
IIT Delhi
Same Physics But Shape Matters..
The Heat Conduction Equation
{ }
p
C
t r g
T
t
T

o
) , (
. . + V V =
c
c
For Isotropic Material:
For a homogeneous Isotropic material:
p
C
t x g
T
t
T

o
) , (
2
+ V =
c
c
Mass Diffusion Equation
Using the analogy
{ } ) , ( . . t r C D
t
C
, + V V =
c
c
For a homogeneous & isotropic material:
) , (
2
t r C D
t
C
, + V =
c
c
This is a general form of heat conduction equation.

Valid for all geometries.

Selection of geometry depends on nature of application.
General conduction equation in Cartesian
Coordinate System

x
q
x x
q
o +
y y
q
o +
y
q
z z
q
o +
z
q
Rate of energy generation
) , ( . t x g T k
t
T
C
p
+ V V =
c
c

For an isotropic and homogeneous material:

) , (
2
t x g T k
t
T
C
p
+ V =
c
c

) : , , (
2
2
2
2
2
2
t z y x g
z
T
y
T
x
T
k
t
T
C
p
+
(

c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
=
c
c

General conduction equation based on Polar

Cylindrical Coordinates
) : , , (
1
2
t z r g
z
T
k
z
T
k
r r
T
kr
r t
T
C
p
u
u u
+
(

|
.
|

\
|
c
c
c
c
+
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
c
c
+
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
c
c
=
c
c
( ) ) , ( t x g T k
t
T
C
p
+ V V =
c
c

( ) z r k k , ,u =
) , , (
1
2
z r g
z
T
k
z
T
k
r r
T
kr
r t
T
C
p
u
u u
+
(

|
.
|

\
|
c
c
c
c
+
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
c
c
+
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
c
c
=
c
c
General conduction equation based on Polar
Spherical Coordinates
) : , , (
sin
1
sin
sin
1 1
2
2
2 2 2
2
2
t r g
T
r
T
r r
T
r
r r
k
t
T
C
p
| u
| u u
u
u u
+
(

c
c
+
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
c
c
+
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
c
c
=
c
c
X
Y
Thermally Heterogeneous Materials
( ) z y x k k , , =
) , ( . t x g T k
t
T
C
p
+ V V =
c
c

) , , , ( t z y x g
z
z
T
k
y
y
T
k
x
x
T
k
t
T
C
p
+
c
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
c
+
c
|
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
c
+
c
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
c
=
c
c

) , , , (
2
2
2
2
2
2
t z y x g
z
T
k
z
T
z
k
y
T
k
y
T
y
k
x
T
k
x
T
x
k
t
T
C
p
+
c
c
+
c
c
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
c
c
=
c
c

More service to humankind than heat transfer rate calculations

Primitive Pottery Kilns
Time
Thermal Conductivity of Brick Masonry Walls
1 , th
R
1 , 2 ,
2
th th
R R =
3 , th
R
3 , 4 ,
2
th th
R R >
( )
1
p
C
( )
3
p
C
( ) ( )
1 2
p p
C C =
( ) ( )
3 4
p p
C C <
Geographical Applications of Thermal Mapping
One Dimensional Heat Conduction problems
P M V Subbarao
Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering Department
IIT Delhi
Simple ideas for complex Problems
Desert Housing & Composite Walls
) , ( . t x g T k
t
T
C
p
+ V V =
c
c

General conduction equation in Cartesian

Coordinate System

Assume a homogeneous medium with invariant thermal conductivity ( k
= constant) :
For conduction through a large wall the heat equation reduces to:
) , , , (
2
2
t z y x g
x
T
k
x
T
x
k
t
T
C
p
+
c
c
+
c
c
c
c
=
c
c

) , , , (
2
2
t z y x g
x
T
k
t
T
C
p
+
c
c
=
c
c

One dimensional Transient conduction with heat generation.

General Steady-State One-Dimensional Conduction
Rate of energy generation
Steady Heat transfer through a plane slab
0
2
2
=
dx
T d
A
0 ) , , , (
2
2
= +
c
c
t z y x g
x
T
k
No heat generation
2 1 1
C x C T C
dx
dT
+ = =
Wall Surfaces with Convection
2 1 1
2
2
0 C x C T C
dx
dT
dx
T d
A + = = =
Boundary conditions:
( )
1 1
0
) 0 (

=
= T T h
dx
dT
k
x
( )
2 2
) (

=
= T L T h
dx
dT
k
L x
Wall with isothermal Surface and Convection Wall
2 1 1
2
2
0 C x C T C
dx
dT
dx
T d
A + = = =
Boundary conditions:
1
) 0 ( T x T = =
( )
2 2
) (

=
= T L T h
dx
dT
k
L x
Wall Surfaces with Convection
2 1 1
2
2
0 C x C T C
dx
dT
dx
T d
A + = = =
Boundary conditions:
( )
1 1
0
) 0 (

=
= T T h
dx
dT
k
x
( )
2 2
) (

=
= T L T h
dx
dT
k
L x
R
conv,1
R
cond

R
conv,2

T
1 T
2
Heat transfer for a wall with dissimilar materials
For this situation, the total heat flux Q is made up of the heat flux
in the two parallel paths:
Q = Q
1
+ Q
2

with the total resistance given by:

Composite Walls
The overall thermal resistance is given by

Desert Housing & Composite Walls