Equation of Heat Conduction

P M V Subbarao
Professor
Mechanical Engineering Department
IIT Delhi
Know the Shapes of Isotherms and contours of thermal
conductivity for Better Product Performance…
 Analysis of Cause

Rate of Heat condition in/out

Rate of Heat condition in/out

Rate of Heat
Rate of energy generation
condition in/out

Rate of Heat condition in/out

?????
Apply first law of thermodynamics to the element to get

 g (r , t )dV
V
  q ' '.nˆ dAin
Ain

H

V
t
dV
  q ' '.nˆ dAout
Aout
 The thermal energy balance equation

H
  q ' '.nˆ dAin   g (r , t )dV    q ' '.nˆ dAout   dV
Ain V Aout V
t
H

V
t
dV   q' '.nˆ dAin   q' '.nˆ dAout   g (r , t )dV
Ain Aout V

H

V
t
dV    q ' '.nˆdS   g (r , t )dV
S V

Using Gauss Divergence Theorem:

H

V
t
dV    .q' ' dV   g (r , t )dV
V V
The thermal energy balance equation for the volume V is then
H

V
t
dV    .q ' ' dV   g (r , t )dV
V V
However, since the integrals are equal the arguments are also
equal and the most general form of the differential thermal
energy balance equation is

H
 .q ' ' g (r , t )
t

This is called the differential thermal energy balance equation.

 Constitutive Equation: The Heat Flux

q ' '   k  T
k xx k xy k xz 
 
k  k yx k yy k yz 
k k zy k zz 
 zx
On a principle Plane :
k xx 0 0
 
k  0 k yy 0
0 0 k zz 

 Anisotropic thermal conductivity

• In quartz, perpendicular to the c-axis, the thermal conductivity is

6.5 Wm-1K-1. (kxx =kyy)
• The thermal conductivity parallel to c (kzz) is 11.3 Wm-1K-1.
 Thin Plate : Anisotropi Materal
• Here the geometry of the set-up
constrains the temperature gradient
to be perpendicular to the plate.
• Due to the anisotropic nature of
the material, the heat flux, J, will
be in the direction shown, say. q
• However, the thermal conductivity
perpendicular to the plate is
defined as the component of the q ' '
heat flux parallel to the
temperature gradient, q||, divided
by the magnitude of that gradient. q' '
• Thus:

q' '
k 
T
 Rod : Anisotropic

• Now the heat must flow along the rod, and the
temperature gradient will be in a different
direction, as shown.
• It is important to realize that in anisotropic materials

q' '
k 
T

q' '
k 
T
 The conductivity Tensor

k xx k xy k xz 
 
k  k yx k yy k yz 
k k zy 
k zz 
 zx
Most of the crystalline solids show symmetric behavior.
Based on theory of symmetry:

k xx k xy  k yx k xz  k zx 
 
k  k yx  k xy k yy k yz  k zy 
k  k k zy  k yz k zz 
 zx xz
 Generalized Fourier’s Law of Conduction

q ' '   k  T
Most common engineering materials are isotropic in nature.

k xx  k yy  k zz  k

k xy  k yx  k zy  k yz  k xz  k zx  0

q ' '   k .T

 The Conduction Equation

H
 .q ' ' g (r , t )
t
Incorporation of the constitutive equation of an isotropic
material into the energy equation above yields:

T
C p  .  k .T   g (r , t )
t
Dividing both sides by Cp and introducing the thermal
diffusivity of the material given by
2
k m m
  m
C p s s
 Thermal Diffusivity
• Thermal diffusivity includes the effects of properties like
mass density, thermal conductivity and specific heat
capacity.
• Thermal diffusivity, which is very important in all
unsteady heat-conduction problems, is a property of the
solid object.
• The time rate of change of temperature depends on its
numerical value.
• The physical significance of thermal diffusivity is
associated with the diffusion of heat into the medium
during changes of temperature with time.
• The higher thermal diffusivity coefficient signifies the
faster penetration of the heat into the medium and the less
time required to remove the heat from the solid.
 T  k  g (r , t )
 . .T  
t  C p  C p

T g (r , t )
 . .T  
t C p

This is often called the heat Conduction equation.

For a homogeneous Isotropic material:

T g ( x, t )
  T 
2

t C p
 Mass Diffusion Equation

Using the analogy

C
 . D.C   (r , t )
t
For a homogeneous & isotropic material:

C
 D C   (r , t )
2

t
This is a general form of heat conduction equation.

Valid for all geometries.

Selection of geometry depends on nature of application.