Assignment I

1. One-dimensional, steady-state conduction with uniform internal energy generation occurs in a plane wall with
a thickness of 50 mm and a constant thermal conductivity of 5W/mK. For these conditions, the temperature
distribution has the form T (x) = a + bx + cx2 . The surface at x = 0 has a temperature of T (0) = To = 120◦ C
and experiences convection with a fluid for which T∞ = 20◦ C and h = 500W/m2 K. The surface at x = L is well
insulated.

(a) Applying an overall energy balance to the wall, calculate the volumetric energy generation rate .

(b) Determine the coefficients a, b, and c by applying the boundary conditions to the prescribed temperature
distribution.

(c) Consider conditions for which the convection coefficient is halved, but the volumetric energy generation rate
remains unchanged. Determine the new values of a, b, and c.

(d) Under conditions for which the volumetric energy generation rate is doubled, and the convection coefficient
remains unchanged (h = 500W/m2 K), determine the new values of a, b, and c.

2. A spherical shell of inner and outer radii ri and ro , respectively, contains heat-dissipating components, and at a
particular instant the temperature distribution in the shell is known to be of the form
T (r) = C1 /r + C2
Are conditions steady-state or transient? How do the heat flux and heat rate vary with radius?

3. The wind chill, which is experienced on a cold, windy day, is related to increased heat transfer from exposed human
skin to the surrounding atmosphere. Consider a layer of fatty tissue that is 3 mm thick and whose interior surface
is maintained at a temperature of 36◦ C. On a calm day the convection heat transfer coefficient at the outer surface
is 25W/m2 K, but with 30 km/h winds it reaches 65W/m2 K. In both cases the ambient air temperature is −15◦ C.

(a) What is the ratio of the heat loss per unit area from the skin for the calm day to that for the windy day?

(b) What will be the skin outer surface temperature for the calm day? For the windy day?

(c) What temperature would the air have to assume on the calm day to produce the same heat loss occurring with
the air temperature at −15◦ C on the windy day?

4. Water is boiling in a 25-cm-diameter aluminium pan (k = 237 W/m °C) at 95 °C. Heat is transferred steadily to the
boiling water in the pan through its 0.5-cm-thick flat bottom at a rate of 800 W. If the inner surface temperature
of the bottom of the pan is 108 °C, determine (a) the boiling heat transfer coefficient on the inner surface of the
pan, and (b) the outer surface temperature of the bottom of the pan.

5. A 2m × 1.5m section of wall of an industrial furnace burning natural gas is not insulated, and the temperature at
the outer surface of this section is measured to be 80 °C. The temperature of the furnace room is 30 °C, and the
combined convection and radiation heat transfer coefficient at the surface of the outer furnace is 10W/m2 .◦ C. It
is proposed to insulate this section of the furnace wall with glass wool insulation (k = 0.038 W/m °C) in order to
reduce the heat loss by 90 percent. Assuming the outer surface temperature of the metal section still remains at
about 80°C, determine the thickness of the insulation that needs to be used. The furnace operates continuously
and has an efficiency of 78 percent. The price of the natural gas is $0.55/therm (1 therm = 105,500 kJ of energy
content). If the installation of the insulation will cost $250 for materials and labour, determine how long it will
take for the insulation to pay for itself from the energy it saves.

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 6. A 2mm-diameter and 10m-long electric wire is tightly wrapped with a 1mm-thick plastic cover whose thermal
conductivity is k = 0.15 W/m °C. Electrical measurements indicate that a current of 10 A passes through the wire
and there is a voltage drop of 8 V along the wire. If the insulated wire is exposed to a medium at T∞ = 30◦ C
with a heat transfer coefficient of h = 24 W/m2 °C, determine the temperature at the interface of the wire and
the plastic cover in steady operation. Also determine if doubling the thickness of the plastic cover will increase or
decrease this interface temperature.

7. A hot surface at 100°C is to be cooled by attaching 3cm-long, 0.25cm-diameter aluminium pin fins (k = 237 W/m
°C) to it, with a center-to-center distance of 0.6 cm. The temperature of the surrounding medium is 30 °C, and the
heat transfer coefficient on the surfaces is 35 W/m2 °C. Determine the rate of heat transfer from the surface for a
1m × 1m section of the plate. Also determine the overall effectiveness of the fins.

8. Consider a cold aluminium canned drink that is initially at a uniform temperature of 3°C. The can is 12.5 cm high
and has a diameter of 6 cm. If the combined convection/radiation heat transfer coefficient between the can and the
surrounding air at 25 °C is 10 W/m2 °C, determine how long it will take for the average temperature of the drink
to rise to 10 °C. In an effort to slow down the warming of the cold drink, a person puts the can in a perfectly fitting
1cm-thick cylindrical rubber insulation (k = 0.13 W/m °C). Now how long will it take for the average temperature
of the drink to rise to 10 °C ? Assume the top of the can is not covered.

9. A 1mm-thick copper plate (k = 386 W/m °C) is sandwiched between two 5mm-thick epoxy boards (k = 0.26 W/m
°C) that are 15cm × 20cm in size. If the thermal contact conductance on both sides of the copper plate is estimated
to be 6000 W/m °C, determine the error involved in the total thermal resistance of the plate if the thermal contact
conductances are ignored.

10. The wall of a refrigerator is constructed of fiberglass insulation (k = 0.035 W/m °C) sandwiched between two layers
of 1mm-thick sheet metal (k = 15.1 W/m °C). The refrigerated space is maintained at 3°C, and the average heat
transfer coefficients at the inner and outer surfaces of the wall are 4 W/m2 °C and 9 W/m2 °C, respectively. The
kitchen temperature averages 25 °C. It is observed that condensation occurs on the outer surfaces of the refrigerator
when the temperature of the outer surface drops to 20°C. Determine the minimum thickness of fiberglass insulation
that needs to be used in the wall in order to avoid condensation on the outer surfaces.