HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

CHAPER 3
Heat Conduction
Equation

By
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hany Elsawy
Dr. Ashraf Elsayed
 Introduction
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

• Heat transfer has direction as well as magnitude, and thus it is a

vector quantity.

Therefore, we must specify both direction and magnitude in order

to describe heat transfer completely at a point.

Fig. 1: Heat transfer has direction as well as magnitude, and thus it is a vector quantity.
 Multidimensional Heat Transfer
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

The temperature distribution throughout the medium at a specified time

as well as the heat transfer rate at any location in this general case can be
described by a set of three coordinates such as:
(1) The x, y, and z in (the rectangular (or Cartesian) coordinate system)
The temperature distribution in this case is expressed as T (x, y, z, t )
(2) The r, φ, and z in the cylindrical coordinate system
The temperature distribution in this case is expressed as T (r, φ, z, t )
(3) The r, φ, and θ in the spherical (or polar) coordinate system
The temperature distribution in this case is expressed as T (r, φ, θ, t )

(a) Rectangular coordinates (b) Cylindrical coordinates (c) Spherical coordinates

 Multidimensional Heat Transfer
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Heat transfer problems are also classified as

➢ One - Dimensional
➢ Two - Dimensional
➢ Three - Dimensional
Depending on the relative magnitudes of heat transfer rates in
different directions and the level of accuracy desired.

In the most general case, heat transfer through a medium is

three-dimensional. That is, the temperature varies along all three
primary directions within the medium during the heat transfer
process.
 Multidimensional Heat Transfer
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

A heat transfer problem is said to be two-dimensional if

1. The temperature in a medium varies mainly in two primary directions in the
medium.
2. the variation of temperature and thus heat transfer in the third directions is
negligible or zero.
For example, the steady temperature distribution in a long bar of rectangular
cross section can be expressed as T(x, y) if the temperature variation in the z-
direction (along the bar) is negligible and there is no change with time.

Two-dimensional heat transfer in a long rectangular bar.

 Multidimensional Heat Transfer
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

A heat transfer problem is said to be one-dimensional if

1. The temperature in the medium varies in one direction only and thus heat is
transferred in one direction.
2. The variation of temperature and thus heat transfer in other directions are
negligible or zero.

Heat transfer through the window of a house can be taken to be one-dimensional.

 Multidimensional Heat Transfer
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Working with coordinate system and indicate direction with

plus or minus signs.
❑ The generally accepted convention is that heat transfer in the positive
direction of a coordinate axis is positive and in the opposite direction
it is negative.
❑ Therefore, a positive quantity indicates heat transfer in the positive
direction and a negative quantity indicates heat transfer in the
negative direction.

Indicating direction for heat transfer (positive in the positive direction; negative in the negative direction).
 Steady versus Transient Heat Transfer
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Heat transfer problems are often classified as

❑ Steady (also called steady-state)
❑ Transient (also called unsteady).
✓ The term steady implies no change with time at any point within
the medium.
✓ The term transient implies variation with time or time
dependence.

Steady and transient heat conduction in a plane wall.

 Heat Generation
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Heat Generation in a solid

Heat rate generated throughout a medium due to the conversion of
electrical, nuclear, or chemical energy into heat (or thermal) energy.

Many practical heat transfer applications involve the conversion of

some form of energy into thermal energy in the medium. Such mediums
are said to involve internal heat generation.

Some examples of heat generation

1. Resistance heating in wires.
2. Exothermic chemical reactions in a solid
3. Nuclear reactions in nuclear fuel rods
 Heat Generation
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

➢ Heat generation is usually expressed per unit volume of the medium.

➢ It is denoted by 𝒒ሶ , whose unit is W/m3.

✓ For example, Heat generation in an electrical wire of outer radius

ro and length L can be expressed as:
𝑸ሶ 𝒈 𝑰𝟐 𝑹𝒆 𝑰𝟐 𝑹𝒆 𝑰𝟐 𝑹′𝒆 𝑾
𝒒ሶ = = = =
𝑽 𝑨𝒄 𝑳 𝝅𝒓𝟐𝒐 𝑳 𝝅𝒓𝟐𝒐 𝒎𝟑
Where
I: Electric current (A).
𝑹𝒆 :Electric resistance of the wire (𝜴).
𝑹𝒆 𝜴
𝑹′𝒆 :Electric resistance per unit length → 𝑹′𝒆 =
𝑳 𝒎
Also
𝑹𝒆 𝑨𝒄
𝝆𝒆 :Electric resistivity → 𝝆𝒆 =
𝑳
𝜴. 𝒎
 Heat Conduction Equation
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

HEAT CONDUCTION EQUATION

(a) Rectangular coordinates

(b) Cylindrical coordinates
(c) Spherical coordinates
 Heat Conduction Equation: Rectangular Coordinates
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Rectangular Coordinates
Consider a small rectangular element of length Δx, width Δy, and height Δz, as shown in
Figure.

➢ On a rate basis, the general form of the conservation of energy:

𝑬ሶ 𝒊𝒏 + 𝑬ሶ 𝒈 − 𝑬ሶ 𝒐𝒖𝒕 = 𝑬ሶ 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒅 (1)

Three-dimensional heat conduction through a rectangular volume element.

 Heat Conduction Equation: Rectangular Coordinates
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

𝑬ሶ 𝒊𝒏 : The conduction heat rates enter the control volume

𝑬ሶ 𝒊𝒏 = 𝑸ሶ 𝒙 + 𝑸ሶ 𝒚 + 𝑸ሶ 𝒛

𝑬ሶ 𝒐𝒖𝒕 : The conduction heat rates exit the control volume.

𝑬ሶ 𝒐𝒖𝒕 = 𝑸ሶ 𝒙+∆𝒙 + 𝑸ሶ 𝒚+∆𝒚 + 𝑸ሶ 𝒛+∆𝒛
Using Taylor series expansion and neglecting higher-order terms
𝝏𝑸ሶ 𝒙 𝝏𝑸ሶ 𝒚 𝝏𝑸ሶ 𝒛
𝑬ሶ 𝒐𝒖𝒕 = 𝑸ሶ 𝒙 + ∆𝒙 + 𝑸ሶ 𝒚 + ∆𝒚 + 𝑸ሶ 𝒛 + ∆𝒛
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛

Taylor expansion simply states that the x-component of the heat transfer rate at x +Δx is equal to the value
of this component at x plus the amount by which it changes with respect to x times Δx.
 Heat Conduction Equation: Rectangular Coordinates
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

𝑬ሶ 𝒈 : The rate of thermal energy generation inside the control volume.

𝑬ሶ 𝒈 = 𝒒∆𝒙
ሶ ∆𝒚 ∆𝒛
Where
𝒒ሶ is the rate of heat generated per unit volume of the medium (W/m3).

𝑬ሶ 𝒔𝒕 : The energy storage rate in the control volume.

𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝑻
𝑬ሶ 𝒔𝒕 = 𝒎𝒄 = 𝝆𝑽 𝒄 = 𝝆∆𝒙 ∆𝒚 ∆𝒛 𝒄
𝝏𝒕 𝝏𝒕 𝝏𝒕
Where
𝝏𝑻
𝝆𝒄 is the time rate of change of the sensible (thermal) energy of the medium per unit
𝝏𝒕
volume.

Note: Under steady-state conditions → No change in the amount of energy storage

𝑬ሶ 𝒔𝒕 = 𝒛𝒆𝒓𝒐
 Heat Conduction Equation: Rectangular Coordinates
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

By substituting into the general form of the conservation of energy:

𝑬ሶ 𝒊𝒏 + 𝑬ሶ 𝒈 − 𝑬ሶ 𝒐𝒖𝒕 = 𝑬ሶ 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒅
𝝏𝑻
𝑸ሶ 𝒙 + 𝑸ሶ 𝒚 + 𝑸ሶ 𝒛 + 𝒒∆𝒙
ሶ ∆𝒚 ∆𝒛 − 𝑸ሶ 𝒙+∆𝒙 − 𝑸ሶ 𝒚+∆𝒚 − 𝑸ሶ 𝒛+∆𝒛 = 𝝆∆𝒙 ∆𝒚 ∆𝒛 𝒄
𝝏𝒕
𝝏𝑸ሶ 𝒙 𝝏𝑸ሶ 𝒚 𝝏𝑸ሶ 𝒛 𝝏𝑻
𝑸ሶ 𝒙 + 𝑸ሶ 𝒚 + 𝑸ሶ 𝒛 + 𝒒∆𝒙
ሶ ∆𝒚 ∆𝒛 − 𝑸ሶ 𝒙 + ∆𝒙 − 𝑸ሶ 𝒚 + ∆𝒚 − 𝑸ሶ 𝒛 + ∆𝒛 = 𝝆∆𝒙 ∆𝒚 ∆𝒛 𝒄
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒕

𝝏𝑸ሶ 𝒙 𝝏𝑸ሶ 𝒚 𝝏𝑸ሶ 𝒛 𝝏𝑻

ሶ
𝒒∆𝒙 ∆𝒚 ∆𝒛 − ∆𝒙 − ∆𝒚 − ∆𝒛 = 𝝆∆𝒙 ∆𝒚 ∆𝒛 𝒄
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒕
Substituting by the conduction heat rates from Fourier’s law:
𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝑻
𝑸ሶ 𝒙 = −𝒌 ∆𝒚 ∆𝒛 & 𝑸ሶ 𝒚 = −𝒌 ∆𝒙 ∆𝒛 & 𝑸ሶ 𝒛 = −𝒌 ∆𝒙 ∆𝒚
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛
Therefore
𝝏 𝝏𝑻 𝝏 𝝏𝑻 𝝏 𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝑻
ሶ
𝒒∆𝒙 ∆𝒚 ∆𝒛 + ∆𝒙 ∆𝒚 ∆𝒛 𝒌 + ∆𝒙 ∆𝒚 ∆𝒛 𝒌 + ∆𝒙 ∆𝒚 ∆𝒛 𝒌 = 𝝆∆𝒙 ∆𝒚 ∆𝒛 𝒄
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒕
 Heat Conduction Equation: Rectangular Coordinates
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Dividing by ∆𝒙 ∆𝒚 ∆𝒛

𝝏 𝝏𝑻 𝝏 𝝏𝑻 𝝏 𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝑻
∴ 𝒌 + 𝒌 + 𝒌 + 𝒒ሶ = 𝝆 𝒄
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒕

It is often possible to work with simplified versions of heat conduction equation.

For example, if the thermal conductivity is constant, the heat conduction

equation is:
𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝒒ሶ 𝟏 𝝏𝑻
+ + + =
𝝏𝒙𝟐 𝝏𝒚𝟐 𝝏𝒛𝟐 𝒌 ∝ 𝝏𝒕
𝒌
where ∝= is the thermal diffusivity and its unit m2/s.
𝝆𝒄

Note:
Thermal diffusivity of the material represents how fast heat propagates through a
material.
 Heat Conduction Equation: Rectangular Coordinates
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

The general heat conduction equation in rectangular coordinates, with

constant thermal conductivity:
𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝒒ሶ 𝟏 𝝏𝑻
𝟐
+ 𝟐+ 𝟐+ =
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝒌 ∝ 𝝏𝒕
It is known as the Fourier-Biot equation

It reduces to these forms under specified conditions:

𝝏
(1) Steady-state = 𝟎 : (called the Poisson equation)
𝝏𝒕
𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝒒ሶ
𝟐
+ 𝟐+ 𝟐+ =𝟎
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝒌
(2) Transient, no heat generation (𝒒ሶ = 𝟎): (called the diffusion equation)
𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝟏 𝝏𝑻
+ + =
𝝏𝒙𝟐 𝝏𝒚𝟐 𝝏𝒛𝟐 ∝ 𝝏𝒕
(3) Steady-state, no heat generation: (called the Laplace equation)
𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝝏𝟐 𝑻
𝟐
+ 𝟐+ 𝟐 =𝟎
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛
 Heat Conduction Equation: Rectangular Coordinates
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

The heat conduction equation in One-Dimensional, with constant thermal

conductivity:
𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝒒ሶ 𝟏 𝝏𝑻
𝟐
+ =
𝝏𝒙 𝒌 ∝ 𝝏𝒕

It reduces to these forms under specified conditions:

𝝏
(1) Steady-state =𝟎 :
𝝏𝒕
𝒅𝟐 𝑻 𝒒ሶ
+ =𝟎
𝒅𝒙𝟐 𝒌
(2) Transient, no heat generation (𝒒ሶ = 𝟎):
𝝏𝟐 𝑻 𝟏 𝝏𝑻
=
𝝏𝒙𝟐 ∝ 𝝏𝒕
𝝏
(3) Steady-state, no heat generation = 0 a𝒏𝒅 𝒒ሶ = 𝟎 :
𝝏𝒕
𝒅𝟐 𝑻
=𝟎
𝒅𝒙𝟐
 Boundary conditions
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Boundary conditions
1. Constant surface temperature:

For one-dimensional heat transfer through a plane wall

of thickness L, for example, the specified temperature
boundary conditions can be expressed as:

𝑻 𝟎, 𝒕 = 𝑻𝒔𝟏

𝑻 𝑳, 𝒕 = 𝑻𝒔𝟐

where 𝑻𝒔𝟏 and 𝑻𝒔𝟐 are the specified temperatures at

surfaces at x= 0 and x =L, respectively
Specified temperature
boundary conditions on both
surfaces of a plane wall.
 Boundary conditions
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Boundary conditions
2. Constant surface heat flux:

(a) Finite heat flux

𝒅𝑻 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒇𝒍𝒖𝒙 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆

𝒒``𝒔 = −𝒌 = (𝑾Τ𝒎𝟐 )
𝒅𝒙 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒙 − 𝒅𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

Specified heat flux boundary

conditions on both surfaces
of a plane wall.
 Boundary conditions
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Boundary conditions
2. Constant surface heat flux:

(b) Adiabatic or insulated surface

𝐝𝑻
𝒒``𝒔 = −𝒌 =𝟎
𝐝𝒙

𝒌≠𝟎

𝐝𝑻
∴ =𝟎
𝐝𝒙

A plane wall with insulation

and specified temperature
boundary conditions.
 Boundary conditions
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Boundary conditions
3. Convection surface condition
The convection boundary condition is based on a surface energy balance expressed as
Heat conduction Heat convection
at the surface in 𝑎 = at the surface in
selected direction 𝑡ℎ𝑒 same direction
At x=0
𝝏𝑻
−𝒌 ቚ = 𝒉𝟏 𝑻∞𝟏 − 𝑻 𝟎, 𝒕
𝝏𝒙 𝒙=𝟎

At x=L
𝝏𝑻
−𝒌 ቚ = 𝒉𝟐 𝑻 𝑳, 𝒕 − 𝑻∞𝟐
𝝏𝒙 𝒙=𝑳

Convection boundary conditions on

the two surfaces of a plane wall.
 Example
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Consider a large 5-cm-thick brass plate k = 111 W/m°C in which heat

is generated uniformly at a rate of 2x105 W/m3 . One side of the plate is
insulated while the other side is exposed to an environment at 25°C
2
with a heat transfer coefficient of 44 W/m ℃.
➢ Obtain a relation for the variation of temperature in the wall by
solving the differential equation.
➢ Determine the location and value of maximum temperature.

Given
L = 5 cm = 0.05 m k = 111 W/m°C qሶ = 2x105 WΤm3
2
T∞ = 25℃ Τ
h = 44 W m 𝑜𝐶
Required
T x
xTmax & Tmax
 Example
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Solution
Apply heat conduction equation:
𝝏 𝝏𝑻 𝝏 𝝏𝑻 𝝏 𝝏𝑻 𝝏𝑻
𝒌 + 𝒌 + 𝒌 + 𝒒ሶ = 𝝆𝒄𝒑
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒕

Assumptions
1. One-Dimension (x-direction).
2. Steady state.
3. Constant thermal conductivity.
Therefore
𝒅𝟐 𝑻 𝒒ሶ
𝟐
+ =𝟎
𝒅𝒙 𝒌
 Example
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

𝒅𝟐 𝑻 𝒒ሶ
𝟐
+ =𝟎
𝒅𝒙 𝒌
𝟐
𝒅 𝑻 𝒒ሶ
𝟐
=−
𝒅𝒙 𝒌
𝒅𝑻 ሶ
𝒒𝒙
=− + 𝑪𝟏 (𝟏)
𝒅𝒙 𝒌
𝒒𝒙ሶ 𝟐
𝑻 𝒙 =− + 𝑪𝟏 𝒙 + 𝑪𝟐 (𝟐)
𝟐𝒌
Boundary conditions:
𝒅𝑻
@ x=0 (Insulated surface) → =𝟎 & T(0)=Tmax
𝒅𝒙
Substitute into Eq.(1) → 𝟎 = 𝟎 + 𝑪𝟏 ∴ 𝑪𝟏 = 𝟎
 Example
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Boundary conditions:
@ x=L (Convection surface condition)
𝒒``𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 = 𝒒``𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
𝒅𝑻
−𝒌 ቚ = 𝒉 𝑻 𝑳 − 𝑻∞
𝒅𝒙 𝒙=𝑳
Substitute using Eq.(1) & (2):
ሶ
𝒒𝑳 𝒒𝑳ሶ 𝟐
−𝒌 − + 𝑪𝟏 = 𝒉 − + 𝑪𝟏 𝑳 + 𝑪𝟐 − 𝑻∞
𝒌 𝟐𝒌
ሶ
𝒒𝑳 𝒒𝑳ሶ 𝟐
=− + 𝑪𝟐 − 𝑻∞
𝒉 𝟐𝒌
ሶ
𝒒𝑳 𝒒𝑳ሶ 𝟐
∴ 𝑪𝟐 = + + 𝑻∞
𝒉 𝟐𝒌
Substitute by C1 and C2 into Eq. (2):
ሶ 𝟐 𝒒𝑳
𝒒𝒙 ሶ ሶ 𝟐
𝒒𝑳
𝑻 𝒙 =− + + + 𝑻∞
𝟐𝒌 𝒉 𝟐𝒌
 Example
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

ሶ 𝟐 𝒒𝑳
𝒒𝒙 ሶ ሶ 𝟐
𝒒𝑳
𝑻 𝒙 =− + + + 𝑻∞
𝟐𝒌 𝒉 𝟐𝒌
𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎𝟓 𝟐 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎𝟓 × 𝟎. 𝟎𝟓 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎𝟓 × 𝟎. 𝟎𝟓𝟐
𝑻 𝒙 =− 𝒙 + + + 𝟐𝟓
𝟐 × 𝟏𝟏𝟏 𝟒𝟒 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟏𝟏
Relation for the variation of temperature:
𝑻 𝒙 = −𝟗𝟎𝟎. 𝟗 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝟓𝟒. 𝟓𝟐 (𝑨𝒏𝒔. )

Location of maximum temperature: @ Insulated surface

𝑥𝑇𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 0 (𝑨𝒏𝒔. )
Value of maximum temperature:
Tmax = 𝑻 𝟎 = −𝟗𝟎𝟎. 𝟗 × 𝟎 𝟐 + 𝟐𝟓𝟒. 𝟓𝟐 = 𝟐𝟓𝟒. 𝟓𝟐 𝑜𝐶 (𝑨𝒏𝒔. )
 Heat Conduction Equation: Cylindrical Coordinates
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Cylindrical Coordinates
The general heat conduction equation in cylindrical coordinates can be obtained from an
energy balance on a volume element in cylindrical coordinates, shown in Figure.

Cylindrical coordinates
A differential volume element in
cylindrical coordinates.
The general heat conduction equation in cylindrical coordinates, with constant
thermal conductivity:
𝟏 𝝏 𝝏𝑻 𝟏 𝝏 𝝏𝑻 𝝏 𝝏𝑻 𝒒ሶ 𝟏 𝝏𝑻
𝒓 + 𝟐 𝒓 + + =
𝒓 𝝏𝒓 𝝏𝒓 𝒓 𝝏∅ 𝝏∅ 𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒛 𝒌 ∝ 𝝏𝒕
 Heat Conduction Equation: Cylindrical Coordinates
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

The heat conduction equation in One-Dimensional, with constant thermal

conductivity:
𝟏 𝝏 𝝏𝑻 𝒒ሶ 𝟏 𝝏𝑻
𝒓 + =
𝒓 𝝏𝒓 𝝏𝒓 𝒌 ∝ 𝝏𝒕
It reduces to these forms under specified conditions:
𝝏
(1) Steady-state =𝟎 :
𝝏𝒕
𝟏 𝒅 𝒅𝑻 𝒒ሶ
𝒓 + =𝟎
𝒓 𝒅𝒓 𝒅𝒓 𝒌
(2) Transient, no heat generation (𝒒ሶ = 𝟎):
𝟏 𝝏 𝝏𝑻 𝟏 𝝏𝑻
𝒓 =
𝒓 𝝏𝒓 𝝏𝒓 ∝ 𝝏𝒕
𝝏
(3) Steady-state, no heat generation = 0 a𝒏𝒅 𝒒ሶ = 𝟎 :
𝝏𝒕
𝒅 𝒅𝑻 𝒅𝟐 𝑻 𝒅𝑻
𝒓 =𝟎 or 𝐫 𝟐 + =𝟎
𝒅𝒓 𝒅𝒓 𝒅𝒓 𝒅𝒓
 Heat Conduction Equation: Spherical Coordinates
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Spherical Coordinates
The general heat conduction equation in spherical coordinates can be obtained from an energy
balance on a volume element in spherical coordinates, shown in Figure.

Spherical coordinates A differential volume element in

spherical coordinates.
The general heat conduction equation in spherical coordinates, with constant
thermal conductivity:
𝟏 𝝏 𝟐
𝝏𝑻 𝟏 𝝏 𝝏𝑻 𝟏 𝝏 𝝏𝑻 𝒒ሶ 𝟏 𝝏𝑻
𝒓 + + 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽 + =
𝒓𝟐 𝝏𝒓 𝝏𝒓 𝒓𝟐 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐 𝜽 𝝏∅ 𝝏∅ 𝒓𝟐 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽 𝝏𝜽 𝝏𝜽 𝒌 ∝ 𝝏𝒕
 Heat Conduction Equation: Spherical Coordinates
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

The heat conduction equation in One-Dimensional, with constant thermal

conductivity:
𝟏 𝝏 𝟐
𝝏𝑻 𝒒ሶ 𝟏 𝝏𝑻
𝒓 + =
𝒓𝟐 𝝏𝒓 𝝏𝒓 𝒌 ∝ 𝝏𝒕
It reduces to these forms under specified conditions:
𝝏
(1) Steady-state =𝟎 :
𝝏𝒕
𝟏 𝒅 𝟐
𝒅𝑻 𝒒ሶ
𝟐
𝒓 + =𝟎
𝒓 𝒅𝒓 𝒅𝒓 𝒌
(2) Transient, no heat generation (𝒒ሶ = 𝟎):
𝟏 𝝏 𝟐
𝝏𝑻 𝟏 𝝏𝑻
𝒓 =
𝒓𝟐 𝝏𝒓 𝝏𝒓 ∝ 𝝏𝒕
𝝏
(3) Steady-state, no heat generation = 0 a𝒏𝒅 𝒒ሶ = 𝟎 :
𝝏𝒕

𝒅 𝟐 𝒅𝑻 𝒅𝟐 𝑻 𝒅𝑻
𝒓 =𝟎 or 𝐫 𝟐 +𝟐 =𝟎
𝒅𝒓 𝒅𝒓 𝒅𝒓 𝒅𝒓
 Example 1
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Consider a steam pipe of length L=20 m, inner radius r1 =6 cm, outer

radius r2 =8 cm, and thermal conductivity k = 20 W/m.°C, as shown in
Figure. The inner and outer surfaces of the pipe are maintained at average
temperatures of T1=150°C and T2= 60°C, respectively. Obtain a general
relation for the temperature distribution inside the pipe under steady
conditions, and determine the rate of heat loss from the steam through
the pipe.
Given
𝐋 = 𝟐𝟎 𝐦
𝒓𝟏 = 𝟔 𝒄𝒎 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟔 𝒎
𝒓𝟐 = 𝟖 𝒄𝒎 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟖 𝒎
𝐤 = 𝟐𝟎 𝐖/𝐦°𝐂
𝑻𝟏 = 𝟏𝟓𝟎℃
𝑻𝟐 = 𝟔𝟎℃
Required
𝐓 𝐫 Schematic for Example
𝑸ሶ 𝐜𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫
 Example 1
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Solution
Assumptions
1. One-Dimension (r-direction) “since there is thermal symmetry about the centerline and
no variation in the axial direction”.
2. Steady state.
3. No heat generation
4. Constant thermal conductivity.
Therefore, the heat conduction equation in cylindrical coordinates can be expressed as:
𝒅 𝒅𝑻
𝒓 =𝟎
𝒅𝒓 𝒅𝒓
𝒅𝑻
𝒓 = 𝑪𝟏
𝒅𝒓
𝒅𝑻 𝑪𝟏
= (𝟏)
𝒅𝒓 𝒓
𝑻 𝒓 = 𝑪𝟏 𝒍𝒏 𝒓 + 𝑪𝟐 𝟐
 Example 1
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Boundary conditions:
@ 𝒓 = 𝒓𝟏 𝑻 𝒓𝟏 = 𝑻𝟏
Substitute into Eq.(2) → 𝑻𝟏 = 𝑪𝟏 𝒍𝒏 𝒓𝟏 + 𝑪𝟐 (3)

@ 𝒓 = 𝒓𝟐 𝑻 𝒓𝟐 = 𝑻𝟐
Substitute into Eq.(2) → 𝑻𝟐 = 𝑪𝟏 𝒍𝒏 𝒓𝟐 + 𝑪𝟐 (4)

By subtracting (4) – (3)

𝑻𝟐 − 𝑻𝟏
𝑪𝟏 =
𝒍𝒏 𝒓𝟐 Τ𝒓𝟏
𝑻𝟐 −𝑻𝟏
Substitute by 𝑪𝟏 into Eq.(3) → 𝑪𝟐 = 𝑻𝟏 − 𝒍𝒏 𝒓𝟏
𝒍𝒏 𝒓𝟐 Τ𝒓𝟏
 Example 1
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Substitute by C1 and C2 into Eq. (2):

𝑻𝟐 − 𝑻𝟏 𝑻𝟐 − 𝑻𝟏
𝑻 𝒓 = 𝒍𝒏 𝒓 + 𝑻𝟏 − 𝒍𝒏 𝒓𝟏
𝒍𝒏 𝒓𝟐 Τ𝒓𝟏 𝒍𝒏 𝒓𝟐 Τ𝒓𝟏
General equation for the variation of temperature within the pipe is:
𝑻𝟐 − 𝑻𝟏
𝑻 𝒓 = 𝒍𝒏 𝒓Τ𝒓𝟏 + 𝑻𝟏
𝒍𝒏 𝒓𝟐 Τ𝒓𝟏
The rate of heat loss from the steam is simply the total rate of heat
conduction through the pipe, and is determined from Fourier’s law to be
𝒅𝑻 𝑪𝟏 𝑻𝟏 − 𝑻𝟐
𝑸ሶ 𝒄𝒚𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 = −𝒌𝑨 = −𝒌 𝟐𝝅𝒓𝑳 = 𝟐𝝅𝒌𝑳
𝒅𝒓 𝒓 𝒍𝒏 𝒓𝟐 Τ𝒓𝟏
𝟏𝟓𝟎 − 𝟔𝟎
ሶ
𝑸𝒄𝒚𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 = 𝟐𝝅 × 𝟐𝟎 × 𝟐𝟎 × = 𝟕𝟖𝟔𝟐𝟔𝟔 𝑾
Τ
𝒍𝒏 𝟎. 𝟎𝟖 𝟎. 𝟎𝟔
 Example 2
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

A copper cable 𝐤 = 𝟒𝟎𝟎 𝐖/𝐦℃ of 𝟑𝟎 𝐦𝐦 diameter has an electrical

resistance of 𝟓𝐱𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝛀Τ𝐦 and is used to carry an electrical current
of 𝟐𝟓𝟎 𝐀. The cable is exposed to ambient air at 𝟐𝟎℃, and the associated
convection coefficient is 𝟐𝟓 𝐖/𝐦𝟐 ℃. What is the centerline and surface
temperature of the wire?
Given
𝐤 = 𝟒𝟎𝟎 𝐖/𝐦°𝐂
𝒒ሶ
𝑫𝒐 = 𝟑𝟎 𝒎𝒎 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟑 𝒎 𝒓𝒐 = 𝟏𝟓 𝒎𝒎 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏𝟓 𝒎 o o
r Ts
𝑹′𝒆 = 𝟓𝐱𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝜴Τ𝒎 𝑰 = 𝟐𝟓𝟎 𝑨 k
𝑻∞ = 𝟐𝟎℃ 𝒉 = 𝟐𝟓 𝑾Τ𝒎𝟐 ℃ 𝑻∞ & h
Required
𝑻𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓 = 𝐓 𝟎
𝑻𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆 = 𝐓 𝒓𝒐
 Example 2
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Solution
𝑸ሶ 𝒈 𝑰𝟐 𝑹𝒆 𝑰𝟐 𝑹𝒆 𝑰𝟐 𝑹′𝒆 𝟐𝟓𝟎𝟐 × 𝟓𝐱𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝟑
𝒒ሶ = = = = = = 𝟒𝟒𝟐𝟎𝟗𝟕. 𝟏 𝑾Τ𝒎
𝑽 𝑨𝒄 𝑳 𝝅𝒓𝟐𝒐 𝑳 𝝅𝒓𝟐𝒐 𝝅 × 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏𝟓𝟐
Apply energy balance equation
𝑬ሶ 𝒊𝒏 + 𝑬ሶ 𝒈 − 𝑬ሶ 𝒐𝒖𝒕 = 𝑬ሶ 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒅
𝑬ሶ 𝒊𝒏 = 𝟎 " 𝑵𝒐 𝒊𝒏𝒑𝒖𝒕 𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚" & 𝑬ሶ 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒅 = 𝟎 "𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆“
𝑬ሶ 𝒈 = 𝑬ሶ 𝒐𝒖𝒕
Or 𝑸ሶ 𝒈 = 𝑸ሶ 𝒐𝒖𝒕
ሶ = 𝑸ሶ 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
𝒒𝑽
ሶ 𝒄 𝑳 = 𝒉𝑨𝒔 (𝑻𝒔 − 𝑻∞ )
𝒒𝑨
𝝅 𝟐
𝒒ሶ 𝑫 𝑳 = 𝒉 𝝅𝑫𝒐 𝑳 (𝑻𝒔 − 𝑻∞ )
𝟒 𝒐
𝑫𝒐
𝒒ሶ = 𝒉 (𝑻𝒔 − 𝑻∞ )
𝟒
ሶ 𝒐
𝒒𝑫 𝟒𝟒𝟐𝟎𝟗𝟕. 𝟏 × 𝟎. 𝟎𝟑
𝑻𝒔 = + 𝑻∞ = + 𝟐𝟎 = 𝟏𝟓𝟐. 𝟔℃
𝟒𝒉 𝟒 × 𝟐𝟓
 Example 2
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Solution
Assumptions
1. One-Dimension (r-direction) “since there is thermal symmetry about the centerline and no
variation in the axial direction”.
2. Steady state.
3. Internal heat generation
4. Constant thermal conductivity.
Therefore, the heat conduction equation in cylindrical coordinates can be expressed as:
𝟏 𝒅 𝒅𝑻 𝒒ሶ
𝒓 + =𝟎
𝒓 𝒅𝒓 𝒅𝒓 𝒌
𝒅 𝒅𝑻 𝒒ሶ 𝒓
𝒓 =−
𝒅𝒓 𝒅𝒓 𝒌
𝒅𝑻 𝒒ሶ 𝒓𝟐
𝒓 =− + 𝑪𝟏 (𝟏)
𝒅𝒓 𝟐𝒌
𝒅𝑻 𝒒ሶ 𝒓 𝑪𝟏
=− + (𝟐)
𝒅𝒓 𝟐𝒌 𝒓
𝟐
𝒒ሶ 𝒓
𝑻 𝒓 =− + 𝑪𝟏 𝒍𝒏 𝒓 + 𝑪𝟐 𝟑
𝟒𝒌
 Example 2
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Boundary conditions:
@𝒓=𝟎 𝑻 𝟎 = 𝑻𝒎𝒂𝒙
𝒅𝑻
=𝟎
𝒅𝒓
Substitute into Eq.(1) → 𝟎 = 𝟎 + 𝑪𝟏 ∴ 𝐂𝟏 = 0
@ 𝒓 = 𝒓𝒐 𝑻 𝒓𝒐 = 𝑻𝒔
ሶ 𝟐𝒐
𝒒𝒓
Substitute into Eq.(3) → 𝑻 𝒓𝒐 = 𝑻𝒔 = − + 𝟎 + 𝑪𝟐
𝟒𝒌
ሶ 𝟐𝒐
𝒒𝒓
∴ 𝑪𝟐 = + 𝑻𝒔
𝟒𝒌 Tmax
ro

Ts 𝒒ሶ Ts
𝑻∞ 𝑻∞
 Example 2
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Substitute by C1 and C2 into Eq. (3):

General equation for the variation of temperature within the pipe is

𝒒ሶ 𝒓𝟐 𝒒𝒓
ሶ 𝟐𝒐
𝑻 𝒓 =− + + 𝑻𝒔
𝟒𝒌 𝟒𝒌

𝒒ሶ
𝑻 𝒓 = 𝒓𝟐𝒐 − 𝒓𝟐 + 𝑻𝒔
𝟒𝒌
𝟐
𝒒ሶ 𝟒𝟒𝟐𝟎𝟗𝟕. 𝟏 × 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏𝟓
𝑻𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓 =𝐓 𝟎 = 𝒓𝟐𝒐 − 𝟎 + 𝑻𝒔 = + 𝟏𝟓𝟐. 𝟔 = 𝟏𝟓𝟐. 𝟔𝟔℃
𝟒𝒌 𝟒 × 𝟒𝟎𝟎
 Example 2
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Another Solution
@ 𝒓 = 𝒓𝒐
𝒒``𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 = 𝒒``𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
𝝏𝑻
−𝒌 ቤ = 𝒉 𝑻 𝒓𝒐 −𝑻∞
𝝏𝒓 𝒓=𝒓
𝒐
ሶ 𝒐
𝒒𝒓 ሶ 𝟐𝒐
𝒒𝒓
−𝒌 − +𝟎 =𝒉 − + 𝟎 + 𝑪𝟐 −𝑻∞
𝟐𝒌 𝟒𝒌
ሶ 𝒐
𝒒𝒓 𝒒𝒓ሶ 𝟐𝒐
=− + 𝑪𝟐 −𝑻∞
𝟐𝒉 𝟒𝒌
ሶ 𝟐𝒐 𝒒𝒓
𝒒𝒓 ሶ 𝒐
𝑪𝟐 = + + 𝑻∞
𝟒𝒌 𝟐𝒉
Substitute by C1 and C2 into Eq. (3):
General equation for the variation of temperature within the pipe is
𝒒ሶ 𝒓𝟐 𝒒𝒓 ሶ 𝟐𝒐 𝒒𝒓ሶ 𝒐
∴𝑻 𝒓 =− + + + 𝑻∞
𝟒𝒌 𝟒𝒌 𝟐𝒉
ሶ 𝟐𝒐 𝒒𝒓
𝒒𝒓 ሶ 𝟐𝒐 𝒒𝒓 ሶ 𝒐 𝒒𝒓 ሶ 𝒐 𝟒𝟒𝟐𝟎𝟗𝟕. 𝟏 × 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏𝟓
𝑻𝒔 = 𝑻 𝒓𝒐 = − + + + 𝑻∞ = + 𝑻∞ = + 𝟐𝟎
𝟒𝒌 𝟒𝒌 𝟐𝒉 𝟐𝒉 𝟐 × 𝟐𝟓
𝑻𝒔 = 𝟏𝟓𝟐. 𝟔℃
 Example 3
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Consider a spherical container of inner radius r1=8 cm, outer radius r2=10
cm, and thermal conductivity k = 45 W/m.°C, as shown in Figure. The
inner and outer surfaces of the container are maintained at constant
temperatures of T1=200°C and T2=80°C, respectively, as a result of some
chemical reactions occurring inside. Obtain a general relation for the
temperature distribution inside the shell under steady conditions, and
determine the rate of heat loss from the container.
Given
𝒓𝟏 = 𝟖 𝒄𝒎 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟖 𝒎
𝒓𝟐 = 𝟏𝟎 𝒄𝒎 = 𝟎. 𝟏 𝒎
𝐤 = 𝟒𝟓 𝐖/𝐦°𝐂
𝑻𝟏 = 𝟐𝟎𝟎℃
𝑻𝟐 = 𝟖𝟎℃
Required
𝐓 𝐫
𝑸ሶ 𝐬𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞
Schematic for Example
 Example 3
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Solution
Assumptions
1. One-Dimension (r-direction) “since there is thermal symmetry about the
midpoint”.
2. Steady state.
3. No heat generation
4. Constant thermal conductivity.
Therefore, the heat conduction equation in cylindrical coordinates can be expressed as:
𝒅 𝟐
𝒅𝑻
𝒓 =𝟎
𝒅𝒓 𝒅𝒓
𝒅𝑻
𝒓𝟐 = 𝑪𝟏
𝒅𝒓
𝒅𝑻 𝑪𝟏
= (𝟏)
𝒅𝒓 𝒓𝟐
𝑪𝟏
𝑻 𝒓 = − + 𝑪𝟐 𝟐
𝒓
 Example 3
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Boundary conditions:
@ 𝒓 = 𝒓𝟏 𝑻 𝒓𝟏 = 𝑻𝟏
𝑪𝟏
Substitute into Eq.(2) → 𝑻𝟏 = − + 𝑪𝟐 (3)
𝒓𝟏
@ 𝒓 = 𝒓𝟐 𝑻 𝒓𝟐 = 𝑻𝟐
𝑪𝟏
Substitute into Eq.(2) → 𝑻𝟐 = − + 𝑪𝟐 (4)
𝒓𝟐
By subtracting (3) – (4)
𝒓𝟏 𝒓𝟐
𝑪𝟏 = − 𝑻𝟏 − 𝑻𝟐
𝒓𝟐 − 𝒓𝟏
Substitute by 𝑪𝟏 into Eq.(3) →
𝒓𝟐 𝑻𝟐 −𝒓𝟏 𝑻𝟏
𝑪𝟐 =
𝒓𝟐 −𝒓𝟏
 Example
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Substitute by C1 and C2 into Eq. (2):

∴General equation for the variation of temperature within the spherical shell is
𝐫𝟏 𝐫𝟐 𝐫𝟐 𝐓𝟐 − 𝐫𝟏 𝐓𝟏
𝐓 𝐫 = 𝐓𝟏 − 𝐓𝟐 +
𝐫 𝐫𝟐 − 𝐫𝟏 𝐫𝟐 − 𝐫𝟏
The rate of heat loss from the container is simply the total rate of heat
conduction through the container, and is determined from Fourier’s law
to be
ሶ
𝒅𝑻 𝑪𝟏 𝑻𝟏 − 𝑻𝟐
𝑸𝒔𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 = −𝒌𝑨 = −𝒌 𝟒𝝅𝒓 𝟐
= 𝟒𝝅𝒌𝒓𝟏 𝒓𝟐
𝒅𝒓 𝒓𝟐 𝒓𝟐 − 𝒓𝟏
𝟐𝟎𝟎 − 𝟖𝟎
𝑸ሶ 𝒔𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 = 𝟒𝝅 × 𝟒𝟓 × 𝟎. 𝟎𝟖 × 𝟎. 𝟏𝟎 × = 𝟐𝟕𝟏𝟒𝟎 𝑾
𝟎. 𝟏𝟎 − 𝟎. 𝟎𝟖

Note that the total rate of heat transfer through a spherical shell is constant,
′′ 𝑸ሶ 𝒔𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆
but the heat flux, 𝒒 = 𝟒𝝅𝒓𝟐 , is not since it decreases in the direction of heat
transfer with increasing radius
 Example
HEAT TRANSFER LECTURE CHAPTER 3

Thank you!