SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING Page 1 of 5

DISCIPLINE: CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

COURSE: Heat Transfer LECTURER: Mrs. A. Singh DATE

TOPIC: Tutorial 1: Conduction 22 February 2025

1. Derive the finite difference equation for node m,n; if it experiences conduction, as well as energy
generation.

2. Derive the finite difference equation for node m,n which is located at the interface of Materials A and
B, which have different thermal conductivities, under steady state conditions.

Tutorial 1
 SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING Page 2 of 5
DISCIPLINE: CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
COURSE: Heat Transfer LECTURER: Mrs. A. Singh DATE

TOPIC: Tutorial 1: Conduction 22 February 2025

3. A square plate has one surface exposed to air at a temperature of 10oC and having a convective heat
transfer coefficient of 15 W/m2.K. Another surface is maintained at a temperature of 50oC, whilst the
remaining two surfaces are insulated, as shown in the figure below. Using a grid of ∆x = ∆y = 25 cm,
calculate the steady-state temperatures for nodes 1 to 6. The thermal conductivity of the plate is 1.5
W/m.K.

T∞ = 10oC

h = 15 W/m2.K

1 2
Temperature = 50oC

Insulation
3 4

5 6

Insulation

4. The steady state temperatures of selected nodal points in a two-dimensional system are shown in the
diagram below. The thermal conductivity of the medium is 1.5 W/m.K.

a) Determine the temperatures at nodes 1, 2 & 3.

b) Calculate the heat transfer rate between the surface and the fluid.

Tutorial 1
 SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING Page 3 of 5
DISCIPLINE: CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
COURSE: Heat Transfer LECTURER: Mrs. A. Singh DATE

TOPIC: Tutorial 1: Conduction 22 February 2025

5. Consider an aluminum plate with regularly spaced rectangular channels through which water is
passed. Under normal operation, power dissipation within the chips results in a uniform heat flux
of q "o =105 W/m 2 at the base of the plate while water flow provides a temperature of T∞ = 15 0C and a
convection coefficient of 5000 W/m2.K within the channels.
We would like to obtain the steady state temperature distribution within the plate. From symmetry
considerations, we may confine our attention to the nodal network shown. The top surface of the plate
is well insulated.
a) Derive finite difference equations for nodes 8, 28 and 13.
b) Given the following temperatures (refer to Table 1), calculate the heat transfer by convection

Thermal conductivity of aluminum = 190 W/m.K

Node Temperature
(0C)
6 23.41
7 23.62
8 24.31
11 25.70
16 28.26
15 28.76
14 28.90

Table 1: Nodal temperatures (for use in part b)

Tutorial 1
 SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING Page 4 of 5
DISCIPLINE: CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
COURSE: Heat Transfer LECTURER: Mrs. A. Singh DATE

TOPIC: Tutorial 1: Conduction 22 February 2025

6. As part of a heat treatment process, cylindrical 304 stainless steel rods of 10 mm diameter are cooled
from an initial temperature of 500 oC by suspending them in an oil bath at 30 oC. If a convection
coefficient of 500 W/m2K is maintained by circulation of the oil, how long does it take for the centre
of the rod to reach a temperature of 50 oC, at which point it is withdrawn from the bath?

Properties of the rods:

Density (kg/m3) 7900

Heat capacity (J/kg.K) 546
Thermal conductivity (W/m.K) 19

7. A rectangular block 32mm by 10mm by 1.1m is sprayed with an anti-corrosion coating, which is done
by suspending the block vertically in the lengthwise direction and passing it through a conveyor
oven in which the air is maintained at a temperature of 175 0C. Satisfactory coatings have been
obtained on the solid, initially at 25 0C, with an oven residence time of 35 min. The coating supplier
has specified that the coating should be treated for 10 min above a temperature of 140 0C. How long
should a block 76mm by 35 mm by 1.6 m remain in the oven in order to properly heat the coating?

Properties of block: Density = 8131 kg/m3

Heat capacity = 473J/kg
Thermal conductivity = 42 W/m.K

8. Asphalt pavement may achieve temperatures as high as 50 0C on a hot summer day. Assume that
such a temperature exists throughout the pavement, when suddenly a rainstorm reduces the
temperature to 20 0C. Calculate the total amount of energy (J/m2) that will be transferred from the
asphalt over a 30 minute period in which the surface is maintained at 20 0C.

Properties of asphalt at 300K: k = 0.062 W/m.K

ρ = 2115 kg/m3
Cp = 920 J/kg · K

9. A cylinder 5 cm in diameter and 8 cm high is initially at a uniform temperature of 250 0C. It is then
exposed to a cool fluid which has a temperature of 25 0C and a convection coefficient of 530 W/m2.K.
a) Using temperature time charts, calculate the temperature at the centre of the cylinder after it has
been exposed to the fluid for 30 seconds.
b) Find the temperature of the cylinder after it has been exposed to the fluid for 30 seconds, assuming
that the convective resistance is much larger than the conductive resistance. Compare this answer
to that found in (a).

Properties of the cylinder:

Density (kg/m3) 3800

Heat capacity (J/kg.K) 750
Thermal conductivity (W/m.K) 80

Tutorial 1
 SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING Page 5 of 5
DISCIPLINE: CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
COURSE: Heat Transfer LECTURER: Mrs. A. Singh DATE

TOPIC: Tutorial 1: Conduction 22 February 2025

10. A plate of thickness 25mm at a temperature of 600 0C is removed from a hot pressing operation and
must be cooled rapidly in order to achieve the required physical properties. The process engineer
plans to use air jets to control the rate of cooling, but she is uncertain whether it is necessary to cool
both sides (Case 1) or only one side (Case 2) of the plate. The concern is not just for the time to cool,
but also for the maximum temperature difference within the plate. If this is too large, the plate can
experience significant warping. The air supply is at 25 0C and the convection coefficient is 400
W/m2.K. Calculate the time required for the centre of the plate to reach 100 0C for both cases.

Properties of the plate

Density (kg/m3) 3000

Heat capacity (J/kg.K) 750
Thermal conductivity (W/m.K) 15

11. An iron plate, 5 cm by 16 cm, initially at a temperature of 225 0C is suddenly exposed to an air
stream at a temperature of 25 0C, with h = 500 W/m2.K. Using Temperature-time charts, calculate
the centre temperature after two minutes.

Properties of iron

Density (kg/m3) 7850

Heat capacity (J/kg.K) 460
Thermal conductivity (W/m.K) 60

12. A rectangular aluminum bar 6cm by 3cm is initially at a uniform temperature of 175 oC. Suddenly
the surfaces are exposed to convective cooling by air having a heat transfer coefficient of
250W/m2 oC and a temperature of 25 oC, as shown in the figure below. Determine the centre
temperature of the bar 1 min after the start of cooling.

Tutorial 1