Problem 1

Q: Starting with an infinitesimal control volume, derive the heat

conduction equation for cylindrical geometries:

Solution: See Section 2.3 of Text.

 Problem 2
Q: A uniform half cylinder (thermal conductivity k, inner and outer
radii of Rin and Rout, and depth of L) is subjected to two constant
temperatures (T1 and T2) on its flat surface and all other surfaces
are thermally isolated.
a) Find the steady state temperature distribution inside the body.
b) Find the total energy exchange rate between two flat surfaces.

T1 T2

Rin

Rout
Solution:

T1 T2
a) This is 1D conduction problem,
Rin
T1  T2 r
T  T ( )  T2  

Rout

b) The heat flux at right side end is,

dT dT k dT k T1  T2
q ''(r )  k k  
dn d (r ) r d r 

Rout Rout k T1  T2 T1  T2 Rout

Q  L q ''(r )dr  L  dr  kL ln( )
Rin Rin r   Rin
 Problem 3
Q: (Problem 1.8 in textbook) A thermodynamic analysis of a proposed Brayton
cycle gas turbine yields P=5 MW of net power production. The compressor, at
an average temperature of Tc=400 ̊C, is driven by the turbine at an average
temperature of Th=1000 ̊C by way of an L=1-m-long, d=70-mm-diameter shaft
of thermal conductivity k=40 W/m*K.

(a) Compare the steady-state conduction rate

through the shaft connecting the hot turbine to
the warm compressor to the net power
predicted by the thermodynamics-based
analysis.
(b) A research team proposes to scale down the
gas turbine of part (a), keeping all dimensions in
the same proportions. The team assumes that
the same hot and cold temperatures exist as in
part (a) and that the net power output of the gas
turbine is proportional to the overall volume of
the device. Plot the ratio of the conduction
through the shaft to the net power output of the
turbine over the range 0.005m ≤ L ≤ 1m. Is a
scaled-down device with L=0.005 m feasible?
 Problem 4
Q: Recall the general form of Fourier’s Law:

q  k T  Where k is a symmetric 3X3 matrix.

The physics is required that we cannot have a net positive flux

from low temperature to high temperature region for any material
and any temperature field, which impose a fundamental limit on
the possible values for k. For the values listed below, find which
of them is(are) physically possible.

a) 1 2 0  b)  2 1 0  c) 1 0 2 d) 1 1 0 
2 3 0  1 3 0  0 3 0  1 1 0 
       
0 0 1 0 0 100   2 0 1  0 0 1 
Solution:

The physical requirement means that for an arbitrary a  T , we cannot have a q

with a component along a , i.e., a  q  0 always hold.

a  T x 
a   y 
 
q  k T  z 
This yields a quadratic polynomial of a, b and c for all real numbers

 
 k11 k12 k13   x 
a  q  a  ka  0  x y x k12 k22 k23   y   0
 k13 k23 k33   z 
Substitute a) through d), we can find that b) is possible and d) is somehow in
the gray region. For example, for case d),
 0 when x   y, z  0.
a  q  ( x  y )  z  
2 2

 0 otherwise

Note: d) is a special case where a  q  0 . Strictly speaking, such material doesn’t

exist in our nature, where it is thermally conductive along one direction and
ideally isolated along another direction, but it can be used as a good
approximation for some highly anisotropic materials.
 Problem 5
Q: Consider a layered composite block made by two types of
materials with thermal conductivities k1 and k2, and thicknesses
of d1 and d2 respectively. (Assume: d1, d2 << block size, ignore
the interface thermal resistance.)
a) Find the effective thermal conductivities kx and ky .
b) A wall (infinitely high along y) made of the same type of
composite material but with tilted orientation, find the heat flux
inside the wall when two surfaces are subjected to fixed
temperatures.
L

y
y
x
T1 T2
x

θ
(a)
(b)
Solution:
a) This is 1D steady state conduction, parallel arranged along x and serial arranged
along y.
k1d1  k2 d 2 k1k2 (d1  d 2 )
kx  ky 
d1  d 2 k 2 d1  k1d 2

T T
b) By inspection, we know the temperature gradient is along x: T  2 1 xˆ
L
Consider a CV as shown on the right to find qx:
Use the temperature gradient and Fourier’s law at the sides 1 and 2 to calculate
inbound heat rates, which will balance with heat rate leaving the side 3.

 
q  A  q  A  k T T sin 
 T T  T T on (2)
q1   A1  k x  cos  2 1   k x cos 2  2 1
(1)
A1=cosθ
 L  L θ
(3)
T T T T T
q2  A2 k y sin  2 1  k y sin 2  2 1 A3=1 θ
L L
(2)
Therefore A2=sinθ T cos 
θ
T T on (1)
qx  q3  q1  q2   k x cos   k y sin   2 1
2 2

L
Note:
Finding qx is sufficient for receive full credit of this problem, which is the net (or
normal) heat flux through the wall. It is worthwhile to point out that qy is not zero
in this case. We need to use a different CV as shown on below to find qy:

T2  T1
q y  q3  q1  q2   k y  k x  sin  cos 
L

T sin 
(3) on (2)
A3=1

θ
(1) θ T
A1=cosθ (2)
A2=sinθ
T cos 
on (1)