Course: Heat Transfer (MEC301)
Course: Heat Transfer (MEC301)
Conduction. ‘Conduction’ is the transfer of heat from one part of a substance to another part of the same
substance, or from one substance to another in physical contact with it, without appreciable displacement of
molecules forming the substance.
(i) By lattice vibration (The faster moving molecules or atoms in the hottest part of a body transfer heat by
impacts some of their energy to adjacent molecules).
(ii) By transport of free electrons (Free electrons provide an energy flux in the direction of decreasing
temperature—For metals, especially good electrical conductors, the electronic mechanism is responsible for
the major portion of the heat flux except at low temperature).
Contd…
In case of gases, the mechanism of heat conduction is simple. The kinetic energy of a molecule is
a function of temperature. These molecules are in a continuous random motion exchanging
energy and momentum.
In liquids, the mechanism of heat is nearer to that of gases. However, the molecules are more
closely spaced and intermolecular forces come into play.
Steady and Unsteady state Heat Conduction
If the temperature of the body does not vary with time, it is said to be in steady state.
But if there is an abrupt change in its surface temperature, it attains an equilibrium temperature or
a steady state after sometime. During this time, the temperature varies with time and is said to be
in unsteady or Transient state.
Fourier law of Heat Conduction
The rate of heat conduction through a medium depends on the geometry of the medium, its
thickness, and the material of the medium, as well as the temperature difference across the
medium.
• Consider steady heat conduction through a large plane wall of thickness x = L and area A.
• The temperature difference across the wall is T = T2 - T1.
• According to this law, It is concluded that the rate of heat conduction through a plane layer is
proportional to the temperature difference across the layer and the heat transfer area, but is
inversely proportional to the thickness of the layer.
Contd…
6
Thermal Conductivity(Solids)
The thermal conductivity k is a measure of a material’s ability to
conduct heat.
For example, k = 0.608 W/m·°C for water and k = 80.2 W/m·°C for iron
at room temperature, which indicates that iron conducts heat more than
100 times faster than water can.
Thus, water is a poor heat conductor relative to iron, although water is
an excellent medium to store thermal energy.
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Question
If the length between the hot and cold ends of the solid is larger, the rate of flow of heat will be
greater
smaller
zero
constant
Question 2
If the temperature difference between hold and cold faces of the solids is greater, the rate of flow
of heat will be
zero
constant
smaller
greater
THANKS