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Fouriers Law

and the
Heat Equation
Chapter Two

Fouriers Law

Fouriers Law
A rate equation that allows determination of the conduction heat flux
from knowledge of the temperature distribution in a medium
Its most general (vector) form for multidimensional conduction is:

q k T
Implications:
Heat transfer is in the direction of decreasing temperature
(basis for minus sign).
Fouriers Law serves to define the thermal conductivity of the

medium k q / T

Direction of heat transfer is perpendicular to lines of constant


temperature (isotherms).
Heat flux vector may be resolved into orthogonal components.

Heat Flux Components

Cartesian Coordinates:

T x, y , z

T T T
q k
i k
jk
k
x
y
z
qx
qz
q y
Cylindrical Coordinates:

(2.3)

T r, , z

T
T T
q k
i k
jk
k
r
r
z
qr

(2.18)

q z

T r , ,

T
T
T
q k
i k
jk
k
r
r
r sin
q
q
qr

Spherical Coordinates:

(2.21)

Heat Flux Components (cont.)

In angular coordinates or , , the temperature gradient is still


based on temperature change over a length scale and hence has
units of C/m and not C/deg.
Heat rate for one-dimensional, radial conduction in a cylinder or sphere:
Cylinder

qr Ar qr 2 rLqr
or,

qr Ar qr 2 rqr
Sphere

qr Ar qr 4 r 2 qr

Heat Equation

The Heat Equation

A differential equation whose solution provides the temperature distribution in a


stationary medium.
Based on applying conservation of energy to a differential control volume
through which energy transfer is exclusively by conduction.
Cartesian Coordinates:

T
T

T
T
k

q
c p

x x
y y
z
z
t

Net transfer of thermal energy into the


control volume (inflow-outflow)

Thermal energy
generation

(2.13)

Change in thermal
energy storage

Heat Equation (Radial Systems)

Cylindrical Coordinates:

1
T
1 T

T
T
kr

c
p

r r
r
z
z
t
r 2

(2.20)

Spherical Coordinates:

1 2 T
1
T
1
kr

r
r 2 r
r 2 sin 2
r 2 sin

k sin

T
T

c
p

(2.33)

Heat Equation (Special Case)

One-Dimensional Conduction in a Planar Medium with Constant Properties


and No Generation
2T
x 2

1 T
t

k
thermal diffusivity of the medium
c p

Boundary Conditions

Boundary and Initial Conditions


For transient conduction, heat equation is first order in time, requiring
specification of an initial temperature distribution: T x, t t 0 T x, 0
Since heat equation is second order in space, two boundary conditions
must be specified. Some common cases:
Constant Surface Temperature:
T 0, t Ts

Constant Heat Flux:


Applied Flux

Insulated Surface

T
|x 0 qs
x

T
|x 0 h T T 0, t
x

Convection

T
|x 0 0
x

Properties

Thermophysical Properties
Thermal Conductivity: A measure of a materials ability to transfer thermal
energy by conduction.

Thermal Diffusivity: A measure of a materials ability to respond to changes


in its thermal environment.
Property Tables:
Solids: Tables A.1 A.3
Gases: Table A.4
Liquids: Tables A.5 A.7

Conduction Analysis

Methodology of a Conduction Analysis


Solve appropriate form of heat equation to obtain the temperature
distribution.

Knowing the temperature distribution, apply Fouriers Law to obtain the


heat flux at any time, location and direction of interest.

Applications:
Chapter 3:
Chapter 4:
Chapter 5:

One-Dimensional, Steady-State Conduction


Two-Dimensional, Steady-State Conduction
Transient Conduction

Problem : Thermal Response of Plane Wall

Problem 2.46 Thermal response of a plane wall to convection heat transfer.

Problem: Thermal Response (Cont.)

Problem: Thermal Response (Cont.)

d) The total energy transferred to the wall may be expressed as

Ein qconv As dt
0

Ein hAs

T T L,t dt

Dividing both sides by AsL, the energy transferred per unit volume is

Ein h

T T L,t dt
V L 0

J/m3

Problem: Non-Uniform Generation due


to Radiation Absorption

Problem 2.28 Surface heat fluxes, heat generation and total rate of radiation
absorption in an irradiated semi-transparent material with a
prescribed temperature distribution.

Problem: Non-Uniform Generation (Cont.)

Problem: Non-Uniform Generation (Cont.)

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