Lecture 1: Introduction

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1. Understanding the basic mechanism of heat

transfer

Lecture 1

Learning Outcomes:

2. Able to derive different rate of heat transfer

based on Fouriers law, Newtons law of cooling
and Stefan-Boltzmann law
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 Thermodynamics amount of energy transfer as

the system undergoes a process from one
equilibrium to another
Heat transfer science that deals with the rate
of such energy transfer

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Heat transfer is (thermal) energy transfer that is

induced by a temperature difference (or
gradient)

Lecture 1

Definitions

Definitions

Convection heat transfer: Occurs within a moving fluid, or

between a solid surface and a moving fluid, when they are
at different temperatures
Thermal radiation: Heat transfer between two surfaces
(that are not in contact), often in the absence of an
intervening medium.

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Conduction heat transfer: Occurs when a temperature

gradient exists through a solid or a stationary fluid (liquid or
gas).

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Modes of heat transfer

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Definitions

T1>T2

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Transfer of energy from the more energetic to less energetic

particles of a substance as a results of interactions between
atoms and/or molecules.
Solid Lattice vibration, free electron transport
Liquids & gases random molecular motion (collision &
diffusion)

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1. Conduction

T2

T2

dT
dx

The proportionality constant is a

transport property, known as
thermal conductivity k (units
W/m.K)
Thermal conductivity is
temperature dependent. It is a
measure of the ability of the
material to conduct heat (Table
1-1)

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Wall Area, A

T1

q x kA

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Consider a brick wall, of thickness x which in a cold winter day

is exposed to a constant inside temperature, T1 and a constant
outside temperature, T2.
The heat transfer rate is
(Fouriers law of heat
conduction):

 Example: A furnace has a 0.15m thick brick wall (thermal

conductivity of 1.7 W/m.K). Steady state operation shows
that inner wall temperature is 1400K and 1150K for outer
wall. What is the rate of heat loss if wall is 0.5m height and
1.2m wide ?

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T
q k
x
''
x

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Generally heat flux (unit: W/m2 ) is heat transfer rate in x

direction per unit area perpendicular to the direction of
transfer

2. Convection

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Convection: transport by random motion of molecules

and by bulk motion of fluid.
Advection: transport due solely to bulk fluid motion.

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Energy transfer by random molecular motion (as in

conduction) plus bulk (macroscopic) motion of the fluid.

Forced convection: Caused by external means such as fan,

pump, wind

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Natural (free) convection: flow induced by buoyancy forces,

arising from density differences due to temperature
variations in the fluid

Heat transfer involving phase change (latent heat exchange )

boiling and condensation.
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Example: air at 20C blows over a hot plate, which is

maintained at a temperature Ts=300C and has an area of A.
T 20 C
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Air
q

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TS 300 C

The convective heat flux is proportional to qx TS T

"

The proportionality constant is the convection heat transfer

coefficient, h (W/m2.K).

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The convection heat transfer rate is:

q x h.A.(TS T )

Newtons law of Cooling

Example: A 2m long, 0.3cm diameter electrical wire is

placed in a room with T of 15C. Heat is generated in the
wire and surface T is 152C at steady state. Voltage drop and
current is measured at 60V and 1.5A, determine h between
wire and air.

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nature of the fluid motion, as well as fluid properties. For

typical ranges of values, see Table 1-3 textbook.

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The heat transfer coefficient depends on surface geometry,

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Thermal radiation is energy emitted by matter because of

their temperature
Energy is transported by electromagnetic radiation.
Emission is due to changes in electron configuration.
Can occur from solid surfaces, liquids and gases.
Does not require presence of a medium
Emissive power E is the rate at which energy is released per
unit area (W/m2) (radiation emitted from the surface)

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3. Radiation

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 For an ideal radiator, or blackbody (max rate of radiation):

Stefan-Boltzmann law

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where Ts is the absolute temperature of the surface (K) and

is the Stefan-Boltzmann constant, ( = 5.67x10-8 W/m2.K4)
For a real (non-ideal) surface:

q emitted ATs4

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q emitted AT

4
s

0 1

is the emissivity measuring how closely the surface approx.

blackbody
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 If a heat transfer surface at Ts is surrounded (enclosed) by

a larger surface with Tsur, the net radiation exchange is

The total heat transfer rate is:

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If radiation occurs parallel to conduction or convection, a

combined heat transfer coefficient hcomb is used.

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q rad A(Ts4 Tsur
)

q total h comb A(Ts T )

Example: Two infinite black plates at 800C and 300C
exchange heat by radiation. Calculate the heat transfer
per unit area.

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Summary
Modes of Heat Transfer:

dT
k
dx

q"x

h(Ts T )

qx(W/m2) is the heat flux

Radiation
"
4
qrad
(Ts4 Tsur
)

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q "x

Convection

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Conduction

qx (W=J/s) is the heat rate

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How is heat transfer minimized in a vacuum flask?

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Conservation of Energy
Accumulation
(Storage) E st
Addition
through inlet

E in

Boundary, B

Energy conservation on a rate basis:

Units W=J/s

Generation E g

Loss
through outlet

E out

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Control Volume
(CV)

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Surroundings, S

dEst

Ein E g Eout
Est
dt

Inflow and outflow are surface phenomena

Generation and accumulation are volumetric phenomena
Est = KE + PE + U; U is Usen and U latent

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