MEHB323 Heat Transfer

Tutorial Assignment Set No. 6

1. Electrical current flows through a long rod with radius rr = 0.01 m generating thermal
energy at a uniform volumetric rate of q = 2 106 W/m3. The rod is concentric with a
hollow ceramic cylinder, creating an enclosure that is filled with air as shown below. The
hollow ceramic cylinder has inner and outer radius of ri = 0.02 m and ro = 0.06 m,
respectively, and the conductivity k = 1.75 W/mK. Neglecting the radiation heat transfer
within the enclosure, the convection coefficient in the enclosure is h = 20 W/m2K. The
outer surface of the hollow cylinder is exposed to cold air at cross flow over the cylinder
= 100 W/m2.
with T = 27C and velocity of 20 m/s while absorbs a radiant flux of q rad
Under steady condition, construct a thermal circuit that can be used to calculate the surface
temperature of the rod, Tr and calculate the surface temperature of the rod, Tr.

= 100 W/m2
qrad
Ceramic

Enclosure, air space

Tr
Rod

Tr = 447.87C
2. Given a composite wall as shown below with kB = 1.0W/mK, kC = 1.5W/mK, kD = 2.0
W/mK, and L = H = 1m. The right-hand side of wall D is exposed to a parallel airflow
from bottom to top at T = 27oC and velocity of 5 m/s. Wall A experiences uniform
volumetric heat generation of q 250W/m 3 . Assuming one-dimensional conduction with
constant properties and steady state condition, determine the inner wall surface
temperature of wall D labeled as TD.
Perfect Insulation

Wall B
Wall A

Wall
D

Wall C
TD

0.5H
L

T = 20oC
h = 25W/m2K

0.5L

TD = 118.15C
1

MEHB323 Heat Transfer

Tutorial Assignment Set No. 6
3. Consider one-dimensional steady heat conduction in the radial direction of a hollow
cylinder. The thermal conductivity of the cylinder is 1.5 W/mK. The inner wall of the
cylinder has a radius of 35 mm and is subjected to a heat flux of 1 kW/m2. The thickness
of the cylinder wall is 50 mm. The outer wall of the cylinder is exposed to an airflow at
70C and velocity of 12 m/s.
a) Calculated the temperature of the inner wall of the cylinder.
b) At which radial location do you think the cylinder has highest temperature?
Tmax = 100.08C
4. For household water heating purpose, a plastic (kp = 0.23 W/mK) pipe carrying hot water
at an average temperature of 90C as shown below. The average convection heat transfer
coefficients between the hot water and the inner wall of the pipe is estimated to be 1500
W/m2K while ambient air at 27C and effectively 5 m/s is flowing across the outer surface
of the pipe. For a unit length of the pipe (L = 1 m), design the pipe dimensions (i.e.
diameters and thickness) in order to ensure the outer surface of the pipe is at safe-to-touch
condition, which is below 40C. (Hint: in common practice, the outer diameter of a
household water heater pipe is within the range of 2 to 4 cm).
No fixed answer, may refer to tutorial assignment no. 3
5. A proposal to store naturally occurred radioactive materials (NORM) in a 0.25 m3 rigid
spherical vessel constructed from aluminium alloy 2024-T6. The thickness of the vessel
is 10 cm. In order to protect the vessel from corrosive environment, the outer surface is
wrapped by a stainless still (AISI 302) lining. The NORM generates 0.30 MW/m3 of heat.
The wrapped vessel is to be submerged in a stream of flowing water that is at an average
temperature of 20C and velocity of 0.03 m/s. Evaluate the materials properties at room
temperature (27C).
(a) Design a suitable thickness of the stainless still (AISI 302) lining for safe storing of
the NORM.
(b) What is the outer surface temperature of the lining?
No fixed answer, may refer to tutorial assignment no. 3
6. A 3-mm-diameter electrical wire is insulated by a rubberized sheath (k = 0.13 W/mK).
The wire is exposed to air environment with average air velocity of 0.3 m/s in cross flow
over the insulated wire. With the electrical current flowing through, the outer surface of
the wire has a temperature of 50C. The outer surface of the insulation must be kept at
safe-to-touch temperature of 40C or below. Design a suitable thickness of the insulation
in order to allow the use of such insulated wire in a room temperature ranges between 25C
to 30C.
No fixed answer, may start with the thickness of 3 to 4 mm for the insulation