Transient Conduction:

Spatial Effects and the Role of

Analytical Solutions

Chapter 5
Sections 5.4 to 5.8
Plane Wall
Solution to the Heat Equation for a Plane Wall with
Symmetrical Convection Conditions
If the lumped capacitance approximation can not be made, consideration must
be given to spatial, as well as temporal, variations in temperature during the
transient process.
For a plane wall with symmetrical convection
conditions and constant properties, the heat
equation and initial/boundary conditions are:
2T 1 T
(5.26)
x2 t
T x,0 T i (5.27)

T
0 (5.28)
x x 0

T
k h T L, t T (5.29)
x x L

Existence of seven independent variables:

T T x, t , T i , T , k , , h (5.30)

How may the functional dependence be simplified?

Plane Wall (cont.)

Non-dimensionalization of Heat Equation and Initial/Boundary Conditions:

T T
Dimensionless temperature difference: *
i Ti T
x
Dimensionless coordinate: x *
L
t
Dimensionless time: t * Fo
L2
Fo the Fourier Number
hL
The Biot Number: Bi
k solid
* f x * , Fo, Bi
Exact Solution:

C n exp n2 Fo cos n x *
* (5.39a)
n 1

4sin n
Cn n tan n Bi (5.39b,c)
2 n sin 2 n
See Appendix B.3 for first four roots (eigenvalues 1 ,..., 4 ) of Eq. (5.39c)
Plane Wall (cont.)

The One-Term Approximation Fo 0.2 :

Variation of midplane temperature (x*= 0) with time Fo :

o
*
To T
C 1 exp 12 Fo (5.41)
Ti T
Table 5.1 C 1 and 1 as a function of Bi
Variation of temperature with location (x*) and time Fo :
* o* cos 1 x * (5.40b)

Change in thermal energy storage with time:

E st Q (5.43a)

sin 1 *
Q Qo 1 o (5.46)
1
Q o c T i T (5.44)

Can the foregoing results be used for a plane wall that is well insulated on one
side and convectively heated or cooled on the other?
Can the foregoing results be used if an isothermal condition T s T i is
instantaneously imposed on both surfaces of a plane wall or on one surface of
a wall whose other surface is well insulated?
Heisler Charts

Graphical Representation of the One-Term Approximation

The Heisler Charts
Midplane Temperature:
Heisler Charts (cont.)

Temperature Distribution:

Change in Thermal Energy Storage:

Radial Systems

Radial Systems
Long Rods or Spheres Heated or Cooled by Convection.
Bi hr o / k
Fo t / r o2

One-Term Approximations:
Long Rod: Eqs. (5.49) and (5.51)
Sphere: Eqs. (5.50) and (5.52)
C 1 , 1 Table 5.1

Graphical Representations:
Long Rod: Figs. D.4 D.6
Sphere: Figs. D.7 D.9
Semi-Infinite Solid
The Semi-Infinite Solid
A solid that is initially of uniform temperature Ti and is assumed to extend
to infinity from a surface at which thermal conditions are altered.

Special Cases:
Case 1: Change in Surface Temperature (Ts)

T 0, t T s T x,0 T i

T x, t T s x
erf
Ti Ts 2 t (5.57)

k T s Ti
qs
t (5.58)
Semi-Infinite Solid (cont.)

Case 2: Uniform Heat Flux qs qo

2qo t /
1
x 2 2

T x, t T i exp
k 4 t
q x x
o erfc
k 2 t (5.59)

Case 3: Convection Heat Transfer h, T

T
k h T T 0, t
x x0

T x, t T i x
erfc
T Ti 2 t
hx h 2 t
x h t
exp erfc
k k 2
2 t k (5.60)
Multidimensional Effects

Multidimensional Effects
Solutions for multidimensional transient conduction can often be expressed
as a product of related one-dimensional solutions for a plane wall, P(x,t),
an infinite cylinder, C(r,t), and/or a semi-infinite solid, S(x,t). See Equations
(5.64) to (5.66) and Fig. 5.11.

Consider superposition of solutions for two-dimensional conduction in a

short cylinder:

T r , x, t T
P x, t x C r , t
Ti T
T x, t T T r,t T
x
Ti T Plane Ti T Infinite
Wall Cylinder
Problem: Thermal Energy Storage

Problem 5.66: Charging a thermal energy storage system consisting of

a packed bed of Pyrex spheres.
Problem: Thermal Energy Storage
Problem: Thermal Energy Storage

o sin 1 0.155 0.896

Ts Tg,i Ti Tg,i 1
300C 275C
2.03
280.9C

Problem: Thermal Response Firewall

Problem: 5.82: Use of radiation heat transfer from high intensity lamps
qs 10 4 W/m 2 for a prescribed duration (t=30 min) to assess
ability of firewall to meet safety standards corresponding to
maximum allowable temperatures at the heated (front) and
unheated (back) surfaces.

x L = 0 .2 5 m
C o n c re te , T i = 2 5 o C
= 2 3 0 0 k g / m 3
q s = 1 0 4 W /m 2
c = 8 8 0 J /k g -K
k = 1 .4 W /m -K
s = 1 .0
T m ax = 325oC T m ax = 25oC
Problem: Thermal Response of Firewall

T 0,30 min 25C 284.5C 309.5C 325C

T 0.25m, 30 min 25C 284.5C 3.58 10 6 1786C ~ 0 25C
Problem: Thermal Response of Firewall