Mechanical Engineering 321: Basic Heat Transfer

Course Description: Basic Heat Transfer. 4 Cr. U., Introduction to conduction, convection,
and radiation heat transfer; heat exchangers; mass transfer analogies; laboratory
experiments. Prereq: Jr St; Mech Eng 301(P)
Textbook: Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer, Frank P. Incropera and David P.
DeWitt, John Wiley & Sons, Fifth Edition, 2002.
Prerequisites by Topics:
Integration
Differentiation
Solutions to Differential Equations
General Physics
Thermodynamics
Course Objectives:
Students will learn the fundamental principles of heat transfer.
Students will learn to solve ordinary and partial differential equations.
Students will be able to analyze a heat exchanger.
Students will be able to work on multimode heat transfer applications.
Students will be able to analyze a thermal application via a heat transfer software
package.
Topics Covered:
Introduction to Heat Transfer
Introduction to Conduction
One-Dimensional, Steady State Conduction
Two-Dimensional, Steady State Conduction
Transient Conduction
Introduction to Convection
Forced Convection - External Flow
Forced Convection - Internal Flow
Free Convection
Heat Exchangers
Radiation: Processes and Properties
Radiation Exchange Between Surfaces
Project
Utilize heat transfer software package to solve several in-depth problems.
Laboratory report on Measurement of Thermal Conductivity.
Laboratory report on Verification of Lumped Capacitance Method.
Laboratory report on Industrial Heat Exchanger Performance.
Written Communications
Students prepare a comprehensive, professional quality report on their projects.
Class/Laboratory Schedule: 42 lectures, 14 discussion/laboratory sections.
Contribution of Course to Meeting the Professional Component:

Engineering Topics with Design: 4 credits.

This course contributes towards the
engineering science component of the mechanical engineering curriculum by teaching
students to apply calculus, physics, and thermodynamics concepts to analyze heat
transfer by conduction, convection, and radiation.
Relationship to Program Objectives:
Program Outcome
i.
iv.
vii.
x.

Explanation

Graduates will have a theoretical and practical background in heat transfer, and will
have a good understanding of heat transfer fundamentals. Graduates will have the
ability to analyze thermal systems.
Graduates will be able to use their knowledge of heat transfer to solve an in-depth
problem.
Graduates will have experience with several heat transfer software packages.
Graduates will be experienced in writing professional quality reports.

Prepared by: Kevin J. Renken, September 25, 2001

Method of Assessment:
Prerequisite Exam
Graded Project Reports
Graded Weekly Quizzes
Graded Exams
Mid-semester Course Evaluation by Students
End-of-the-Semester Evaluation by Students
Feedback from Former Students
Feedback from Advanced Level Courses requiring this course.
Instructor Judgment
Resources Commonly Available:
Instructor
Teaching Assistants
Computer Projection System
Blackboard Courseinfo (Bb)
Demonstration Experiments
Software Packages
- Interactive Heat Transfer 2.0 (IHT 2.0)
- Finite Element Heat Transfer (FEHT)
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
Desirable Student Competencies: Common sense. ability to read effectively. ability to
use computer programs in the Windows environment, good verbal communication skills,
good writing skills.