Heat Transfer

Module 2
Heat Conduction Equation

Course Instructor
G.Nataraj
Assistant Professor (Sr.)
School of Mechanical Engineering
Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore
MEE 2005
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 General Heat conduction equation:
Temperature distribution which represents temperature at various points in a matter.

Consider a small volume element in Cartesian co-ordinates,

Temperature distribution T(x,y,z) in Cartesian system, & small control volume dx.dy.dz.

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MEE2005: Heat Transfer Module 2
 The conduction heat rates perpendicular to each of the control surfaces at the x, y and z
coordinate locations are indicated by the terms qx, qy , and qz , respectively.
The conduction heat rates at the opposite surfaces can then be expressed as a Taylor
series expansion ,

Within the medium there may also be an energy source term associated with the rate
of thermal energy generation. This term is represented as

Where q is the rate at which energy is generated per unit volume of the medium
(W/m3 ).
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 In addition, there may occur changes in the amount of the internal thermal energy
stored by the material in the control volume. If the material is not experiencing a
change in phase, latent energy effects are not pertinent, and the energy storage term
may be expressed as

In contrast, the energy storage term refers to the rate of change of

thermal energy stored by the matter.

Energy balance on this elemental area is expressed as,

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 Equation 2.18 is the general form, in Cartesian coordinates, of the heat diffusion
equation. This equation, usually known as the heat equation, provides the basic tool for
heat conduction analysis. From its solution, we can obtain the temperature
distribution T(x,y,z) as a function of time.

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 Special Forms of Heat Conduction Equation:
1) Uniform thermal conductivity
2) Steady state condition
3) No heat Generation
4) One dimensional heat conduction

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The complete solutions to the general model is rather complex. Some of the simplified
models for which solutions are attempted are listed below:
1. One dimensional steady flow (x or r directions) with constant or variable properties,
without heat generation.
2. Same as above but with heat generation
3. Two dimensional steady flow (with constant properties, without heat generation)
4. One dimensional unsteady state without heat generation.
The simplified expressions in these cases in the various coordinate systems are

CARTISEAN CYLINDRICAL SPHERE

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