Heat transfer

Thermodynamics deals with the amount of heat transfer and makes no reference as to how long the
process occur
The rate of heat transfer and temperature variation with time id discussed or delt in heat transfer
therefore heat transfer is extension of thermodynamics, here we calculate the rate of change of the
states
Thermodynamics does not include time as variable whereas heat transfer include time as variable
The driving potential for heat transfer is temperature difference, higher the temperature difference the
faster will be the heat transfer

Modes of heat transfer

 Conduction
 Convection
 Radiation
Conduction
It is microscopic phenomenon the mechanism of heat transfer is due to temperature difference in a
stationary medium
Conduction occur in solid liquid and gases
In solids the conduction occur due to

 Lattice vibration (molecular vibration)

 Free flow of electrons
This the reason behind all electrically good conductors are also good heat conductors is the presence
of abundant free electrons
In liquid and gases conduction is due to collision of molecules

The mechanisms of heat conduction in

different phases of a substance.
Examples of conduction

Heat flow along the rod by conduction mode of heat transfer

(Conduction in solid)

Conduction in fluid

The governing equation is given by Fourier’s law

According to Fourier’s law, heat transfer due to conduction is directly proportional to area
(perpendicular to the heat flow) and temperature gradient along that direction
QαA 1
Q α (dT/dX) 2
From 1 and 2
Q α A*(dT/dX)
Q = - K* A*(dT/dX)

Considering a small elementary strip of thickness “dx” and on

integration

Fourier’s law of conduction is applicable for solids, liquids and gases

Here k is thermal conductivity of the medium
Thermal conductivity (k) numerical equal to heat transfer through an area of 1m2 of slab of 1m
thickness when two faces are maintained at a temperature difference of 1 ͦ C /1 ͦ K
Units of Thermal conductivity (k) is W/m K
Thermal conductivity actually represents the ability of material to conduct heat .i.e. how fast heat is
flow in material

Convection
It is microscopic phenomenon and it occurs only in fluids, in convection the fluid particles themselves
move and carry heat from higher temperature to lower temperature
Bulk displacement of fluid transporting thermal energy or heat energy
Fluid flow + heat transfer =convection
Types of convection

 Natural convection
 Forced convection
Natural convection
Here the for heat transfer the motion of the fluids is provided by
buoyancy forces and rising out of the density changes of fluid due to its temperature change .i.e. free
convection is due to density difference
PV = MRT
P= ρ R T
ρ α (1/T)
As the fluid comes in contact with hot surface, temperature of the fluid increases consequently the
density of the fluid decreases and rises upwards

Forced convection
Forced convection is a mechanism, or type of transport in which fluid motion is generated by an
external source (like a pump, fan, suction device, etc.)
Higher the velocity, higher will be the heat transfer
Newton’s law of cooling
This law states that the rate of heat transfer by convection is directly proportional to the temperature
difference (dT= ts -tf) and also directly proportional to the area of contact or the area exposed (A).

Q α dT
QαA
Q α A*dT
Q = h* A*dT
Where h is convection heat transfer coefficient
Unlike the thermal conductivity, h is not a property of the material but it depends on some of the
thermophysical properties of the fluid .i.e. density (kg/m3), viscosity (Pa-sec), specific heat (J/kg K),
and thermal conductivity (W/m K)

Radiation
For radiation medium is not required, radiation is the energy emitted by matter in the form of
electromagnetic waves
Every substance above 0 ͦK emits radiation, radiation emitted in the form of electromagnetic waves
and they travel with speed of light
Radiation emitted over a wavelength of 0.1µm to 100 µm is known as thermal radiation since
radiation in this particular range converts into heat when absorbed by the body
The rate of radiation that can be emitted from a surface at an absolute temperature T is given by the
Stefan–Boltzmann law as
This law states that the radiation energy emitted from a surface of a body per unit time per unit area
is directly proportional to fourth power of absolute temperature of the body
E α T4
E = σ T4
σ = Stefan Botlzmann constant which is numerically equal to 5.67 *10-8 W/m2 K
The value of σ is very small and hence radiation heat transfer is significant only at higher temperature
Radiation heat transfer predominates over conduction and convection particularly when the
temperature difference is sufficiently high, because
Q conduction and Q convection α (T1- T2) but
Q radiation α (T1 4- T2 4)