ChemE 131

Thermal Systems
Second Semester AY 2019-2020

Department of Chemical Engineering

University of the Philippines Diliman
Sample Problems
Reference: Geankoplis
Instruction
Try to solve each problem using shell heat balance
(unless it’s not applicable) to solve each problem.
For those who would REALLY like to learn/practice their
skills, left-click to see the solution slide/s after you are
done solving to check if you are correct; otherwise, look
ahead to the solution (“cheat”) at your own risk.

Click to begin
Problem 1
Determine the temperature profile across a temporary
insulating wall of a food cold storage room where the
outside temperature is 299.9 K and the inside
temperature of 276.5 K. The wall is composed of 25.4
mm-thick corkboard having a thermal conductivity of
0.0433 W/mK. Then calculate the heat absorption rate
per m2 of surface area and the temperature of the wall 10
mm from the inner wall.

Click to see the solution

▪ steady-state T heat  heat   heat   heat 
 in  −  out  +  generation  = accumulation 
conduction W        
▪ isotropic wall k = 0.0433
mK
material with  q    q  

 A  A −  A   A  +0=0
constant    x    x + x
properties OUTSIDE
▪ 1D heat T0 = 299.9 K  q  q
A −A d q
transfer   x   x + x → − =0
INSIDE =0  
along the x- x dx  A 
direction TL = 276.5 K
q dT C
▪ uniform wall = −k = C1 → T ( x ) = − 1 x + C2
area A dx k
▪ no internal boundary conditions:
heat C1
generation q (1) at x = 0, T = T0 TL = − ( L ) + C2
k
( 2) at x = L, T = TL C
T0 = − 1 ( 0 ) + C2 → C2 = T0
k
x=0 x = 25.4 mm C1 C1 TL − T0
x TL − T0 = − ( L ) → − =
x k k L
▪ steady-state  T − T0   276.5 K − 299.9 K 
T ( x) =  L  x + T0 =   x + 299.9 K
conduction  L   25.4 mm 
▪ isotropic wall
 K 
material with temperature profile: T ( x ) = −  0.92126  x + 299.9 K
constant  mm 
properties
 K 
▪ 1D heat 10 mm from the outer wall: T15.4 = −  0.92126  (15.4 mm ) + 299.9 K
transfer  mm 
along the x- T15.4 = 285.7 K
direction
▪ uniform wall dT TL − T0
area to get the heat flux: =
dx L
▪ no internal
heat q dT  T − TL   W   299.9 K − 276.5 K 
generation → = −k = k 0 =
  0.0433  
A dx  L   m  K   0.0254 m 

q W
= 39.89 2
A m
Click to see the next problem
Problem 2
Experimental data shows that the thermal conductivity of fireclay
brick varies with temperature:

T (ºC) k (W/mK)
200 1.00
600 1.47
1000 1.64

Use the data to establish a linear function of thermal conductivity

with temperature and estimate a mean value within the known
temperature range.
Click to see the solution
T (ºC) k (W/mK) using linear regression:
200 1.00 k ( T ) = 0.0008To C + 0.89
600 1.47
Tmax
1000 1.64
 k ( T ) dT
mean thermal conductivity: k av =
Tmin

Tmax − Tmin
Tmax

 ( 0.0008T + 0.89 ) dT ( 0.0004T 2

+ 0.89T )
1000

k av = =
Tmin 200
Tmax − Tmin 1000 − 200

W
k av = 1.37
mK
Click to see the next problem
Problem 3
In determining the thermal conductivity of an insulating
material, the temperatures were measured on both sides
of a flat slab of 25 mm of the material and were 318.4 K
and 303.2 K. The heat flux was measured as 35.1 W/m2.
Determine the thermal conductivity of the material and
the temperature profile across the slab.

Click to see the solution

▪ steady-state T heat  heat   heat   heat 
 in  −  out  +  generation  = accumulation 
conduction        
▪ isotropic wall k=?
material with  q    q  

 A  A −  A   A  +0=0
constant    x    x + x
properties
▪ 1D heat T0 = 318.4 K  q  q
A −A d q
transfer   x   x + x → − =0
=0  
along the x- x dx  A 
direction TL = 303.2 K
q dT C
▪ uniform wall = −k = C1 → T ( x ) = − 1 x + C2
area A dx k
▪ no internal boundary conditions:
heat C1
generation
W
q = 35.1 2
(1) at x = 0, T = T0 TL = − ( L ) + C2
k
m ( 2) at x = L, T = TL C
T0 = − 1 ( 0 ) + C2 → C2 = T0
k
x=0 x = 25 mm C1 C1 TL − T0
x TL − T0 = − ( L ) → − =
x k k L
▪ steady-state  T − T0   303.2 K − 318.4 K 
T ( x) =  L  x + T0 =   x + 318.4 K
conduction  L   25 mm 
▪ isotropic wall
material with  K 
constant temperature profile: T ( x ) = −  0.608  x + 299.9 K
 mm 
properties
▪ 1D heat
dT TL − T0 q dT  T0 − TL 
transfer Fourier's law: = → = −k = k 
along the x- dx L A dx  L 
direction
▪ uniform wall W  318.4 K − 303.2 K 
35.1 = k  
area m2  0.025 m 
▪ no internal
heat W
generation thermal conductivity: k = 0.0577
mK

Click to see the next problem

Problem 4
A cooling coil of 1.0 ft of 304 stainless steel tubing having an
inside diameter of 0.25 inch and an outside diameter of 0.40 inch
is at the inside surface of the tube is 40C and 80F on the
outside. The thermal conductivity of 304 stainless steel is a
function of temperature:
Btu
k ( T ) = 7.75 + 7.78  10 To F in
−3

h  ft  F
o

Determine the temperature profile across the tube thickness,

then calculate the rate of heat removal into the cooling tube.

Click to see the solution

▪ steady-state r
conduction k = a + bT
▪ isotropic cylinder r2 = 0.20 in Btu
material with T2 = 80 F
o a = 7.75
constant h  ft  o F
properties Btu
▪ slender geometry
r1 = 0.125 in b = 7.78  10 −3

r h  ft  o F2
(r << L) --> 1D T1 = 40 F
o

heat transfer
along the r-
direction (radial) L = 1 ft
▪ constant cross-
section area heat  heat   heat   heat 
▪ no internal heat  in  −  out  +  generation  = accumulation 
       
generation
 q    q  
 A   2 rL −
  A   2 rL 
 q    q      
 A   2 rL −
  A   2 rL  +0=0 →  r   r + r
=0
   r    r + r 2 rLr
  q    q  
 A   r  −  A   r  1 d  q   d  q  
   r    r + r →  r = 0
→ =0 → −     r = 0   
dr  A  
rr r dr  A  

q dT dr b 2
→  r = −k  r = C1 → ( a + bT ) dT = −C1 → aT + T = − C1 ln ( r ) + C2
A dr r 2
boundary conditions:
b 2
(1) at r1 = 0, T = T1 → aT1 + T1 = − C1 ln ( r1 ) + C2
2
( 2 ) at r2 = L, T = T2 b
aT2 + T2 2 = −C1 ln ( r2 ) + C2
2
r  a ( T − T ) +
b
T (2
− T 2
)
b
( )
a ( T2 − T1 ) + T2 2 − T12 = − C1 ln  2  → − C1 =
2 1 2 1
2
2  r1  r 
ln  2 
 r1 

b a ( T2 − T1 ) +
b
( T2 2 − T12)  b 
a ( T2 − T1 ) +
b
( T2 2 − T12 )
aT1 + T12 = 2 ln ( r1 ) + C2 → C2 =  aT1 + T12  − 2 ln ( r1 )
2 r   2  r 
ln  2  ln  2 
 r1   r1 
 b a ( T2 − T1 ) +
b
(
T2 2 − T12 )  b 2 a ( T − T ) +
b
T 2
(
− T 2
)
ln ( r1 )
2 1 2 1
substituting: aT + T 2 = 2 ln ( r ) +  aT1 + T1  − 2
2 r   2  r 
ln  2  ln  2 
 r1   r1 
r
2
(
b 2
a ( T − T1 ) + T − T1 2
) ln  
 r1 
temperature profile: =
r 
b
(
a ( T2 − T1 ) + T2 2 − T12
2
) ln  2 
 r1 
 
b
(
a ( T2 − T1 ) + T2 − T1 1
2 2
)  a ( T − T ) + (b
T 2
−) T 2
1
( )
2 1 2 1
q C1 2
heat flux: = =− 2  → q= −   2 r L
A r  r2  r   r2  r
ln  

ln   
 1
r   r1 
Btu
7.78  10 −3
 Btu 
( )  
( ) (
F  80 o F 2 − 40 o F 2 
)
o 2
o
− o
+ h ft
 7.75
h  ft  o F 
80 F 40 F  
 2
q=− ( 2 )(1 ft )
 0.20 in 
ln  
 0.125 in 
Btu Btu
q = −4394 or 4394 of heat flowing inward ( −r direction )
h h
So how did you fare?
(Don’t forget to write these problems in your notebook/note compilation.)