COURSE CODE: EN 12 – HEAT TRANSFER

Module 1

Week 2-3: June 21-July 2, 2021 | Summer 2021

Introduction
Heat energy is the result of the movement of tiny particles called
atoms, molecules or ions in solids, liquids and gases. Heat energy can be transferred
from one object to another. The transfer or flow due to the difference
in temperature between the two objects is called heat.
COURSE MODULE

Intended Learning Outcomes

 Define heat transfer.
 Identify the different modes of heat transfer.
 Differentiate the three modes of heat transfer.
 Solve problems in heat transfer

Topic
 What is heat?

Heat is energy transfer caused by temperature difference!

Heat is always moving! If you have two objects or substances that are different
temperatures, heat will always move OUT of the warmer object or substance, and
INTO the cooler object or substance. This heat transfer will continue until the objects
are the same temperature.
COURSE MODULE

Heat can transfer (or move) in 3 ways: conduction, convection, and radiation.

1. Conduction
Conduction is how heat transfers through direct contact with objects that are
touching. Any time that two objects or substances touch, the hotter object passes
heat to the cooler object.

 Metals are great conductors since heat pass through it more easily.
 Plastic and wood are poor conductors (insulators). It takes longer for heat to
pass through it.

Fourier’s law is the defining equation for thermal conductivity.

For one-dimensional heat transfer (a plane wall) with constant thermal

conductivity, Fourier’s laws is simplified to:

 Fourier’s Equation:

Where:
Q = heat transmitted, W
A = heat transfer area, m²
= surface temperature on hot side, ◦C or K
= surface temperature on cold side, ◦C or K
x = thickness of the wall, m
 k = thermal conductivity,

Example:
1. An iron plate 2 cm thick has a cross-sectional area of 5000 . One face is at
150 , and the other is at 140 . How much heat passes through the plate
each second? For iron, .

GIVEN:
COURSE MODULE

SOLUTION:
[ ]

2. A metal plate 4.00 mm thick has a temperature difference of 32.0 between

its faces. It transmits 200 kcal/h through an area of 5.00 . Calculate the
thermal conductivity of this metal in W/m

GIVEN:

SOLUTION:

[ ]

2. CONVECTION

Convection: the transfer of thermal energy (heat) through a moving fluid.

– Convection occurs in FLUIDS (liquids and gases).
– Convection produces CURRENTS in both gases and liquids.
– Thermal Energy heat is carried by the particles as they move from one
location to another.

Convection also explains the following phenomena:

 The warm air from the heater vent will rise. Why?
- The warm air is less dense than the surrounding cooler air.
 The cool air is pushed down by the rising warm air.
 What is the best location for a heat vent in a room and why? Near the
ceiling or the floor?
Floor:
Because the warm air will rise to the ceiling.

All types of convection are governed by Newton’s law of cooling:

Where:
Q = heat transmitted, W
COURSE MODULE

A = heat transfer area, m²

= surface temperature on hot side, ◦C or K
= surface temperature on cold side, ◦C or K
h = thermal conductivity,

Newton’s law of cooling is the defining equation for the heat transfer coefficient h.

Example:
1. The hot gas temperature in heat exchanger is 350 ( What is
the surface temperature on the wall if the heat transferred is 1500 .
GIVEN:

SOLUTION:

[ ]

[ ]

3. RADIATION
Radiation: the transfer of (thermal) energy by electromagnetic waves.
– Radiation does not require matter to transfer thermal energy.
• All the sun’s energy that reaches Earth travels through millions of
kilometers of empty space (a vacuum).
– All matter can radiate energy.
• You feel the radiation of thermal energy from a bonfire, a heat
lamp and a light bulb.

• Other examples of the transfer of heat by Radiation:

a. Charcoal grill.
 b. Hot tin roof.
c. Burner on a stove top.

Key Point: For radiation to be felt as heat it must first be absorbed by a

material.
Example: Why do blue jeans feel hotter in the sun than a yellow shirt, even
though they are both exposed to the same amount of sunlight?

– The blue jean fabric absorbs more radiant energy from the sun
than the yellow shirt because of its dark color.
COURSE MODULE

Emissivity of a
∈
black body =1

Example:
1. How many watts will be radiated from a spherical black body 15 cm in
diameter at a temperature of 800 .
GIVEN:

SOLUTION:
∈

[ ⁄ ]
 SUMMARY:

CONDUCTION CONVECTION RADIATION

• Direct contact of • Transfer of energy by • Transfer of energy by
particles waves bulk movement of
• Solids/liquids/gases • Only radiant energy matter (fluids)
• The handle of a that is absorbed • Currents (wind,water)
cooking utensil becomes thermal • Hot air balloon
energy
• Lightbulb
COURSE MODULE
 References
– https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/750-heat-energy
– https://studylib.net/doc/8434282/heat-transfer--conduction--
convection--and-radiation
COURSE MODULE