Department of Chemical Engineering, NITK

Assignment - 1: Heat Transfer (CH250)

1. A boiler furnace has the effective dimensions 4 m by 3 m by 3 m high. The walls are constructed
from an inner firebrick wall 25 cm thick (k = 0.4 W/mK), a layer of ceramic blanket insulation (k
= 0.2 W/mK), 8 cm thick and a steel protective layer (k=54 W/mK) 2 mm thick. The inside
temperature of the firebrick layer was measured as 600°C and the temperature of the outside of
insulation as 60°C. Determine the rate of heat loss through the vertical walls of the furnace. Also
calculate the temperature drop across the steel layer.

2. The inner dimensions of a freezer cabinet are 60 cm x 60 cm x 50 cm (height). The cabinet

walls consist of two 2 mm thick enameled sheet steel (k = 40 W/mK) walls separated by a 4 cm
layer of fibreglass (k=0.049 W/mK) insulation. The inside temperature is to be maintained at -
15°C and the outside temperature on a hot summer day is 45°C. Calculate the maximum amount
of heat to be thrown out assuming a heat transfer coefficient of 10 W/m²K both on the inside and
outside of the cabinet. Also calculate the outer surface temperature of the cabinet.

3. In a manufacturing process a large sheet of plastic 20 mm thick is to be glued to a 20 mm thick

sheet of corkboard. To effect a good bond the glue is to be maintained at a temperature of 50°C
for a long time, which is normally attained by a radiation source on the plastic surface. If the
ambient temperature is 20°C, find the radiant heat flux needed to achieve a good bond between
the two surfaces, and the temperatures of the outer plastic surface. k(plastic) = 1 W/mK, k(cork) =
0.2 W/mK, h(on both sides) = 10 W/m²K. (Losses due to radiation may be neglected.)

4. A steel tube (k = 43.26 W/mK) of 5.08 cm 1.D. and 7.62 O.D. is covered with a 2.54 cm layer
of asbestos insulation (k 0.208 W/mK). The inside surface of the tube receives heat by convection
from a hot gas at a temperature of T=316 °C with a heat transfer coefficient h = 284 W/m³K, while
the outer surface of the insulation is exposed to the ambient air at Tb= 38 °C with a heat transfer
coefficient of hb = 17 W/m²K. Estimate (i) the loss to ambient air for 3 m length of the tube (ii) the
temperature drops across the tube material and insulation layer.

5.A steam pipe is covered with two layers of insulation, the first layer being 3 cm thick and the
second 5 cm. The pipe is made of steel (k = 58 W/mK) having an I.D. of 160 mm and O.D. of 170
mm. The inside and outside film coefficients are 30 and 5.8 W/m²K respectively. Calculate the
heat lost per metre of pipe if the steam temperature is 300°C and the air temperature is 50°C. The
thermal conductivity of the two insulating materials are 0.17 and 0.093 W/mK, respectively.
6. A 30 mm O.D. steam pipe is to be covered with two layers of insulation each having a thickness
of 25 mm. The average thermal conductivity of one insulating material is 5 times that of the other.
Determine the percentage decrease in heat transfer if better insulating material is put next to the
pipe than when it forms the outer layer. Assume that the outside and inside surface temperatures
of the composite insulation are fixed.

7. A 15 cm O.D. steam pipe carrying wet steam at 3600 kPa (3.6 MN/m²) is covered with two
layers of lagging each 4 cm thick. The coefficients of thermal conductivity for the two layers are
0.07 and 0.1 W/mK, respectively. The ambient temperature is 27°C and the heat transfer
coefficient on outer surface is 3 W/m²K. Find the heat lost per hour for a 100 m length of the pipe.
Also find the surface temperature of the lagging. Neglect thermal conductivity effect of the pipe
material.

8.Evaluate the thickness of rubber insulation necessary in the case of a 10 mm diameter copper
conductor to ensure maximum heat transfer to the atmosphere, given the thermal conductivity of
rubber as 0.155 W/mK and the surface film coefficient as 8.5 W/m K. Estimate this maximum heat
transfer rate per metre length of the conductor if the temperature of the rubber is not to exceed
65°C (due to heat generated within) while the atmosphere is at 30°C. Discuss the effect of
insulation on bare conductor.

9. A 25 mm O.D pipe line is to be thermally insulated with a material of thermal conductivity

0.025 W/mK. The heat transfer coefficient for the surroundings is 10 W/m²K. Check whether the
insulation would be effective or not. What should be the maximum value of k for the insulating
material to effectively reduce the heat transfer. Also find the thickness of insulation if an alternative
material with k=0.038 W/mK is employed and it is desired to reduce the heat transfer to 20.7%
from the bare pipe.

10. A plane wall 10 cm thick generates heat at the rate of 30 kW/m³ when an electric current is
passed through it. One face of the wall is insulated, and the other face is exposed to 25°C air. If
the convective heat transfer coefficient between the air and the exposed surface of the wall is 50
W/m²K, determine the maximum temperature in the wall. The thermal conductivity of the wall
material is 3 W/mK.

11.Nichrome, having a resistivity of 110μΩ cm is to be used as a heating element in an electric

heater. The wire used is 2mm in diameter and the other design features include Current flow= 25
A . Surrounding air temperature = 20°C ; k for Nichrome wire = 17.5 W/mK ; Surface heat
transfer coefficient = 46.5 W/m²K. Calculate the rate of heat flow for one metre long heater, and
also the temperature at the surface and central line of the Nichrome wire.

12 .A thin hollow stainless steel tube with I.D. = 7.6 mm and O.D. - 8 mm is heated with a current
of 250 A intensity. The outer surface of the tube is insulated and all the heat evolved in the tube
wall is transferred from the tube through its inner surface. The specific resistance and the thermal
conductivity of steel are respectively 85μΩ-cm² and 18.6 W/mK. Calculate

(a) the volumetric rate of heat liberation from the inner surface.
(b) the temperature drop across the wall.

13.A heating unit made in the form of a 1.2 m long, 6 cm diameter cylinder is placed in an
atmosphere of 18°C. It is provided with 20 longitudinal straight fins 0.3 cm thick which protrude
50 mm from the cylinder surface. The temperature of the base of the fins is 80°C. The local heat
transfer coefficient from the cylinder and fins to the ambient air is 9.3 W/m²K and the thermal
conductivity of the tube wall is 55.7 W/mK Calculate the rate of heat transfer from the finned wall
to the surroundings.

14.The chimney of a steel mill is made of reinforced concrete (k = 1.1 W/mK) and is having an
I.D. of /80 cm and O.D. of 1.3 m. It is to be lined from inside with a refractory material (k = 0.5
W/mK). It is desired that the loss of heat should not exceed 2000 W/m and the temperature of the
inner surface of the concrete is limited to 200°C. The temperature at the inside surface of the lining
due to the flow of flue gases would be 425°C. Calculate the thickness of the refractory lining and
the temperature of the outer surface on the chimney.

15.An electronic semi-conductor device has a rating of 60 mW, and for its proper operation the
inside temperature should not be more than 80°C. It is found that the device can dissipate about
15 mW of heat its own when placed in an environment at 40°C. To avoid overheating of the device
it is proposed to install aluminium (k-190 W/mK) square fins of size 0.5 mmX0.5 mm and 1 cm
long to provide additional cooling Find the number of fins required, taking h=12.5 W/mK.
16.A 1m long, 5 cm diameter cylinder placed in an atmosphere at 40°C is provided with 12
longitudinal straight fins (k-75.6 W/mK). The fins are 0.8 mm thick and protrude 2.5 cm from the
cylinder surface The heat transfer coefficient from the cylinder and fins to the ambient air is 23.25
W/m K. Calculate the rate of heat transfer if the surface temperature is 150°C.

17.An aluminium fin (k-200 W/mK) 3 mm thick and 75 cm long protrudes from a wall at 300°C.
The ambient temperature is 50°C with =10 W/m²K. Compute the heat loss from the fin per unit
depth of material. Also calculate its efficiency and effectiveness.

18.Compare the temperature distributions in a spine (pin fin) having a diameter of 2 cm and length
10 cm and exposed to a convection environment with h=25 W/m2 K for three fin materials: Copper
(k = 385 W/mK), stainless steel (k- 17 W/mK), and glass (k=0.8 W/mK). Also compare the relative
heat flows and fin efficiencies with respect to the copper fin.

19.To determine the thermal conductivity of a long solid 20 mm diameter rod, one end was inserted
into a furnace while the other end was projecting out. The temperature at two points 100 mm apart
were measured and found to be 125°C and 91°C respectively. The heat transfer coefficient over
the surface of the rod was estimated to be 17.45 W/m K. Estimate the thermal conductivity of the
rod.

20.A thermometer well is made of 8 mm outside diameter steel tube and has a thermal conductivity
of 58 W/mK Inside diameter of the well is 6 mm. Making suitable assumptions estimate the true
temperature of the flowing fluid if the temperature recorded by the thermometer is 100°C, the pipe
wall temperature being 50°C. The heat transfer coefficient at the outside of the well may be taken
as 29 W/m2K. Assume length = 140 mm.

21. A steel tube carries steam at a temperature of 320°C. A thermometer pocket (k-52.3 W/mK)
of the diameter 1.5 cm and 1 mm thick is used to measure the temperature. The error to be tolerated
is 1.5% maximum. Estimate the length of the pocket necessary to measure the temperature within
this error. The diameter of the steel tube is 9.5 cm. Suggest a suitable method of locating the
thermometer pocket. The following data can be assumed. h=93.0 W/m²K.
22.An aluminium cube 6 cm on a side is originally at a temperature of 500°C. It is suddenly
immersed in a liquid at 100°C for which h is 120 W/m²K. Estimate the time required for the cube
to reach a temperature of 250 °C. For aluminium: p = 2700 kg/m³. c = 900 J/kg K, k = 204 W/mK.

23.A large wall 62.8 cm thick has uniform temperature of 50°C initially. If the temperature is
suddenly raised to and maintained at 550°, find (i) the temperature at a depth 15.7 cm from the
surface of the wall after 5 hours. (ii) instantaneous heat flow rate through the above plane per m²
after 5 hours. (iii) total heat flow within 5 hours from the above plane. (iv) temperature at the centre
of the wall after 5 hours.(Take a = 0.55 × 107 m²/s; k= 46.4 W/mK).

24.A steel pipe 1 m in diameter and 40 mm wall thickness is heavily insulated on the outside and
is originally at -20°C. A hot oil at 60°C is now pumped through the pipe resulting in a convective
surface condition with h=500 W/m²K at the inner surface of the pipe. What is the temperature of
the exterior pipe surface 8 min. after the start of flow. Also calculate the heat flux to the pipe from
the oil and the energy transferred per metre of pipe length from the oil to the pipe at t=8 min. (For
steel at 20°C, p=7823 kg/m3, c=434 J/ kgK, k=63.9 W/mK, α-188x10 m²/s)

25. A 25 mm O.D. solid steel ball bearing initially at a temperature of 600°C is quenched in oil at
40°C. The convective heat transfer coefficient for this situation is 1500 W/m²K. Calculate the
centre temperature and temperature at 1.25 mm from the surface after the bearing has been in oil
for 30 s. Also calculate the heat lost by the bearing during this time period. The ball bearing
properties are:
p=7690 kg/m3 .c=460 J/kg K, k=24.2 W/mK.

26. A long aluminium cylinder 5 cm in diameter and initially at 200°C is suddenly exposed to a
convection environment at 70°C and 525 W/m²K. Determine the temperature at a radius of 1.25
cm and the heat lost per unit length 1 min., after the cylinder is exposed to environment. (k= 215
W/mK, α=84x10 m²/s, p=2700 kg/m³.c=0.9 kJ/kgK)

27. A short metallic cylinder 75 mm diameter and 10 cm long, initially at a uniform temperature
of 250°C. is placed in a fluid at 40°C resulting in a heat transfer coefficient, h-400 W/m²K.
Determine the temperature at the centre of the cylinder after 4 minutes taking the material
properties as α=0.046 m2/h and k-37 W/mK.

28. An aluminium rod and a copper rod of equal length 1.0 m and cross-sectional area 2 cm2 are
welded together in series. One end is kept at a temperature of 20 °C and the other at 40 °C .
Calculate the amount of heat taken out per second from the hot end. (Thermal conductivity of
aluminium is 200 W ⁄ m °C and of copper is 390 W ⁄ m °C)
29. A motor body is 360 mm in diameter (outside) and 240 mm long. Its surface temperature
should not exceed 55 oC when dissipating 340W. Longitudinal fins of 15 mm thickness and 40
mm height are proposed. The convection coefficient is 40W/m2 oC. determine the number of fins
required. Atmospheric temperature is 30oC. thermal conductivity = 40 W/moC

Given: D = 360x10-3 m ,L = 240 x10-3 m, Tb = 55oC, Q generating = 340W , Longitudinal fin: tfin
= 15X 10-3 m , hfin = 40X10-3 m , h = 40W/m2oC ,k = 40 W/m oC, T∞ = 30 oC

30. A long carbon steel rod of length 40 cm and diameter 10 mm (k = 40 w/mK) is placed in such
that one of its end is 400o C and the ambient temperature is 30o C. the flim co-efficient is 10
w/m2K. Determine temperature at the mid length of the fin. Given: l = 40x10 -2 m ; d = 10 x 10 -3
m ; k = 40 W/mK ; Tb = 400o C ; T∞ = 30 o C ; H = 10 w/m2K

31 . A spherical ball is covered with 1-mm thick plastic insulation. It is to be determined if the
plastic insulation on the ball will increase or decrease heat transfer from it. The thermal
conductivity of plastic cover is given to be k = 0.13 W/m⋅°C and h = 20W/m2°C

32. A spherical shaped vessel of 1.2 m diameter is 100 mm thick. Find the rate of heat leakage, if
the temperature difference between the inner and outer surfaces is 200o C. Thermal conductivity
of material is 0.3 kJ /mhoC.

33. The inside temperature of a furnace is 1500°F and its wall are lined with a 4 in. thick refractory
brick. The ambient temperature is 100°F. Compute the rate of heat flow through the walls and the
temperature profile across the wall, if the variation of thermal conductivity of the refractory is
given by k = 0.10 + 5 × 10–5T

34. Determine the average surface conductance per unit length of a long rod, 0.33 in. diameter,
exposed to hot air blast at 110°F. The temperature of the rod has increased from 50°F to 70°F in
60 seconds. Assume the thermal conductivity for rod material as k = 300 Btu/hr. ft.°F, ρ =
600 lbm/ft3, and Cp = 0.18 Btu/lbm.°F.

35. A spherical container of negligible thickness holding a hot fluid at 1400 and having an outer
diameter of 0.4 m is insulated with three layers of each 50 mm thick insulation of k1 = 0.02: k2 =
0.06 and k3 = 0.16 W/mK. (Starting from inside). The outside surface temperature is 300C.
Determine (i) the heat loss, and (ii) Interface temperatures of insulating layers.