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Conduction With Internal Heat Generation

This document discusses conduction with internal heat generation, highlighting its significance in various applications like nuclear reactors and electrical conductors. It covers the analysis of a plane wall with uniform heat generation, detailing the heat flow and temperature distribution under steady-state conditions. The chapter also includes mathematical equations for determining temperature profiles and maximum temperature locations within the medium.

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Momanyi Eric
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57 views6 pages

Conduction With Internal Heat Generation

This document discusses conduction with internal heat generation, highlighting its significance in various applications like nuclear reactors and electrical conductors. It covers the analysis of a plane wall with uniform heat generation, detailing the heat flow and temperature distribution under steady-state conditions. The chapter also includes mathematical equations for determining temperature profiles and maximum temperature locations within the medium.

Uploaded by

Momanyi Eric
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Conduction with Internal Heat Generation

1.5 Conduction with Internal Heat Generation

1.5.1 Introduction
Some of the cases where heat generation and heat conduction are encountered include:

i. Fuel rods in a Nuclear reactor.


ii. Electrical conductors.
iii. Chemical and combustion processes.
iv. Drying and setting of concrete.

It is important that heat generation rate is controlled to prevent failure of some equipment e.g.
nuclear accidents, electrical fuses blowing out etc. Thus in the design of thermal systems,
temperature distribution within the medium and the rate of heat dissipation to the surroundings
assume ample significance.

In this chapter, the following cases will be considered:

i. Plane with uniform heat generation.


ii. Dielectric heating.
iii. Cylinder with uniform heat generation.

1.5.2 Plane with uniform heat generation.


Refer to the figure below.

t Element

tmax

t(x)

tw1 tw2

Qx Q(x+dx)

Qg

x=0 x=L/2 X

x dx

x+dx

Dr. Barasa H. Masinde., PhD. Page 1


Conduction with Internal Heat Generation

Consider a plane wall of thickness L (small in comparison with the other dimension) of uniform
thermal conductivity k, and in which heat sources are uniformly distributed in the whole volume.

Let the wall surface be maintained at temperatures tw1 and tw2 respectively.

Assume that the heat flow is one-dimensional, under steady-state conditions, and that there is
uniform volumetric heat generation within the wall.

Consider an element of thickness at a distance x from the left hand face of the wall.

The heat conducted in at distance x is Qx.

Heat generated in the element is Qg.

Where: qg = heat generated per unit volume per unit time in the element (kJ/m3s = kW/m3)

Heat conducted out at distance (x + dx) is Q(x+dx).

As Qg represents an energy increase in the volume element, an energy balance on the element of
thickness dx is given by:

( )

Dr. Barasa H. Masinde., PhD. Page 2


Conduction with Internal Heat Generation

The first and second integration of equation (4) gives equation (5) and (6) respectively.

And,

To solve the constants in equations (5) and (6), consider Case I: where both surfaces have the
same temperatures, tw.

Using the boundary conditions:

When x = 0 in equation (6), then C2 = tw.

When x = L, then equation (6) gives,

Substituting the values of C1 and C2 in equation (6) gives,

In order to determine the location of the maximum temperature, differentiate equation (7) with
respect to (w.r.t.) x and equate the derivative to Zero; that is,

Dr. Barasa H. Masinde., PhD. Page 3


Conduction with Internal Heat Generation

, -

Thus the distribution of temperature given by equation (7) is parabolic symmetrical about the
mid-plane. The maximum temperature (tmax) occurs at x = L/2, and its value is given as:

* +

[ ( ) ]

When heat transfer (Q) takes place towards both surfaces, then each surface is given by,

( )

. /

Using x = 0,

( )

For both surfaces,

Dr. Barasa H. Masinde., PhD. Page 4


Conduction with Internal Heat Generation

Also both surfaces can be solved as,

* +

. /

Also the heat conducted to each wall surface is further dissipated to the surrounding atmosphere
at temperature ta. Therefore invoking Newton’s law of cooling: Q = hA(tw – t),

Substituting the value of tw (from equation 11) into equation (7),

At mid-plane, x = L/2.

( )

Dr. Barasa H. Masinde., PhD. Page 5


Conduction with Internal Heat Generation

. /

1.5.3 Worked Examples.

Dr. Barasa H. Masinde., PhD. Page 6

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