U17AEE0004- Cryogenic

Engineering
R.ARUL PRAKASH Lead Faculty

Department of Aeronautical Engineering

 Week 2
UNIT 2-Cryogenic Heat Transfer
Module 1 - Basic modes of heat transfer:
Topic1 :Conduction, Convection and Radiation in cryogenic
systems
in steady and unsteady conditions
Basic Modes of Heat Transfer
Because cryogenic systems operate at temperature levels that are far below
ambient temperature, heat transfer is always an important concern.
In some cases, such as cryogenic fluid storage vessels (i.e., Dewars), the
engineer is concerned with reducing the heat transfer rate to a low value.
The fundamental treatment of cryogenic heat transfer is similar to heat
transfer at near ambient temperature.
In the design of cryogenic heat exchangers, however, the goal is to
promote the highest rate of heat transfer that is possible for a given heat
exchanger size.
 However, some problems arise that are specific to cryogenic heat transfer:
Problems arise in cryogenic heat
transfer
1.Effects of variable material properties
The transport properties of materials generally vary significantly in
the cryogenic temperature range.
For example, the specific heat of solids at low temperatures varies
as the third power of the absolute temperature.
In contrast, the specific heats of metals at about room temperature
may vary by less than 5% for a temperature change of up to 100°F.
Constant property analysis may be valid for many ambient
temperature applications but is often inaccurate when applied to
cryogenic heat transfer problems.
2.Thermal insulation
All cryogenic liquids have a relatively small heat of vaporization .
For example, the heat of vaporization associated with liquid nitrogen is only
199.3 kJ/kg at a pressure of 1 atm.
Conversely , the heat of vaporization of water at 1 atm is 2257 kJ/kg .
Because of liquefaction costs, safety considerations, and low heat of
vaporization, special high-performance insulations are required to reduce the
evaporation rate of cryogenic liquids in storage vessels.
The thermal conductivity of multilayer insulations (MLIs) used in cryogenic
systems is approximately 1000× smaller than the thermal conductivity of the
fiberglass insulation that is commonly used in the thermal insulation of
residences.
3.Near-critical-point
convection
The thermodynamic critical pressure for many cryogenic
fluids (e.g., hydrogen and helium) is much lower than the
critical pressure associated with most conventional fluids
(e.g., water).
Convective heat transfer at near-critical and super-
critical conditions is therefore encountered more
frequently in cryogenic systems than it is in systems
operating at ambient or elevated temperatures.
4.Thermal radiation problems
The wavelength at which the peak radiant intensity occurs for blackbody
radiation is inversely proportional to the absolute temperature according to
Wien’s law. For example, at 1 K the peak occurs at a wavelength of 2.9 mm
(or about 0.1 in.).
Most metallic shields that are used to reduce radiation heat transfer in
cryogenic systems will have thicknesses that are comparable to or less than
this value.
As a result, the treatment of radiation problems at cryogenic temperature can
be very different than if the materials were near room temperature where the
wavelength peak occurs at about 0.01 mm (or 0.0004 in.).
5.Heat exchanger design
Liquefaction systems and cryocoolers require heat exchangers
that operate at high effectiveness levels corresponding to
approach temperatures of only a few degrees.
Significantly larger approach temperatures may be tolerated in
more conventional applications such as gas turbine heat
exchangers and air conditioning heat exchangers.
Therefore, the proper design of the heat exchanger for cryogenic
application is critical and effects that may often be neglected near
room temperature (e.g., axial conduction) may become quite
important.
Heat Energy –Overview
1.What is meant by heat ?
2.What is the difference between heat and
temperature ?
3.How you can feel the heat ?
4.Is heat is a point or path functions ?
 Reviewing Heat
(Thermal) Energy
Heat (thermal) energy is created by the
movement of particles due to the temperature
difference .
Heat (thermal) energy increases as temperature
increases because as temperature increases,
atoms move faster (have more kinetic energy).
 Transfer of Heat
(Thermal) Energy
Heat (thermal energy) is transferred from
one object to another when the objects are
at different temperatures.
The amount of heat (thermal energy) that
is transferred when two objects are brought
into contact depends on the difference in
temperature between the objects.
 Transfer of Heat
(Thermal) Energy
Heat is transferred only when two objects
are at different temperatures
Thermal energy always moves from
warmer to cooler objects
The warmer object loses thermal energy
and becomes cooler as the cooler object
gains thermal energy and becomes
warmer.
Energy will continue to move from a
warmer object to a cooler object until both
have the same temperature.
What will happen to the coffee
as it continues to sit?
Heat Transfer can occur in
three ways:

Conduction
Convection
Radiation
 Conduction
Conduction is the
transfer of heat by
direct contact
(particles collide)
Conduction occurs
most easily in solids
and liquids
 Conduction
Why is conduction easier in solids and
liquids?
Atoms and molecules are closer together in solids and liquids. So, the particles
need to move only a short distance before they bump into one another and
transfer energy.
Explain the movement of thermal
energy in the picture below.
Faster moving molecules in your warm
hand bump against the slower moving
molecules in the ice. Thermal energy
moves from your warmer hand to the
colder ice. The slow moving molecules
in the ice move faster.
 Your turn…Explain the movement
of thermal energy if you were about
to eat the Chinese food below. How
is this an example of Conduction?
Categories of Heat Transfer
Conductive Heat Transfer
Conduction occurs when two object at different
temperatures are in contact with each other.
Conduction is the movement of heat through a
substance by the collision of molecules.
Solids are better conductor than liquids and liquids
are better conductor than gases. Metals are very
good conductors of heat, while air is very poor
conductor of heat.
Conduction
 Conductors and Insulators

Substances that transfer

thermal energy very well are
called Conductors.
Substances that do not
transfer thermal energy very
well are called Insulators.
 Convection
• Convection is the
flow of currents
in a liquid or gas
• A current is created
when the warmer
(less dense)
material rises
forcing the
cooler (more
dense) material to
sink.
Everyday Examples of Convection Currents
 Radiation
• Radiation is heat transfer through
space by electromagnetic waves
• Unlike Conduction and Convection,
Radiation can occur in empty space,
as well as in solids, liquids, and gases.
• Waves such as visible light, infrared,
and ultraviolet light are examples of
radiation
Radiation
Look at the examples of Heat Transfer
in the Image below
Look at the examples of Heat Transfer
in the Image below
Look at the three images below. Identify
which is an example of conduction,
convection, and radiation.

A. B. C.
Look at the three images below. Identify
which is an example of conduction,
convection, and radiation.
Convective Heat Transfer

Thermal convection is the transfer of heat from a fluid to

a colder surface by means of fluid particle motion.
There are two types of convective heat transfer.
Forced convection occurs when a fluid is forced or
pumped past a surface
Free convection or natural convection occurs when
fluid motion is caused by density differences within the
fluid.
Newton’s Law of Cooling for
Convection
Convection
Radiative Heat Transfer
Thermal radiation involves the transfer of heat from one body
to another at a lower temperature by electromagnetic waves
passing through the intervening medium.
Radiant energy striking a material may be partly absorbed,
transmitted, or reflected.

.
Radiation
Practical Occurrences
1. Why metallic park bench colder than a wooden park bench?
2. How does a fan provide cooling effect? Does it blow cold air?
3. What type of is the insulation used in houses?
4. Why does our skin dry-up in a heated room?
5. Why are higher altitude places colder?
6. Does hot water freeze faster than cold water?
7. In winter, do hot or cold water pipes burst first?
8. What is greenhouse effect? What is the principle behind it?
9. Can you lose weight by drinking cold water?
10.Why are “fins” present on the outside of the radiator of a car?
11.How does an igloo keep an Eskimo warm?
12.Why the flames are upward?