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1. Consider a medium in which the heat conduction equation is given in its

simplest form as

(a) Is heat transfer steady or transient?

(b) Is heat transfer one-, two-, or three-dimensional?
(c) Is there heat generation in the medium?
(d ) Is the thermal conductivity of the medium constant or variable?

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 ➢One-dimensional Heat Conduction Equation in a Long Cylinder
• Consider a thin cylindrical shell element of thickness ∆ r in a long cylinder, as shown in Fig.
• Assume the density of the wall is 𝜌, the specific heat is c, and the length is L. The area of the
cylinder normal to the direction of heat transfer at any location is A=2𝜋𝑟𝐿 where is the value
of the radius at that location. Note that the heat transfer area A depends on r in this case, and
thus it varies with location. An energy balance on this thin cylindrical shell element during a
small time interval ∆ t can be expressed as

(1)

(2)

(3)

Substituting into Eq (1), we get 3

Dividing by A ∆𝑟 gives
(4)

Taking the limit as ∆𝑟 0 and ∆t 0 yields

since, from the definition of the derivative and Fourier’s law of heat conduction,

Noting that the heat transfer area in this case is A=2𝜋𝑟𝐿, the one-dimensional transient heat conduction equation in a cylinder
becomes

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For the case of constant thermal conductivity, the previous equation reduces to

𝑘
where the property a 𝛼= is the thermal diffusivity of the material and represents how fast
𝜌𝐶
heat propagates through a material. It reduces to the following forms under specified
conditions

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 ➢ GENERAL HEAT CONDUCTION EQUATION (Cylindrical Coordinates)
• The general heat conduction equation in cylindrical coordinates can be obtained from an
energy balance on a volume element in cylindrical coordinates, shown in Fig. It can also
be obtained directly from Eq. of rectangular by coordinate transformation using the
following relations between the coordinates of a point in rectangular and cylindrical
coordinate systems:

After lengthy manipulations, we obtain

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 ➢One-dimensional Heat Conduction Equation in a Sphere
• Consider the density of the sphere is 𝜌, the specific heat is c, and the outer radius R. The
area of the sphere normal to the direction of heat transfer at any location is A=4𝜋𝑟 2 where r
is the value of the radius at that location. Note that the heat transfer area A depends on r in
this case, and thus it varies with location. By considering a thin spherical shell element of
thickness ∆ r and repeating the approach described above for the cylinder by using A=4𝜋𝑟 2
instead of A=2𝜋𝑟𝐿 , the one-dimensional transient heat conduction equation for a sphere is
determined to be .

which, in the case of constant thermal conductivity, reduces to

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➢ GENERAL HEAT CONDUCTION EQUATION (Spherical Coordinates)
• The general heat conduction equation in spherical coordinates can be obtained from an
energy balance on a volume element in spherical coordinates, shown in Fig. It can also be
obtained directly from Eq. of rectangular by coordinate transformation using the
following relations between the coordinates of a point in rectangular and spherical
coordinate systems:

After lengthy manipulations, we obtain

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➢Combined One-Dimensional Heat Conduction Equation
• For the plane wall, cylinder, and sphere reveals that all three equations can be expressed
in a compact form as

Where
n = 0 for a plane wall it is customary to replace the variable r by x
n =1 for a cylinder,
n =2 for a sphere.
This equation can be simplified for steady-state or no heat generation cases as
described before.

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EXAMPLE 1

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EXAMPLE 2

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EXAMPLE 3

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 ➢Heat conduction in cylinders and spheres
• Consider a long cylindrical layer (such as a circular pipe) of
inner radius r1, outer radius r2, length L, and average thermal
conductivity k . The two surfaces of the cylindrical layer are
maintained at constant temperatures T1 and T2 . There is no
heat generation in the layer and the thermal conductivity is
constant.
• For one-dimensional heat conduction through the cylindrical
layer, we have T(r). Then Fourier’s law of heat conduction for
heat transfer through the cylindrical layer can be expressed as

where A=2𝜋𝑟𝐿 is the heat transfer area at location r. Note that A

depends on r, and thus it varies in the direction of heat transfer. A long cylindrical pipe (or spherical
Separating the variables in the above equation and integrating from shell) with specified inner and outer
r = r1, where T(r1) =T1, to r = r2, where T(r2)=T2, gives surface temperatures T1 and T2
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Substituting A=2𝜋𝑟𝐿 and performing the integrations give

Since . This equation can be rearranged as

where

is the thermal resistance of the cylindrical layer against heat conduction, or simply the
conduction resistance of the cylinder layer.
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 We can repeat the analysis for a spherical layer by taking A=4𝜋𝑟 2 and performing the
integrations in equation

The result can be expressed as

is the thermal resistance of the spherical layer against heat conduction, or simply the
conduction resistance of the spherical layer.

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 • The thermal resistance network or a cylindrical (or spherical) shell subjected to
convection from both the inner and the outer sides .
• The rate of heat transfer under steady conditions can be expressed as

for a cylindrical layer,

for a spherical layer

• Note that A in the convection resistance relation Rconv =1/hA is the surface area at which
convection occurs.
• A=2𝜋𝑟𝐿 (cylinder),
• A=4𝜋𝑟 2 (sphere), 22
 ➢Multilayered Cylinders and Spheres
• Steady heat transfer through multilayered cylindrical or spherical shells can be handled
just like multilayered plane walls discussed earlier by simply adding an additional
resistance in series for each additional layer.

where Rtotal is the total thermal resistance,

expressed as

• A1=2𝜋𝑟1𝐿
• A4=2𝜋𝑟4𝐿
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EXAMPLE 4

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EXAMPLE 5

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 ➢Critical radius of insulation
• Consider a cylindrical pipe of outer radius r1 whose outer
surface temperature T1 is maintained constant. The pipe is now
insulated with a material whose thermal conductivity is k and
outer radius is r2. Heat is lost from the pipe to the surrounding
medium at temperature T∞, with a convection heat transfer
coefficient h. The rate of heat transfer from the insulated pipe to
the surrounding air can be expressed as

ሶ
The variation of 𝑄with the outer radius of the insulation r2 is
plotted in Fig.

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• The value of r2 or ro at which 𝑄ሶ reaches a maximum is determined from the requirement
that
d𝑄ሶ /dr2=0 (zero slope).

solving for r2 or ro yields the critical radius of insulation for a cylindrical body to be

• The critical radius of insulation for a spherical shell is

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EXAMPLE 6

Solution

we calculate ro as
The inside radius of the insulation is 5.0/2=2.5 cm, so the heat transfer is calculated from
Equation as

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So, the addition of 3.17 cm(5.67−2.5) of insulation actually increases the heat transfer by
25 percent.
As an alternative, fiberglass having a thermal conductivity of 0.04 W/m·◦C might be employed
as the insulation material. Then, the critical radius would be

Now, the value of the critical radius is less than the outside radius of the pipe (2.5 cm), so
addition of any fiberglass insulation would cause a decrease in the heat transfer. In a practical
pipe insulation problem, the total heat loss will also be influenced by radiation as well as
convection from the outer surface of the insulation.

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EXAMPLE 7

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