Heat Transfer Week 1_Assignment 1

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. For an isobaric flow with constant thermal conductivity and no heat generation, the
general heat conduction equation reduces to:
DT
a. Cv  k2T
Dt
T
b. Cv  k2T
t
DT
c. Cv 0
Dt
d. 2T  0

Answer: a

2. Heat is generated in a radioactive plane wall according to the relationship:

 x
q  qmax 1  
 L

Where, q is the volumetric heat generation in kW/m3, L is the half thickness of the
plate, and x is measured from the plate center-line. What is the final equation that
expresses the temperature difference between the plate center-line and its surface (
Tc  To )? The schematic of the plate is given as follows:

a. Tc  To  0

q max L2
b. Tc  To 
3k
 5
q max L 3
c. Tc  To  3
2
3k

q max L
d. Tc  To 
k

Answer: b

Solution: The general heat conduction equation for the case of a 1-dimensional, steady state
heat transfer with internal heat generation is given by:

d 2T q
 0 (01)
dx 2 k

The rate of internal heat generation for the present system is given as: (as stated in the
problem)

 x
q  qmax 1   (02)
 L

Substituting equation (02) in (01) would result in:

d 2T q max  x
 1  L   0 (03)
dx2 k

Integrating equation (03), with respect to the boundary conditions of:

dT
At x = 0;  0  T  Tc --------- (Symmetry)
dx

At x = L; T = To ---------- (isothermal external surface)

Therefore, post integration the final equation would be:

q max L2
Tc  To 
3k
 3. Consider steady-state heat conduction across the thickness in a plane composite wall
(as shown in figure) exposed to convective conditions on both sides.

Give: hi = 20 W/m2K; ho = 50 W/m2K; Ti = 200C; T0 = - 20C; k1 = 20 W/m K; k2 = 50 W/m

K;

L1 = 0.30 m and L2 = 0.15 m

Assuming negligible contact resistance between the wall surfaces, the interface temperature,
in T (0C) of the two walls will be

a. -0.50
b. 2.75
c. 3.75
d. 4.50

Answer: c

Solution:

Req = 1/hiA +L1/ k1A + L2/ k2A + 1/h0A

= 1/A (1/20 + 0.30/20 + 0.15/50 + 1/50

= 0.088/A

Now,

Q = (Ti – T0)/ Req = (Ti - T)/( 1/hiA +L1/ k1A)

Therefore, 22/ (0.088/A) = (Ti - T)/ (0.065/A)

(22 * 0.065)/0.088 = 293 – T

T= 3.75 0C

4. The equation relating the heat transfer rate to the temperature gradient is :
a. Rate = k. (T1 – T2)/d
b. Rate = = k. A. (T1 – T2)/d
 c. Rate = A. (T1 – T2)/d
d. None of the above

Answer: b

5. If the thickness of the material through which heat is transferred is increased by a

factor of two, then the rates of heat transfer:
a. Increases by a factor of 4
b. Decreases by a factor of 4
c. Increases by a factor of 2
d. Decreases by a factor of 2

Answer: d

6. In conduction process the molecules of the solid pass the heat from one to the other:
a. Without moving themselves from their positions
b. With moving themselves from one place to another
c. Without any medium
d. None of the above

Answer: a

7. Units of thermal conductivity in S.I. units is

a. J/m2 sec
b. J/m K sec
c. W/m K
d. Both b and c

Answer: d

8. Heat transfer by radiation mainly depends upon

a. Its temperature
b. Nature of the body
c. Kind and extent of its surface
d. All of the above

Answer: d

9. Units of thermal diffusivity is:

a. m2/s
b. m2/s oC
c. kcal/ m2 hr
d. kcal/ m hr oC

Answer: a

10. The units of overall heat transfer coefficient is:

a. kcal/m2
 b. kcal/hr oC
c. kcal/m2 hr oC
d. kcal/m hr oC

Answer: c

True or False:

1. Isotropic materials are those in which the thermal conductivity is independent of the
direction. Most of the engineering materials are isotropic. Wood is also another
classic example of an isotropic material.
a. True
b. False

Answer: b) False, wood is an anisotropic material.

2. The statement – “Good thermal conductors are also good electrical conductors”, is a
valid one. There exists a number known as “Lorenz number”, which states that the
ratio of the thermal to electrical conductivities of all the metals is the same, at a given
temperature.
a. True
b. False

Answer: a) True. That’s the very definition of Lorenz number.

3. The convective heat transfer coefficient is a function of the system geometry, fluid
flow, fluid properties, and the temperature gradient.
a. True
b. False

Answer: b) False. It’s a function of temperature difference, not gradient.

4. Radiation heat transfer is different from conduction and convection, due to the fact
that there is a non-necessity for a medium, for heat to flow via radiation. Therefore,
radiation heat transfer is maximum, when the two bodies involved, are separated in a
vacuum ambience.
a. True
b. False
Answer: a) True. The radiation heat transfer is maximum in a vacuum ambience; the presence
of any medium would result in absorptive, reflective or transmissive loses, thereby reducing
the overall energy transferred between the two objects in concern.

5. The final form of the heat conduction equation (in the differential form), for the
specific case of a 2-dimensional, steady-state, with no internal heat generation, has to
satisfy the Maxwell-Plank equation.
a. True
b. False

Answer: a) False. It has to satisfy the Laplace equation.