1D Conduction with no generation

The heat diffusion equation, as derived, is given by equation 1.

     
∂ ∂T ∂ ∂T ∂ ∂T ∂T
k + k + k + q̇ = ρcp (1)
∂x ∂x ∂y ∂y ∂z ∂z ∂t
If we assume steady 1-D conduction, with no generation, equation 1 reduces
to
 
d dT
k =0 (2)
dx dx
The only way that equation 2 can be satisfied if either k = 0, or of dT /dx = 0.
A conductivity of zero would imply an ideal thermal insulator, and would of
course result in a zero heat flux. This is clearly not of interest. We are therefor
interested in the second condition which means that kdT /dx = C, or
dT
= c1 (3)
dx
and, recalling Fourier’s law, that the heat flux is a constant with x.
We can easily integrate equation 3, to obtain,

T (x) = c1 x + c2 (4)
Now, we impose the desired boundary conditions, the most simple of which is
a Dirichlet condition, or constant T; T (0) = Ts,1 and T (L) = Ts,2 . Substituting
into equation 4 gives
x
T (x) = (Ts,2 − Ts,1 ) + Ts,1 (5)
L
Next, we can easily determine the heat flux using Fourier’s law.
 
dT Ts,1 − Ts,2
qx = −kA = kA (6)
dX L
Now, let’s condsider our plane wall with convection occuring at each of the
surfaces – a much more realistic boundary condition. Later we will see how to
determine convection coefficients, but for now we will simply assume that we
know the value. [Adjust Figure]
Recall the thermal resistances that we defined earlier. We defined a conduc-
tion resistance as
L
RT,cond = (7)
kA
and a convection resistance as
1
RR,conv = (8)
hA
Let us imagine now that our wall is replaced a thermal resistance, given by
equation 7, and that the two convection boundary conditions are replaced by

1
two more thermal resistanceces, each given by equation 8. We are making a
direct analagy here to an electric circuit made up of three resistors in serial.
The heat rate through the system is analogous to the current in the electric
circuit, and the temperature drop is analogous to the voltage drop. Since all
the resistors are in series, the current which passes through the circuit passes
through each and every resistor. In the real system, the heat energy must pass
from inside the room, through the boundary layer, then through the wall itself
and then through the boundary layer outside. The thermal boundary layer
inside the room bridges the room at T∞,1 and the inside wall temperature Ts,1 .
T∞,1 − Ts,1
qx = (9)
1/h1 A
Where h1 is the convection coefficient representing the convection process
adjacent to the inside wall surface.
The wall conducts heat from the inner surface at Ts,1 to the outer surface
at Ts,2 .
Ts,1 − Ts,2
qx = (10)
L/kA
and finally, the convection process on the outer wall surface convects the
heat energy from the outside wall surface temperature, Ts,1 to the outside air
temperature, T∞,2 .
Ts,2 − T∞,2
qx = (11)
1/h2 A
Since qx is constant through each process, we can combine the above equa-
tions in order to arrive at an expression containing only temperatures that we
know. In this case it is reasonable to assume that we would know the inside air
T, T∞,1 , and the outside air T, T∞,2 .
T∞,1 − T∞,2
qx = (12)
Rtot
where Rtot is simply the sum of the series resistances.
1 L 1
Rtot = + + (13)
h1 A kA h2 A
We will now use these concepts to explore heat transfer through various
fenestration systems.