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Conductive Heat Transfer

Heat transfer takes place as conduction in a solid if there is a
temperature gradient
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Conduction as heat transfer takes place if there is a temperature gradient in a solid or

stationary fluid medium.

With conduction energy transfers from more energetic to less energetic molecules when
neighboring molecules collide. Heat flows in direction of decreasing temperatures since
higher temperatures are associated with higher molecular energy.

Conductive heat transfer can be expressed with "Fourier's Law"

q = (k / s) A dT  

   = U A dT                               (1)
where

q = heat transfer (W, J/s, Btu/hr)

k = Thermal Conductivity of material (W/m K or W/m  oC, Btu/(hr  oF ft2/ft))

s = material thickness (m, ft)

A = heat transfer area (m2, ft2)

U=k/s

   =  Coefficient of Heat Transfer (W/(m2K), Btu/(ft2 h  oF)

dT = t1 - t2
    = temperature gradient - difference - over the material (oC,  oF)

 Calculate Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient - U-value

Example - Conductive Heat Transfer

A plane wall is constructed of solid iron with thermal conductivity 70 W/moC. Thickness of
the wall is 50 mm and surface length and width is 1 m by 1 m. The temperature is 150  oC on
one side of the surface and 80  oC on the other.

The conductive heat transfer through the wall can be calculated

q = [(70 W/m  oC) / (0.05 m)] [(1 m) (1 m)] [(150  oC) - (80  oC)]

    = 98000 (W)

    = 98 (kW)

Conductive Heat Transfer Calculator.

This calculator can be used to calculate conductive heat transfer through a wall. The
calculator is generic and can be used for both metric and imperial units as long as the use of
units is consistent.

 Calculate overall heat transfer inclusive convection

70

 k - thermal conductivity (W/(mK), Btu/(hr  oF ft2/ft))

 A - area (m2, ft2)

150

 t1 - temperature 1 (oC,  oF)

80

 t2 - temperature 2 (oC,  oF)

0.05

 s - material thickness (m, ft)

Heat transfer (W, Btu/h): 98000

Conductive Heat Transfer through a Plane Surface or Wall with Layers in

Series
The heat conducted through a wall with layers in thermal contact can be calculated as

q = dT A / ((s1  / k1) + (s2  / k2) + ... + (s / kn))                                (2)

n 

where 

dT = t1 - t2

    = temperature difference between inside and outside wall (oC,  oF)

Note that heat resistance due to surface convection and radiation is not included in this

equation. Convection and radiation in general have major impact on the overall heat transfer
coefficients. 

Example - Conductive Heat Transfer through a Furnace Wall 

A furnace wall of 1 m2 consist of 1.2 cm thick stainless steel inner layer covered with 5
cm outside insulation layer of insulation board. The inside surface temperature of the steel
is 800 K and the outside surface temperature of the insulation board is 350 K. The thermal
conductivity of the stainless steel is 19 W/(m K) and the thermal conductivity of the insulation
board is 0.7 W/(m K). 

The conductive heat transport through the layered wall can be calculated as

q = [(800 K) - (350 K)] (1 m2) / ([(0.012 m) / (19 W/(m K))] + [(0.05 m) / (0.7 W/(m K))])

          = 6245 (W)

          = 6.25 kW

 Thermal conductivity metals

 Thermal conductiivity Perlite insulation
Thermal Conductivity Units

 Btu/(h ft2  oF/ft)

 Btu/(h ft2  oF/in)
 Btu/(s ft2  oF/ft)
 Btu in)/(ft² h °F)
 MW/(m2 K/m)
 kW/(m2 K/m)
 W/(m2 K/m)
 W/(m2 K/cm)
 W/(cm2  oC/cm)
 W/(in2  oF/in)
 kJ/(h m2 K/m)
 J/(s m2  oC/m)
 kcal/(h m2  oC/m)
 cal/(s cm2  oC/cm)

 1 W/(m K) = 1 W/(m  oC) = 0.85984 kcal/(h m  oC) = 0.5779 Btu/(ft h  oF) = 0.048
Btu/(in h  oF) = 6.935 (Btu in)/(ft² h °F)

 Thermal Conductivity Units Converter

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