ENME3HM
Tutorial Problems: Transient Conduction
1) A hiker wishes to ensure that a 105mm diameter orange that is removed from a fridge at 4°C
will remain with a centre temperature below 20°C after four hours when T ambient = 23°C and
the following conditions apply. Convection Coefficient, h=6 W/(m2K) , Conductivity of
orange=0.431W/(mK), Density of orange =998kg/m3, Specific heat orange, CP = 2kJ(/kg K). Note
Use characteristic length = D/6 .
a. Will the Hiker succeed?.....
b. After 3.7hrs what will be the surface temperature of the
orange?(Ans: a) no, it will be reached in 3.92 hrs. b) 22.94)
2) A series of short cylindrical axle pins 50mm in diameter are to be heat treated in a furnace which
is at 760°C. The centerline temperature required for adequate heat treatment is 540°C. These
steel cylinders are placed end-to-end so they can be modelled as if they were an infinite
cylinder. The following properties apply,
Conductivity of steel = 36W/(mK), α = 0.97x10-5, h = 12 W/(m2K)
What is the minimum time that must elapse for the Centre line temp to reach 540°C?
(Ans: 4663 s)
3) A precast concrete wall is of 150mm width and is at 25°C when a fire on one side of the wall
suddenly raises the temperature to 200°C. Determine how long it will take for the fire to raise
the temperature on the other side to 100°C. The following properties apply, Conductivity of
concrete = 0.128W/(mK), α = 0.049x10-5 m2/s.
4) A town near the Arctic circle has an average summer temperature of 21°C. As winter approaches
the soil surface rapidly drops to -12°C and stays constant at this value for 3 months. Using semi-
infinite theory determine how deep the zero-temperature line will drop below the surface in
that three-month period. In other words, how deep must water pipes be buried below the
surface if they are not to freeze and be cracked by the cold weather? The following properties
apply, Conductivity of soil = 0.52W/(mK), density of soil = 2100kg/m3, Specific heat soil
CP=1715J/(kg K) (Ans: 0.72m)
5) A steel ball 50mm in diameter and initially at a uniform temperature of 450°C is suddenly placed
in an oil bath maintained at 100°C. The convection coefficient is 10W/m2K. Calculate the time
for the ball to attain a temperature of 150°C. The following properties apply, Conductivity of
steel = 35W/(mK), density of steel=78500 kg/m3, Specific heat steel CP = 0.46 kJ/(kg K).
(Ans 5855 seconds)
6) A large aluminum plate that is 50mm thick is initially at a uniform temperature of 200°C before
it is exposed to a convective environment where h = 525W/m2K. Calculate the temperature at
a distance of 12.5mm from one of the faces 60 seconds after the plate has been exposed to a
70°C environment. The following properties apply, Conductivity of Aluminium = 215W/(mK),
thermal diffusivity, α = 8.4x10-5 m2/s. (Ans: 149.46 degc)
7) A company operating in a hot climate cures a spherical rubber ball of diameter 40mm and
initially at 20°C for 4 minutes in oil at 100°C. The same process is to be repeated in a colder
climate where the ball is initially at 5°C before being submerged in the oil at 100°C. Calculate
the additional time that must be allowed for curing in the colder climate. (An additional 27 s)
38
ENME3HM
Given krubber = 10W/mK, ρrubber = 1200kg/m3, CPrubber = 2kJ/kgK and for both cases the convective
heat transfer coefficient, h = 100 W/m2K
8) As part of a heat treatment process a slab of steel 60mm thick and at 440°C is suddenly
exposed to a convective environment with h = 235W/m2K and T∞ = 50°C. Calculate the
temperature at the centre of the plate and at a point 15mm from the surface of the steel after
258 seconds has elapsed. (Answer: 284°C and 276.98°C respectively) Given ksteel = 42.6W/
2
mK, αsteel = 0.043m /h
9) As part of a heat treatment process a steel rod of 160mm diameter emerges from an oven
having soaked at 830°C for some hours and is dropped into an oil bath at 40°C.
Calculate the time required for the temperature at the centre of the rod to reach 120°C, the
surface temperature at this time and also when this centreline temperature reaches 120°C,
determine the temperature gradient on the outer surface i.e. Router = 80mm.
(Answer: 2180s, 94°C and 350°C/m) Given: krod = 17.4W/mK, αsteel = 0.019m2/h, h = 180W/m2K
10) An orange 120mm in diameter and at a room temperature of 25°C is placed in a fridge with an
interior temperature of 6°C. Calculate the orange centre temperature after 120mins.
(Answer: 21°C) Given: korange=0.58 W/mK, ρorange = 990 kg/m3 , , Cp=4170 J/kgK and a convective
heat transfer coefficient, h=5.8 W/m2K
11) An Alaskan pipeline has a wall thickness of 40mm and an ID of 1000mm. The pipeline is initially
at -20°C. oil at 60°C is suddenly pumped through the pipe at a rate which gives h = 500W/m2K
on the inner pipe surface. Given that the wall of the pipe may be approximated by a flat slab
and the pipe is well insulated determine,
a. From a calculation of the Biot number whether the lumped analysis approach
is acceptable.
b. The temperature of the outer surface of the pipe after 10 mins
c. The heat flow to the pipe from the oil also at t= 8mins.
d. After 8 mins how many joules/m have been transferred to the pipe wall.
39
