MODULE V

MULTIMODE HEAT TRANSFER

THELMA T. OBILLO, PME

MODULE V
FACULTY, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
1ST SEMESTER SY 2021-2022

Module V
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MULTIMODE HEAT TRANSFER

 INTRODUCTION

In the preceding modules the three basic mechanisms of heat transfer have
been treated separately. In practice, however, heat is usually transferred by several
of the basic mechanisms occurring simultaneously. For example, in the winter, heat
is transferred from the roof of a house to the colder ambient environment not only
by convection but also by radiation, while the heat transfer through the roof from
the interior to the exterior surface is by conduction. Heat transfer between the
panes of a double-glazed window occurs by convection and radiation acting in
parallel, while the transfer through the panes of glass is by conduction with some
radiation passing directly through the entire window system. In this module, we will
examine combined heat transfer problems. We will set up and solve these problems
by dividing the heat transfer path into sections that can be connected in series, just
like an electrical circuit, with heat being transferred in each section by one or more
mechanisms
acting in parallel.

OBJECTIVES

After studying the module, you should be able to:

1. Identify the modes of heat transmission involved in the system.

2. Solve sample problems on combined heat transfer.

 DIRECTIONS/ MODULE ORGANIZER

There is only one lesson in the module. Read carefully then answer the
exercises/activities to find out how much you have benefited from it. Work on these
exercises carefully and submit your output to your instructor.

In case you encounter difficulty, discuss this with your instructor during the
face-to-face meeting.

Good luck and happy reading!!!

Module V Multimode Heat Transfer THELMA T. OBILLO, PME

Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
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Lesson 1

 MULTIMODE HEAT TRANSFER

In most of the practical heat transfer problems heat transfer occurs due to
more than one mechanism. Using the concept of thermal resistance developed
earlier, it is possible to analyze steady state, multimode heat transfer problems in a
simple manner, similar to electrical networks. An example of this is transfer of heat
from outside to the interiors of an air conditioned space. Normally, the walls of the
air conditioned rooms are made up of different layers having different heat transfer
properties. Once again the concept of thermal resistance is useful in analyzing the
heat transfer through multilayered walls. The example given below illustrates these
principles.

Multimode heat transfer through a building wall:

The schematic of a multimode heat transfer building wall is shown in Figure

5.1. From the figure, it can be seen that the three modes of heat are involved. The
rate of heat transfer through the composite wall would be:

T1 − T2
Q1− 2 =
 Rt
 R   R 
=  conv.2 rad .2  + ( Rw,3 + Rw,2 + Rw,1 ) +  conv.1 rad .1 
R R
R
 Rconv.2 + Rrad .2   Rconv.1 + Rrad .1 
t

 Rt = ( R2 ) + ( Rw ) + ( R1 )
Q1−2 = UA (T1 − T2 )

where, overall heat transfer coefficient, U is

1
U=
 Rt A

Module V Multimode Heat Transfer THELMA T. OBILLO, PME

Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
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Figure 5.1 Schematic of a multimode heat transfer building wall

Combined Conduction and Convection

Considering Figure 5.2 with fluids A and B on both sides of the composite (series-
parallel) walls and hA and hB are the convection coefficients of the two fluids,
respectively, the following are the corresponding equations for the resistances and
total heat transfer across the composite wall:

Figure 5.2 Combined conduction and convection

Module V Multimode Heat Transfer THELMA T. OBILLO, PME

Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
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Thermal heat transfer:

Overall Temperature Drop T

q= =
Total Resistance  Rthoverall
Thermal resistances:

For the composite wall :

x A xB xC xD
RA = RB = RC = RD =
k A AA k B AB kC AC k D AD
xE xF xG
RE = RF = RG =
k E AE k F AF kG AG
For the two fluids :
1 1
RFluidA = RFluidB =
hA A hB A
The total thermal resistances will be:

 Rth overall = RFluidA + R12 + R23 + R34 + R35 + RFluidB

Where:
R12 = thermal resistance across 1 to 2 or across material A
R23 = thermal resistance across 2 to 3 or across materials B, C and D
R34 = thermal resistance across 3 to 4 or across material E
R45 = thermal resistance across 4 to 5 or across materials F and G
RFluidA = thermal resistance of Fluid A (hot fluid)
RFluidB = thermal resistance of Fluid B (cold fluid)

Considering the parallel walls B, C, and D, the reciprocal of the resistance across the
wall 2-3 will be equal to the sum of the reciprocals of the individual thermal
resistances each material. In equation form:

1 1 1 1
= + +
R23 RB RC RD

And for the equivalent thermal resistance across parallel walls F and G

RF RG
R45 =
RF + RG

Module V Multimode Heat Transfer THELMA T. OBILLO, PME

Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
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Combined Convection and Radiation in Parallel

In many engineering problems a surface loses or receives thermal energy by

convection and radiation simultaneously. For example, the roof of a house heated
from the interior is at a higher temperature than the ambient air and thus loses heat
by convection as well as radiation. Since both heat flows emanate from the same
potential, that is, the roof, they act in parallel. Similarly, the gases in a combustion
chamber contain species that emit and absorb radiation.

Consequently, the wall of the combustion chamber receives heat by

convection as well as radiation. Figure 5.3 illustrates the cocurrent heat transfer
from a surface to its surroundings by convection and radiation. The total rate of heat
transfer is the sum of the rates of heat flow by convection and radiation, or

q = qc + qr
q = hc A (T1 − T2 ) + h r A (T1 − T2 )

( )
q = hc − h r A (T1 − T2 )
where hc is the average convection heat transfer coefficient between area A1 and
the ambient air at T2, and, as shown previously, the radiation heat transfer
coefficient between A1 and the surroundings at T2 is

1 (T14 − T24 )

hr =
T1 − T2

Figure 5.3 Thermal circuit with convection and radiation acting in parallel

The analysis of combined heat transfer, especially at boundaries of a complicated

geometry or in unsteady-state conduction, can often be simplified by using an
effective heat transfer coefficient that combines convection and radiation. The

Module V Multimode Heat Transfer THELMA T. OBILLO, PME

Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
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combined heat transfer coefficient (or heat transfer coefficient for short) is defined
by

h = hc + h r

The combined heat transfer coefficient specifies the average total rate of
heat flow between a surface and an adjacent fluid and the surroundings per unit
surface area and unit temperature difference between the surface and the fluid. Its
units are W/m2-K.

The concept of resistance networks is also useful in solving problems involving

composite cylinders. A common example of this is steady state heat transfer through
an insulated pipe with a fluid flowing inside. Since it is not possible to perfectly
insulate the pipe, heat transfer takes place between the surroundings and the inner
fluid when they are at different temperatures. For such cases the heat transfer rate
is given by:

Q = U o Ao (Ti − To )

where A is the outer surface area of the composite cylinder and U is the overall
o o
heat transfer coefficient with respect to the outer area given by:

ln  2  ln  3 
r r
+  1+  2+
1 1 r r 1
=
U o Ao hi Ai 2 km L 2 kin L ho Ao

In the above equation, h and h are the inner and outer convective heat transfer
i o
coefficients, A and A are the inner and outer surface areas of the composite
i o
cylinder, k and k are the thermal conductivity of tube wall and insulation, L is the
m in
length of the cylinder, r , r and r are the inner and outer radii of the tube and outer
1 2 3
radius of the insulation respectively. Additional heat transfer resistance has to be
added if there is any scale formation on the tube wall surface due to fouling.

Figure 5.3 Composite cylindrical tube

Module V Multimode Heat Transfer THELMA T. OBILLO, PME

Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
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Sample Solved Problems

Problem 23:
The interior of a refrigerator has inside dimensions 60 cm x 45 cm base area
and 120 cm high. The composite wall is made of two 3 mm mild steel sheets
(kmss=145 kJ/hr-m-oC) with 6 cm glass wool (kgw=0.188 kJ/hr-m-oC)
insulation sandwiched between them. The average values of convective
heat transfer coefficients at the interior and exterior wall are 40.8 and 52.3
kJ/hr- m2-oC, respectively.
(a) Illustrate and label the figure and the thermal circuit
(b) Calculate the individual resistance of this composite wall and the
resistances at the surfaces, and the overall conductance.
(c) For the air temperature inside the refrigerator at 6.5oC and
outside of 25oC, determine the rate at which heat must be
removed from the refrigerator. Also, calculate the temperature
on the outer surface of the metal sheet.

Solution:
a) Illustrate and label the figure and the thermal circuit

Module V Multimode Heat Transfer THELMA T. OBILLO, PME

Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
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b) Solving for the individual resistances

The heat transfer area, A

1 1
Routside air = =
ho A 52.3kJ / m2 − hr −o C
Routside air = 6.248 x10−03 o C − hr / kJ

1 1
Routside air = =
ho A 52.3kJ / m2 − hr −o C
Routside air = 6.248 x10−03 o C − hr / kJ

x1 0.003m
Rmild steel sheet = =
kmss A (145kJ / m − hr −o C )(3.06m2 )
Rmild steel sheet = 6.761x10−06 o C − hr / kJ

x2 0.003m
Rglass wool = =
k gw A ( 0.188kJ / m − hr −o C )(3.06m2 )
Rglass wool = 0.01043O C − hr / kJ

x3 0.003m
Rmild steel sheet = =
kmss A (145kJ / m − hr −o C )(3.06m2 )
Rmild steel sheet = 6.761x10−06 o C − hr / kJ

1 1
Rinside air = =
hi A 40.8kJ / m2 − hr −o C
Rinside air = 8.0097 x10−03 o C − hr / kJ

The total resistance equals the sum of the individual resistances:

R total = Routside air + ( 2  Rmild steel sheet ) + Rglass wool + Rinside air

R total = 6.248 x10−03 + 2 ( 6.761x10−06 ) + 0.1043 + 8.0097 x10 −03  C − hr / kJ

R total = 0.11857C − hr / kJ

Solving for the overall conductance (reciprocal of total thermal resistance),

1 1
Overall Conductance= = = 8.434kJ / hr −o C
 total
R 0.11857C − hr / kJ

c) Solving for the heat loss,

( 25 − 6.5) C = 156.026kJ / hr −o C
o
t
q= =
 Rtotal 0.11857o C − hr / kJ

Module V Multimode Heat Transfer THELMA T. OBILLO, PME

Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
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Since heat flowing through each layer is the same; then for the outside air film

qoutside air =ho A ( to − t1 )

156.026kJ / hr −o C = ( 52.3kJ / m 2 − hr −o C )( 3.06m 2 )( 25o C − t1 )
t1 = 24.02o C

where t1 is the temperature at the outside surface of metal sheet.

Problem 24:
A 0.5-m-diameter pipe carrying steam has a surface temperature of 500
K (see Figure 5.4). The pipe is located in a room at 300 K, and the convection heat
transfer coefficient between the pipe surface and the air in the room is 20 W/m2-K.
Calculate the combined heat transfer coefficient and the rate of heat loss per meter
of pipe length.

Solution:

Figure 5.4 Schematic diagram of steam pipe for Problem 12.

This problem may be idealized as a small object (the pipe) inside a large black
enclosure (the room). Noting that

T14 − T24
= (T12 + T22 ) (T1 + T2 )
T1 − T2

The radiation heat transfer coefficient is

hr =  (T12 − T22 ) (T1 + T2 ) = 13.9W

m2 − K

The combined heat transfer coefficient is

h = hc + hr = 20 + 13.9 = 33.9W
m2 − K

Module V Multimode Heat Transfer THELMA T. OBILLO, PME

Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
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and the rate of heat loss per meter is

q = hA (Tpipe − Tair ) = h ( DL ) (Tpipe − Tair )

q
L (
=  ( 0.5m ) 33.9W 2
m −K )
( 500 − 300 ) K
q
= 10, 650W
L m

Module V Multimode Heat Transfer THELMA T. OBILLO, PME

Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
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 LEARNING TASK
Solve the problem below:

Problem 25:
In the design of a heat exchanger for aircraft application (Figure 5.5), the
maximum wall temperature in steady state is not to exceed 800 K. For the
conditions tabulated below, determine the maximum permissible unit thermal
resistance per square meter of the metal wall that separates the hot gas from the
cold gas.
Hot gas temperature = Tgh = 1300 K
Heat transfer coefficient on hot side = 200 W/m2-K
Heat transfer coefficient on cold side = 400 W/m2-K
Coolant temperature = Tgc = 300 K

Figure 5.5 Physical system and thermal circuit for Problem 25.

Module V Multimode Heat Transfer THELMA T. OBILLO, PME

Faculty, Mechanical Engineering