Solar Energy Assignment Six
Solar Energy Assignment Six
Faculty of Science
Department of Physics
Yerindabo Anthony
2022/U/SMP/00286
2201200286
ASSIGNMENT SIX
Lecturer
Dr. E. Bwayo
ii) convection
iii) radiation
c) The heat flow along a ”bar” between two heat reservoirs at TA , TB is shown
in Figure below. If the heat transfer rate Q̇, is a function of the temperature
of the two reservoirs,
1
The heat transfer rate Q̇ is given by
Q̇ = f2 (TA , TB )
d) The figure above shows a slab bounded by temperatures T1 and T2 with Tem-
perature boundary conditions as shown above.
2
i) Calculate the temperature distribution and hence sketch a graph for vari-
ation of T with x
d2
1 dA dT
=0
dx2 A dx dx
The area A is not a function of x, i.e. A = constant. Equation above thus
becomes
d2 T
=0
dx2
Integrating the equation yields
dT
=a
dx
And
T = ax + b
where a and b in the above expression are constants. Applying boundary
conditions as T (o) = T1 ; T (L) = T2
The condition T (0) = T1 implies that b = T1 . the condition T2 = T (L)
implies that T2 = aL + T1 , or
T2 − T1
a=
L
The expression for temperature can then be written as
T2 − T1
T (x) = T1 + x
L
This linear variation in temperature for a situation in which T1 > T2 .
3
i) Show that the heat transfer equation is written as:
d dT
k A(r) = 0whereA = 2πr
dr dr
The general form of the heat conduction equation in steady-state (no time
dependence) is given by:
d dT
kA = 0,
dr dr
where:
- k is the thermal conductivity,
- A is the cross-sectional area through which heat is being conducted,
- T is the temperature.
For a cylindrical object, the cross-sectional area A is given by:
A = 2πr,
4
ii) Show that the heat transfer rate Q̇ is given by;
(T1 − T2 )
Q̇ = 2πk
ln(r2 /r1 )
(T1 − T2 )
Q̇ = 2πk ,
ln rr21
we start from the heat conduction equation derived earlier:
We have the steady-state heat conduction equation in cylindrical coordi-
nates:
d dT
r = 0.
dr dr
Integrating this equation gives:
dT
r = C1 ,
dr
where C1 is a constant of integration.
Rearranging gives:
dT C1
= .
dr r
Integrating again with respect to r:
T (r) = C1 ln(r) + C2 ,
where C2 is another constant of integration.
We apply boundary conditions at r = r1 and r = r2 :
- Let T (r1 ) = T1
- Let T (r2 ) = T2
T1 = C1 ln(r1 ) + C2 ,
T2 = C1 ln(r2 ) + C2 .
Subtract the two equations to eliminate C2 :
5
T1 − T2
C1 = .
ln rr12
(T1 − T2 )
Q̇ = 2πk .
ln rr21
Thus, we have shown that the heat transfer rate is given by:
(T1 − T2 )
Q̇ = 2πk .
ln rr21
b) A spherical shell with area A(r) = 4πr2 has specified temperatures T (r1 ) = T1
and T (r2 ) = T2 , as shown in Figure.
i) Derive the equation for the temperature profile in the radiative field
d 2 dT
r =0
dr dr
6
where A(r) = 4πr2 is the surface area of the sphere.
Substitute A(r) into the equation:
d 2 dT
4πr = 0.
dr dr
Since 4π is a constant, we can factor it out:
d 2 dT
4π r = 0.
dr dr
Dividing both sides by 4π:
d 2 dT
r = 0.
dr dr
7
Rearranging gives:
(T1 − T2 ) (T − T2 )r1 r2
C1 = − =− 1 .
1
− 1 (r2 − r1 )
r1 r2
8
ii) thermos-diffusivity
9
For conduction in the x direction, Fourier’s law of heat conduction through
solids gives;
∂T
qx = −kA
∂x
i) write down the heat balance equation for the cube
rate of heat input + rate of heat generation = rate of heat output + rate
of heat accumulation
ii) estimate the rates for heat input, heat generation, heat output and rate
of heat accumulation
10
c) Show that the coefficient of thermal diffusivity is given by
k
α=
ρcp
The heat conduction equation (Fourier’s law) in one dimension can be ex-
pressed as:
∂T ∂ 2T
=α 2,
∂t ∂x
where:
- ∂T
∂t
is the rate of change of temperature with respect to time,
∂2T
- ∂x2 is the spatial temperature gradient.
Relating Thermal Conductivity, Density, and Specific Heat From the definition
of thermal conductivity, we have:
∂T
q = −k ,
∂x
where q is the heat flux (W/m²).
The rate of heat transfer into a volume can also be expressed in terms of the
material’s properties:
∂T
Rate of heat transfer = ρcp V ,
∂t
where V is the volume of the material.
11
- Rearranging gives:
∂T k ∂T
=− .
∂t ρcp ∂x
- Comparing this with the heat conduction equation:
∂T ∂ 2T
=α 2,
∂t ∂x
we can identify that:
k
α= .
ρcp
c) Derive expressions for rates of temperature change in:
i) one dimension
∂T ∂ 2T
=α 2
∂t ∂x
where:
- T is temperature,
- t is time,
- x is the spatial coordinate,
- α = ρckp is the thermal diffusivity, with k as thermal conductivity, ρ as
density, and cp as specific heat capacity.
A thin film is a layer of fluid (liquid or gas) with a small thickness relative to
its lateral dimensions. It forms on solid surfaces due to adhesion, condensa-
tion, or surface tension effects. Thin films are significant in heat transfer as
they influence thermal resistance and convective heat transfer rates.
12
b) Outline the mechanism of heat flow through fluids
c) Distinguish between streamlines and turbulent flow during the convective heat
transfer process
13