Chapter 3

Conduction with Generation

Islamic Azad University

Karaj Branch

Dr. M. Khosravy

Implications

Implications of Energy Generation

Involves a local (volumetric) source of thermal energy due to conversion
from another form of energy in a conducting medium.

The source may be uniformly distributed, as in the conversion from

electrical to thermal energy (Ohmic heating):

q=

Eg
!

I 2 Re
!

(3.38)

or it may be non-uniformly distributed, as in the absorption of

radiation passing through a semi-transparent medium.

For a plane wall, q ! exp ( "! x )

Generation affects the temperature distribution in the medium and causes
the heat rate to vary with location, thereby precluding inclusion of
the medium in a thermal circuit.

The Plane Wall

Consider one-dimensional, steady-state conduction in a plane wall of
constant k, with uniform generation, and asymmetric surface conditions:
Heat diffusion equation (eq. 2.3) :

d 2T q!
+ =0
dx 2 k
General Solution:

T =!

q! 2
x + C1 x + C2
2k

Boundary Conditions:

T ( ! L) = Ts ,1 , T ( L) = Ts ,2
Dr. M. Khosravy

Temperature Profile
q!L2 ' x 2 $ (Ts,2 ! Ts,1 ) x Ts,1 + Ts,2
%1 ! " +
T ( x) =
+
2 "
%
2k & L #
2
L
2

(3.3)

! Profile is parabolic.
! Heat flux not independent of x
? What happens when:

q! = 0, q! increases, q! < 0 ?

Dr. M. Khosravy

Symmetrical Distribution
When both surfaces are maintained
at a common temperature, Ts,1= Ts,2
= Ts
q!L2 & x 2 #
(3.4a)
$1 ' ! + Ts
T ( x) =
2 !
$
2k % L "
? What is the location of the maximum
temperature?

T ( x ) ' Tmax & x #

(
=$ !
Ts ' Tmax
%L"

(3.4b)

Dr. M. Khosravy

Symmetrical Distribution

" Note that at the plane of symmetry:

' dT $
%
" = 0 ! q" x =0 = 0
& dx # x =0
! Equivalent to adiabatic surface

Dr. M. Khosravy

True or False?
In one-dimensional problems involving generation the heat
rate remains constant in the direction of heat flow
We can apply the concept of a conduction resistance when
generation is present
The following two are represented by the same equations:
A plane wall of thickness 2L experiencing uniform volumetric
heating and convection conditions at both surfaces
A plane wall of thickness L, experiencing the same volumetric
heating and convection conditions at one surface, but having the
opposite surface well insulated.

Dr. M. Khosravy

Example
a)
b)
c)
d)

The steady-state temperature distribution in a composite plane wall of

three different materials, each of constant thermal conductivity, is
shown in the schematic below.
Does heat generation occur in any of sections A,B, or C?
Based on the schematic, what is the boundary condition at location (4)?
Comment on the relative magnitudes of q2 and q3 .
Comment on the relative magnitudes of kA and kB.

Dr. M. Khosravy

Calculation of surface temperature Ts

In equations (3.4a) and (3.4b) the surface temperature, Ts is needed.
" Boundary condition at the wall:

"k

dT
dx

x=L

= h(Ts " T! )

Substituting (dT/dx)x=L from equation

(3.4a):

Ts = T! +

q! L
h

(3.5)

Dr. M. Khosravy

Example (Problem 3.72 textbook)

A plane wall of thickness 0.1 m and thermal conductivity 25 W/m.K
having uniform volumetric heat generation of 0.3 MW/m3 is insulated
on one side, while the other side is exposed to a fluid at 92C. The
convection heat transfer coefficient between the wall and the fluid is
500 W/m2.K. Determine the maximum temperature in the wall.

Dr. M. Khosravy

10

Example: Conduction and

Metabolic Energy Production
To maintain the body temperature at a constant value,
metabolic heat production must balance heat removal.
Let s investigate what happens when conduction is the
only mechanism for heat removal from the body.
" Consider a three layer model, consisting of the body core,
with thickness L1=0.22 m and k1=0.42 W/m.K, surrounded
by a fat and skin layer of thickness L2=0.08 m and
effective conductivity k2=0.235 W/m.K. Metabolic heat
production within the body equals 880 W/m3 and heat is
removed by convection is air. Determine the mean steadystate temperature in the core region.

Dr. M. Khosravy

11

Radial Systems
Cylindrical (Tube) Wall

Solid Cylinder (Circular Rod)

Heat Equations:
Cylindrical
1 d ! dT $
kr
+q =0
r dr #" dr &%

Dr. M. Khosravy

Spherical Wall (Shell)

Solid Sphere

Spherical

1 d ! 2 dT $
kr
+q =0
r 2 dr #"
dr &%
12

Radial Systems
Heat diffusion equation
in the r-direction for
steady-state conditions:

1 d & dT # q!
$r
!+ =0
r dr % dr " k
q! 2
General Solution: T ( r ) = !
r + C1 ln r + C2
4k
dT
Boundary Conditions:
= 0, T ( ro ) = Ts
dr r =0

T! , h

Temperature profile:

q!ro2 & r 2 #
$1 ' ! + Ts
T (r) =
4k $% ro2 !"

(3.6)
L

Calculation of surface temperature:

q!(#ro2 L) = h(2#ro L)(Ts

" T! )

Ts = T! +

and

Dr. M. Khosravy

q!ro
2h

(3.7)
13

Solution for Uniform Generation in a Solid Sphere of Constant k

with Convection Cooling:
Temperature Distribution

Surface Temperature

dT
q r3
kr
=!
+ C1
dr
3

Overall energy balance:

q r 2 C1
T =!
! + C2
6k
r
dT
|r = 0 = 0 ! C1 = 0
dr

qr
! Eout + Eg = 0 " Ts = T! + o
3h

Or from a surface energy balance:

qr 2
T ( ro ) = Ts ! C2 = Ts + o
6k

q ro 2 ! r 2 "
T (r ) =
$1 # % + Ts
6k & ro 2 '

Ein ! E out

qr
= 0 ! qcond ( ro ) = qconv " Ts = T! + o
3h

A summary of temperature distributions is provided in Appendix C

for plane, cylindrical and spherical walls, as well as for solid
cylinders and spheres. Note how boundary conditions are specified
and how they are used to obtain surface temperatures.

Example (Problem 3.84 textbook)

A cylindrical shell of inner and outer radii ri and ro,
respectively, is filled with a heat-generating material that
provides a uniform volumetric generation rate. The inner
surface is insulated, while the outer surface of the shell is
exposed to a fluid with a convection coefficient h.
a) Obtain an expression for the steady-state temperature
distribution T(r) in the shell.
b) Determine an expression for the heat rate q (ro) at the outer
radius of the shell in terms of the heat generation rate and
the shell dimensions

Dr. M. Khosravy

15

Problem: Nuclear Fuel Rod

Problem 3.91 Thermal conditions in a gas-cooled nuclear reactor

with a tubular thorium fuel rod and a concentric
graphite sheath: (a) Assessment
of thermal integrity
!
for a generation rate of q = 108 W/m.3 (b) Evaluation of
temperature distributions in the thorium
and graphite

8
for generation rates in the range 10 ! q ! 5x108.
Schematic:

Assumptions: (1) Steady-state conditions, (2) One-dimensional conduction, (3) Constant

properties, (4) Negligible contact resistance, (5) Negligible radiation, (6) Adiabatic surface at r1.
Properties:

Table A.1, Thorium: Tmp ! 2000K; Table A.2, Graphite: Tmp ! 2300K.

Problem: Nuclear Fuel Rod

(cont)

Analysis: (a) The outer surface temperature of the fuel, T2 , may be determined from the rate equation

q! =
where Rtot
! =

T2 " T#
Rtot
!
1n ( r3 / r2 )
2! k g

1
= 0.0185 m " K/W
2! r3h

The heat rate may be determined by applying an energy balance to a control surface about the fuel

element,
or, per unit length,

E out = E g

E !out = E ! g
Since the interior surface of the element is essentially adiabatic, it follows that

q ! = q ! ( r22 ! r12 ) = 17,907 W/m

Hence, T = q !R ! + T = 17,907 W/m 0.0185 miK/W + 600K = 931K

2
tot
!
With zero heat flux at the inner surface of the fuel element, Eq. C.14 yields

"
% 2 "r %
q r22
r12
qr
$ 1! 2 ' ! 1 1n $ 2 ' = 931K + 25K !18K = 938K
T1 = T 2 +
4k t $ r2 ' 2k t
# r1 &
#
&

<

Problem: Nuclear Fuel Rod (cont.)

Since T1 and T2 are well below the melting points of thorium and graphite, the prescribed
operating condition is acceptable.
(b) The solution for the temperature distribution in a cylindrical wall with generation is

q r22 " r 2 %
Tt ( r ) = T 2 +
1!
4k t $# r22 '&
( 2
+
2
* q r2 " r1 %
- 1n( r2 / r )
!*
$ 1! 2 ' + (T 2 ! T1 )- 1n( r / r )
4k
* t # r2 &
- 2 1
)
,

(C.2)

Boundary conditions at r1 and r2 are used to determine T1 and T 2 .

) 2
2
+ q r2 # 1" r1 & + T " T
k
2
1

+ 4k t %$ r22 ('
qr1
*
q1!!= 0 =
"
2
r11n r2 / r1

r = r1 :

r = r2 :

U 2 (T 2 ! T " )

,
.
.
-

) 2
2
+ qr2 # 1! r1 & + T ! T
k
2
1

+ 4k t %$ r22 ('
q r2
=
! *
2
r21n r2 / r1

U 2 = ( A2! Rtot
! )

"1

= 2! r2 Rtot
!

)"1

(C.14)

,
.
.
-

(C.17)

(3.32)

Problem: Nuclear Fuel Rod

(cont.)

The following results are obtained for temperature distributions in the graphite.
2500

Temperature, T(K)

2100
1700
1300
900
500
0.008

0.009

0.01

0.011

Radial location in fuel, r(m)

qdot = 5E8
qdot = 3E8
qdot = 1E8

Operation at q = 5x108 W/m3 is clearly unacceptable since the melting point of

thorium would be exceeded. To prevent softening of the material, which would occur

8
3
below the melting point, the reactor should not be operated much above q = 3x10 W/m.

The small radial temperature gradients are attributable to the large value of kt .

Problem: Nuclear Fuel Rod (cont.)

Using the value of T2 from the foregoing solution and computing T3 from the surface condition,

q! =

(
)
1n ( r3 / r2 )

2! k g T 2 " T3

(3.27)

the temperature distribution in the graphite is

T g (r ) =

"r%
T 2 ! T3
1n $ ' + T3
1n ( r2 / r3 ) # r3 &

(3.26)

Temperature, T(K)

2500
2100
1700
1300
900
500
0.011

0.012

0.013

Radial location in graphite, r(m)

qdot = 5E8
qdot = 3E8
qdot = 1E8

0.014

Problem: Nuclear Fuel Rod (cont.)

Operation at q = 5x108 W/m 3is problematic for the graphite. Larger temperature gradients
are due to the small value of k g .

Comments: (i) What effect would a contact resistance at the thorium/graphite

interface have on

q
temperatures in the fuel element and on the maximum allowable value of ? (ii) Referring
to the schematic, where might radiation effects be significant? What would be the influence of such

effect on temperatures in the fuel element and the maximum allowable value of q ?

Summary
We obtained temperature distributions for problems
involving steady-state, one-dimensional conduction with
energy generation
The heat flux and heat rate are no longer independent of x
The concept of a thermal resistance cannot be applied

Dr. M. Khosravy

22