PROBLEM5.

80
KNOWN: Diameter, density, specific heat and thermal conductivity of Pyrex spheres in packed bed
thermal energy storage system. Convection coefficient and inlet gas temperature.
FIND: Time required for sphere to acquire 90% of maximum possible thermal energy and the
corresponding center temperature.
SCHEMATIC:
Pyrex sphere
D = 75 mm, T = 25 C
i
o
Gas
T C
g,i
o
= 300
h = 75 W/m -K
2
= 2225 kg/m
3
k = 1.4 W/m-K
c = 835 J/kg-K
ASSUMPTIONS: (1) One-dimensional radial conduction in sphere, (2) Negligible heat transfer to or
from a sphere by radiation or conduction due to contact with adjoining spheres, (3) Constant
properties.
ANALYSIS: With Bi h(r
o
/3)/k = 75 W/m
2
K (0.0125m)/1.4 W/mK = 0.67, the approximate
solution for one-dimensional transient conduction in a sphere is used to obtain the desired results. We
first use Eq. (5.55) to obtain
o
. u
-
( ) ( )
3
1
o
o 1 1 1
Q
1
Q 3 sin cos
,
u
, , ,
-
| |
=
|
(
\ .

With Bi hr
o
/k = 2.01,
1
2.03 , ~ and C
1
~ 1.48 from Table 5.1. Hence,
( )
( )
3
o
0.1 2.03
0.837
0.155
5.386 3 0.896 2.03 0.443
u
-
= = =
(

The center temperature is therefore
( )
o g,i i g,i
T T 0.155 T T 300 C 42.7 C 257.3 C = + = = <
From Eq. (5.53c), the corresponding time is
2
o o
2
1
1
r
t ln
C
u
o,
-
| |
| =
|
\ .
where
( )
3 7 2
k / c 1.4 W / m K / 2225 kg / m 835J / kg K 7.54 10 m / s. o

= = =
( ) ( )
( )
2
2 7 2
0.0375m ln 0.155/1.48
t 1, 020s
7.54 10 m / s 2.03

= =

<
COMMENTS: The surface temperature at the time of interest may be obtained from Eq. (5.53b).
With r 1,
-
=
( )
( )
o 1
s g,i i g,i
1
sin
0.155 0.896
T T T T 300 C 275 C 280.9 C
2.03
u ,
,
-
| |
= + = =
|
\ .
<