GOVERNING EQUATIONS OF CONDUCTION

Heat Conduction Equation in Cartesian Coordinates

Consider a small rectangular element of sides dx, dy and dz as shown in figure.

Figure 1: Differential control volume, dx dy dz.

The energy balance of this rectangular element is obtained from first law of thermodynamics
Net heat conducted into element from all the coordinate directions + Heat generated within the
element = Heat stored in the element

Net heat conducted into element from all the coordinate directions:
As per the Fourier law of heat conduction the rate of heat flow into the element in X, Y, Z
directions through face are
∂T
{Q x =−kdydz dx }[1 a]
∂x
∂T
{Q y =−kdxdz dy }[1b ]
∂x
∂T
{Q z=−kdydx dz }[1 c ]
∂x

The rate of heat flow out of the element in X direction is

∂
Q x+dx =Qx + ( Q ) dx [2]
∂x x
The rate of heat flow out of the element in X direction is
∂
Q x+dx =Qx + ( Q ) dx [3]
∂x x
Substituting equation [1a] into 3
∂
Q x+dx =Qx + ( Q ) dx
∂x x

Q x −Qx+ dx=Qx −¿

Q x −Qx+ dx=
∂
∂x (
kdydzdx
∂T
∂x )

( )
2
∂ T
Q x −Qx+ dx= kdxdydz 2
[4]
∂x
Similarly

( )
2
∂T
Q y −Q y+dy = kdxdydz 2
[5]
∂y

( )
2
∂ T
Q z−Q z+ dz= kdxdydz 2
[6]
∂z

Hence

Q=[Q¿¿ x−Q¿¿ x+ dx ]+[Q y −Q ¿ ¿ y+ dy ]+ [ Q z−Q z+dz ][7]¿ ¿ ¿

Substituting equations [4], [5] and [6] into [7]

( )( )( )
2 2 2
∂ T ∂T ∂T
Q= kdxdydz 2
+ kdxdydz 2
+ kdxdydz 2
∂x ∂y ∂z

( )
2 2 2
∂ T ∂T ∂ T
Q=kdxdydz 2
+ 2 + 2 [8 ]
∂ x ∂ y ∂z
Heat generated internally
Q g=qdxdydz [9]
Heat stored in the element
∂T
Q IE= ρC p dxdydz [10]
dt

Substituting equations [8], [9] and [10] into [1]

 ( )
2 2 2
∂T ∂ T ∂T ∂T
kdxdydz 2
+ 2 + 2 +qdxdydz =ρ C p dxdydz
∂x ∂ y ∂ z dt

Factorizing dxdydz and dividing every term by k

( ∂ T ∂ T ∂ T q ρC p ∂ T
)
2 2 2

2
+ 2+ 2 + =
∂ x ∂ y ∂z k k dt
This is the 3-dimensional heat conduction equation for Cartesian coordinates and it states that at
any point in the medium the net rate of energy transfer by conduction into a unit volume plus the
volumetric rate of thermal energy generation must equal the rate of change of thermal energy
stored within the volume.

q
Case 1: No heat generation, =0
k

( ρC p ∂ T
)
2 2 2
∂ T ∂T ∂ T '
2
+ 2
+ 2
= [ Fourier s Equation]
∂ x ∂ y ∂z k dt

∂T
Case 2: Steady state condition =0
dt

( )
2 2 2
∂ T ∂T ∂ T q
2
+ 2 + 2 + =0[ Poisson Equation]
∂ x ∂ y ∂z k

Case 3: No heat generation and steady state

( )
2 2 2
∂ T ∂T ∂ T
2
+ 2 + 2 =0 [ℒ Equation]
∂ x ∂ y ∂z
The heat conduction equation is given by the Laplace equation
2
∂T
2
=0 [1D]
∂x

2 2
∂T ∂ T
2
+ 2 =0 [2D]
∂x ∂ y
 2 2 2
∂T ∂ T ∂ T
2
+ 2 + 2 =0 [3D]
∂x ∂ y ∂ z

Heat Conduction Equation in Cylindrical Coordinates

While dealing with problems of conduction of heat through systems having cylindrical
geometrics it is convenient to use cylindrical coordinates.

Consider an elemental volume having the coordinates (r, φ, z) for three-dimensional heat
conduction analysis as shown in figure.
to fluids at different temperatures.

Figure 2: Hollow cylinder with convective surface conditions

When the Del operator ∇ of Equation 2.3 is expressed in cylindrical coordinates, the general
form of the heat flux vector and hence of Fourier’s law is

'' ∂T 1 ∂T ∂T
q =−k ∇ T =−k (i +j +k )
∂r r ∂∅ ∂z

Where:

'' ∂T
q r =−k
∂r

'' −k ∂ T
q ∅=
r ∂∅

'' ∂T
q z=−k
∂z

are heat flux components in the radial, circumferential, and axial directions, respectively.
Applying an energy balance to the differential control volume of Figure 2.12, the following
general form of the heat equation is obtained:

1 ∂
r ∂r (
kr )
∂T 1 ∂
+ 2 k
∂T
+( ) ( )
∂
k
∂r r ∂∅ ∂∅ ∂ z ∂ z
∂T
+q=ρ C p
∂T
∂t

Heat Conduction Equation in Cylindrical Coordinates

In spherical coordinates, the general form of the heat flux vector and Fourier’s law is

( ∂∂Tr + j 1r ∂T∂θ + k rsinθ

q ' ' =−k ∇ T =−k i
1 ∂T
∂∅)

Where:

'' ∂T
q r =−k
∂r

'' −k ∂T
q θ=
r ∂θ

'' −k ∂T
q ∅=
rsinθ ∂ ∅

are heat flux components in the radial, polar, and azimuthal directions, respectively. Applying an
energy balance to the differential control volume of Figure 2.13, the following general form of
the heat equation is obtained:

1 ∂
r ∂r
2 (
k r2 )
∂T 1 1
+ 2
∂
k
∂T
( )
1 1 ∂
+ 2
∂ r r sin θ ∂ ∅ ∂ ∅ r sinθ ∂ θ
2
ksinθ
∂T
∂θ (
+ q= ρC p
∂T
∂t )
Conduction in a Hollow Cylinder

The governing differential equation for one-dimensional steady state radial conduction in a
hollow cylinder of constant thermal conductivity and without thermal energy generation is given

( )
2 2
1 ∂ ∂ T 1 ∂ T ∂ T q̇ 1 ∂ T
by: r + + + =
r ∂r ∂ r r 2 ∂ ∅ 2 ∂ z 2 k α ∂ t

with n = 1: i.e.,

∂
∂r
r
[ ( )]
∂T
∂r
=0

Integrating the above equation once with respect to r we get

r ( ∂∂Tr )=C 1

Or

( ∂∂Tr )= r
C1

Integrating once again with respect to r we get

T ( r )=C1 ln r +C 2 [1]

Where:

C1 and C2 are constants of integration which can be determined by knowing the boundary
conditions of the problem.

Let the inner surface at r = r1 be maintained at uniform temperature T1 and the outer surface at r =
r2 be maintained at another uniform temperature T2 as shown in the figure below

T2
T1

r2
r1
Figure 2: Hollow cylinder with prescribed surface temperatures

Substituting the condition r1 in equation [1]

We get

T 1=C1 ln r 1 +C 2 [2]

And the condition r2 in equation [2] we get

T 2=C1 ln r 2 +C 2 [3 ]

Solving for C1 and C2 from the above two equations we get

T 1−T 2 T 1−T 2
C 1= =
ln r 1−ln r 2 r
ln ( 1 ¿ )[ 4]¿
r2

And

C 2=T 1 −¿

Substituting these expressions for C 1 and C 2 in equation [1] we have

T ( r )=¿

Or

¿¿

Equation [7] gives the temperature distribution with respect to the radial direction in a hollow
cylinder.

Expression for rate of heat transfer

For radial steady state heat conduction in a hollow cylinder without heat generation energy
balance equation gives

Qr =Qr⃒r =r =Q r⃒r =r
1 2

Hence

[
Qr =−k A ( r )
dT
dr ]
⃒ r =r 1 [8]

But
 A ( r ) ⃒r =r =2 π r 1 L
1

Hence from equation [7] we have

dT
=¿
dr

Hence

dT
⃒ =¿
dr r =r 1

dT
Substituting the expressions for A ( r ) ⃒r =r and ⃒ in equation [3] we get the expression for
1
dr r =r 1

rate of heat transfer as

2 πLk (T 1−T 2 )
Qr = [9 ]
r2
ln ( )
r1

Thermal resistance for a hollow cylinder

Equation [9] can be written as:

T 1−T 2
q r= [10]
R

Where:

r2
ln ()
r1 1
R= = [11]
2 πLk k A m

Where:

A 2− A1
Am =
A2
ln( ¿ )¿
A1

When A2 = 2 π r2L = Area of the outer surface of the cylinder and A 1 = 2 π r1L = Area of the inner
surface of the cylinder, and Am is logarithmic mean area.