Question 1

A copper slab (k = 372 W/mK) is 3 mm thick. It is protected from corrosion on each

side by a 2 mm thick layer of stainless steel (k = 17 W/mK). The temperature is
400oC on one side of this composite wall and 100oC on the other. Answer the
following:
1.1 What is the significance of a lower thermal conductivity (k) and a higher thermal
conductivity (k) value on temperature drop?
1.2 Draw a diagram to represent the explained situation. Label your diagram.
1.3 Determine the heat flux using Fourier’s law, that is, determine the heat conducted
through the wall. List your assumptions.
1.4 Determine the temperature profile in the copper slab.
Solution:
1.1 A lower k value means there will be a bigger temperature drop while a higher k
means there is a lower temperature drop. (2)
1.2 Diagram to represent the above situation:

(4)

1.3 Heat flux using Fourier’s law:

Assumptions:
Steady-state conditions
All properties are constant

Using Fourier’s law:

∆𝑇
𝑄̇ = 𝑅
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙
∆𝑥 ∆𝑥𝑆𝑆 ∆𝑥𝐶𝑢 ∆𝑥𝑆𝑆
But 𝑅 = = + + (1)
𝑘 𝑘𝑠𝑠 𝑘𝐶𝑢 𝑘𝑠𝑠
0.002 0.003 0.002
𝑅= + + (2)
17 372 17
𝑅 = 2.4336𝑥10−4 m2K/W (1)
Therefore:

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Open Rubric
 400−100
𝑄̇ = 2.4336𝑥10−4 = 1 232 748.54 W/m2 = 1 233 kW/m2 (2)

1.4 Temperature distribution in the copper slab:

Looking at first slab of stainless steel:
∆𝑇
𝑄̇ = 𝑘 ∆𝑥
400−𝑇1
1232748.54 = 17 ( ) (3)
0.002
Therefore:
𝑇1 = 255oC (1)

Looking at the second slab of copper:

∆𝑇
𝑄̇ = 𝑘∆𝑥
255−𝑇2
1232748.54 = 372 ( ) (3)
0.003
Therefore:
𝑇2 = 245oC (1)

20 marks

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Question 2
Water is to be boiled at atmospheric pressure (1 atm) and a temperature of 100oC in
a mechanically polished steel pan with a diameter of 3 cm. Determine the maximum
heat flux that can be attained in the nucleate boiling regime.

NB: Use the tables below to get the properties of water.

Source: Table 10.1: Surface tension of liquid-vapour interface for water in Heat
Transfer - A Practical Approach by Yunus A. Cengel page 523.

Source: Table A-9: Properties of Water in Heat Transfer - A Practical Approach by

Yunus A. Cengel page 878

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Solution:
Water is boiling at 1 atm pressure and thus at a saturation (or boiling) temperature of
Tsat = 100oC in a mechanically polished stainless steel pan. (1)

Properties of water at the saturation temperature of 100°C are:

l = 957.9 kg/m3 v = 0.5978 kg/m3 (2)
hfg = 2257 x 103 J/kg  = 0.0589 N/m (2)
g = 9.81 m/s2 (1)

Maximum heat flux that can be attained in the nucleate boiling regime:
𝜎𝑔(𝜌𝑙 −𝜌𝑣 ) 0.25
𝑞𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 0.149ℎ𝑓𝑔 𝜌𝑣 [ ] (2)
𝜌𝑣2

0.0589(9.81)(957.9−0.5978) 0.25
𝑞𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 0.149(2257𝑥103 )(0.5978) [ ] (4)
0.59782

𝑞𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 1 260 968.17 W/m2 (2)

The surface area of the bottom of the pan is :

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 𝜋 𝜋
𝐴 = 4 𝐷2 = 4 (0.3)2 = 7.7𝑥10−4 m2 (3)

Therefore, critical heat flux is:

𝑞̇ 𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑞𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝐴 = 1 260 968.17(7.07𝑥10−4 ) = 891.33 W (3)

20 marks

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[TURNOVER]
Question 3
A small oxidized horizontal metal tube is placed in a very large furnace enclosure
with firebrick walls. The metal tube has an outside diameter of 2.54 cm, a length of
60 cm, a surface emissivity of 0.6, and its surface is maintained at 315oC. The hot air
in the furnace is at 815oC and the furnace brick walls are at 732oC. The convection
heat transfer coefficient for the horizontal tube is 15.90 W/m2K. Calculate:
3.1 The convective heat transferred to the metal tube. (6)
3.2 The radiative heat transferred to the metal tube. (4)
3.3 The total heat transferred to the metal tube.(3)
3.4 The percent of total heat transferred by radiation. (3)
3.5 The radiation heat transfer coefficient.
Solution:
3.1 Convective heat transferred to the metal tube:
𝑇𝑎𝑖𝑟 = 815oC 𝑇𝑡𝑢𝑏𝑒 = 315oC
Tube area:
𝐴 = 𝜋𝐷𝐿 = 𝜋(0.0254)(0.60) = 0.0479 m2 (2)

Convective heat transfer is:

𝑄̇𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣 = ℎ𝐴(𝑇𝑎𝑖𝑟 − 𝑇𝑡𝑢𝑏𝑒 ) = 15.90(0.0479)(815 − 315) = 380.63 W (4)

3.2 Radiative heat transferred to the metal tube:

𝑇𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑘 = 732 + 273 = 1005 K 𝑇𝑡𝑢𝑏𝑒 = 315 + 273 = 588 K
̇ 4 4
𝑄𝑟𝑎𝑑 = 𝜀𝜎𝐴(𝑇𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑘 − 𝑇𝑡𝑢𝑏𝑒 )
𝑄̇𝑟𝑎𝑑 = 0.6(5.67𝑥10−8 )(0.0479)(10054 − 5884 ) = 1466.92 W (4)

3.3 Total heat transferred to the metal tube:

𝑄̇𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑄̇𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣 + 𝑄̇𝑟𝑎𝑑 = 380.63 + 1466.92 = 1847.55 W (3)

3.4 Percent of total heat transferred by radiation:

Percent contribution of radiation:
1466.92
= 1847.55 × 100% = 79.4% (3)

3.5 Radiation heat transfer coefficient:

𝑄̇𝑟𝑎𝑑 1466.92
ℎ𝑟 = 𝐴(𝑇 = 0.0479(732−315) = 73.5 W/m2K (4)
𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑘 −𝑇𝑡𝑢𝑏𝑒 )

20 marks

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[TURNOVER]
Question 4
Calculate the rate of diffusion of hydrochloric acid (A) across a film of non-diffusing
water (B) solution that is 4 mm thick and is at 10oC. The concentrations on opposite
sides of the film are 12 wt% and 4 wt%, respectively. The diffusivity of hydrochloric
acid in the solution DAB is 2.5 x 10-9 m2/s.
Additional information:
Molecular weights:
MA = 36.5 g/mol MB = 18.02 g/mol
At 10oC, density of 12% solution is 1060.70 kg/m3.
At 10oC, density of 4% solution is 1020.15 kg/m3.
Solution:
Convert from mass concentration to moles:
Assume 100 g of solution every time: (1)

For 12wt% solution:

Mols of A: Mols of B:
12 88
𝑛𝐴 = 36.5 = 0.33 mols 𝑛𝐴 = 18.02 = 4.88 mols (2)

Mole fraction of A (xA1):

𝑛𝐴 0.33
𝑥𝐴1 = 𝑛 = 0.33+4.88 = 0.0631 (1)
𝐴 +𝑛𝐵

Therefore:
𝑥𝐵1 = 1 − 𝑥𝐴1 = 1 − 0.0631 = 0.9369 (1)

Average Molar mass for the solution:

𝑚𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 100
𝑀1 = = 0.33+4.88 = 19.19 g/mol (1)
𝑛𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙

Similarly, for 4wt% solution:

Mols of A: Mols of B:
4 96
𝑛𝐴 = 36.5 = 0.11 mols 𝑛𝐴 = 18.02 = 5.33 mols (2)
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Mole fraction of A (xA2):
𝑛𝐴 0.11
𝑥𝐴2 = 𝑛 = 0.11+5.33 = 0.0202 (1)
𝐴 +𝑛𝐵

Therefore:
𝑥𝐵2 = 1 − 𝑥𝐴2 = 1 − 0.0202 = 0.9798 (1)

Average Molar mass for the solution:

𝑚𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 100
𝑀2 = = 0.11+5.33 = 18.39 g/mol (1)
𝑛𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙

𝜌 𝜌 𝜌 1060.70 1020.15
𝐶 = (𝑀) = 𝑀1 + 𝑀2 = + = 55.38 kmol/m3 (2)
𝑎𝑣𝑒 1 2 19.19 18.39

Log-mean mole fraction:

𝑥 −𝑥𝐵1 0.9798−0.9368
𝑥𝐵,𝑙𝑚 = ln(𝑥𝐵2 = ln(0.9798⁄0.9368) = 0.9582 (3)
𝐵2 ⁄𝑥𝐵1 )

Rate of diffusion of A:
𝐷𝐴𝐵 𝐶 (𝑥𝐴1 −𝑥𝐴2 )
𝑁𝐴 = 𝑧 𝑥𝐵,𝑙𝑚

2.5𝑥10−9 (0.0631−0.0202)
𝑁𝐴 = (55.38) = 1.550𝑥10−6 kmols/m2s (4)
0.004 0.9582

20 marks

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[TURNOVER]
Question 5
Air at 20oC and moving at 15 m/s is warmed by a steam-heated plate at 110oC,
which is 0.5 m in length and 0.5 m in width. By making use of the given information
below, answer the following questions:
5.1 List any two assumptions you will consider.
5.2 Determine the average heat transfer coefficient.
5.3 Determine the total amount of heat transferred or total heat flux.

Table 1: Properties of Air at selected temperatures (adapted from A heat transfer

textbook, 3rd edition by Lienhard and Lienhard, 2008)
Temperature  (kg/m3)  (kg/ms) x k (W/mK) Pr
(oC) 10-5
20 1.217 1.785 0.02544 0.710
25 1.177 1.857 0.02623 0.713
40 1.139 1.889 0.02684 0.709
45 1.103 1.935 0.02753 0.708
60 1.070 1.981 0.02821 0.708
65 1.040 2.018 0.02885 0.707
110 0.8821 2.310 0.03328 0.704

The following correlations may be used without proof, although you must give
reasons in support of your of answer:
⁄
(a) 𝑁𝑢𝑥 = 0.664𝑅𝑒𝑥1 2 𝑃𝑟 1⁄3 for Rex < 5 x 105
(b) 𝑁𝑢𝑥 = 0.04𝑅𝑒𝑥0.8 𝑃𝑟 1⁄3 for Rex  5 x 105

Solution:
5.1 Assumptions:
Steady-state conditions
There is no heat loss due to radiation
Properties are constant at these temperatures
2 marks for each assumption (4)

5.2 Average heat transfer coefficient:

Average temperature:
𝑇1 +𝑇2 20+110
𝑇𝑎𝑣𝑒 = = = 65oC (1)
2 2

Properties of air at 65oC:

Reading-off from the table, we have:

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  = 1.040 kg/m3  = 2.018 x 10-5 kg/ms
k = 0.02885 W/mK Pr = 0.707

We need to determine Re to see if flow is laminar or turbulent:

𝜌𝑢𝐿 1.040(15)(0.5)
𝑅𝑒 = = = 386521.31 = 3.865𝑥105 (2)
 2.018𝑥10−5

Re < 5 x 105, Therefore, flow is laminar, so we use correlation (a). (2)

To determine Nux we need x, but in this case x is the width because flow is
perpendicular to that direction. (1)

⁄
𝑁𝑢𝑥 = 0.664𝑅𝑒𝑥1 2 𝑃𝑟 1⁄3 = 0.664(386521.31)1⁄2 (0.707)1⁄3 = 367.8 (2)

But:
ℎ𝑎𝑣 𝐿 𝑁𝑢𝑥 𝑘 367.8×0.02885
𝑁𝑢𝑥 = and so ℎ𝑎𝑣 = = = 21.2 W/m2 K (3)
𝑘 𝐿 0.5

5.3 Total amount of heat transferred:

Convective heat loss is given by:
𝑞 = ℎ𝑎𝑣 𝐴∆𝑇 (1)

Area is: 𝐴 = 𝑙𝑥𝑤 = 0.5 × 0.5 = 0.25 m2 (1)

Therefore, convective heat loss is:

𝑞 = ℎ𝑎𝑣 𝐴∆𝑇 = 21.2 × 0.25 × (110 − 20) = 477.44 W (3)

20 marks
𝟎.𝟐𝟓
𝒉𝑳 𝟗𝟔𝟖. 𝟏(𝟗𝟔𝟖. 𝟏 − 𝟎. 𝟑𝟓𝟑𝟔)𝟗. 𝟖𝟏 × 𝟐𝟐𝟓𝟕 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎 × 𝟎. 𝟔𝟑
𝑵𝒖 = = 𝟏. 𝟏𝟑 ( )
𝒌 𝟎. 𝟑𝟑𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 × 𝟎. 𝟔𝟕𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎. 𝟒𝟏

TOTAL = [100 MARKS]

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