Heat Transfer:
Using Differential
equations
Heat transfer plays a critical role in various engineering
applications, including power generation, refrigeration,
and electronics. Differential equations are essential tools
for modeling and analyzing heat transfer phenomena.
Introduction to Heat Transfer
Phenomena
1 Conduction 2 Convection 3 Radiation
Heat transfer through direct Heat transfer through the Heat transfer through
contact between molecules, movement of fluids, driven by electromagnetic waves,
with no mass movement. temperature differences. independent of a medium.
Heat Conduction: Fourier's
Law and Differential
Equations
Fourier's Law
Relates heat flux to the temperature gradient in a material.
∂T/∂t = α∂²T/∂x² T – Temperature
t – Time
α – Thermal diffusivity
x - Spatial coordinate
Differential
Equations
Apply Fourier's Law to formulate mathematical models of
heat conduction.
Boundary
Conditions
Define the temperature at the boundaries of the system.
Modeling Heat
Conduction in Solids
Problem Equation Solution Method
Steady-state Laplace's Analytical or
∇²T = 0
conduction equation numerical
techniques
Transient Heat equation Finite element or
∂T/∂t = α∇²T
conduction finite difference
methods
Convection Heat Transfer: Newton's Law
and Differential Equations
Newton's Law of Differential
Cooling Equations
Relates heat transfer rate to the temperature Apply Newton's law to model heat transfer in fluids,
difference between a surface and fluid. considering fluid flow patterns.
dT/dt = -k(T - Ts)
T = Temperature
t = Time
k = Cooling Constant (or Heat Transfer Coefficient)
Ts = Surrounding Temperature (or Ambient Temperature)
Modeling Convection in
Fluids
1 Forced Convection
Fluid movement caused by external forces, like a pump
or fan.
2 Natural Convection
Fluid movement driven by buoyancy forces, caused by
temperature differences.
3 Convection
Coefficients
Empirically determined values that account for fluid
properties and flow conditions.
Thermal Radiation: Stefan-Boltzmann Law
and Differential Equations
Stefan-Boltzmann View Factors
Law
Describes the total energy radiated by a blackbody Geometric factors that determine the amount of
dQ/dt = εσA(T^4 - Ts^4)
at a given temperature. radiation exchanged between surfaces.
dQ/dt - Rate of Heat Transfer with respect to Time ε – Emissivity
T – Temperature σ - Stefan-Boltzmann Constant
Ts - Surrounding Temperature A - Surface Area
Modeling Radiative Heat
Transfer
Emissivity
Ratio of a surface's radiation to that of a blackbody at the same temperature.
Absorptivity
Fraction of incident radiation absorbed by a surface.
Transmissivity
Fraction of incident radiation transmitted through a surface.
Applications of Heat Transfer Differential
Equations
Electronics Cooling Power Generation
Designing heat sinks and fans to prevent overheating. Optimizing heat transfer in boilers and steam turbines.
Applications of Heat Transfer in Electronics and Power
Generation
Electronics Cooling and Heat Sink Design
Purpose: Manages heat in electronic devices for efficient performance and reliability.
Process:
1. Modeling heat generation and dissipation using differential equations.
2. Optimizing heat sink design and material selection.
3. Simulating airflow and thermal performance.
Differential Equation:
dQ/dt = hA(T - Ts) + εσA(T^4 - Ts^4)
Where:
dQ/dt = Rate of Heat Transfer
h = Convective Heat Transfer Coefficient
A = Surface Area
T = Temperature
Ts = Surrounding Temperature
Example:
Gaming Consoles (e.g., PlayStation, Xbox)
High-performance consoles produce significant heat during operation.
Custom heat sinks and fans are used to cool CPU and GPU .
Heat Sink Design Considerations:
1. Material selection (e.g., copper, aluminum )
2. Fin geometry and spacing
3. Fan configuration and airflow
4. Thermal interface materials (TIMs)
Benefits:
1. Improved thermal management
2. Enhanced device reliability
3. Increased performance
4. Reduced noise and energy
Power Generation
Purpose:
Optimizes thermal energy conversion for efficient power production.
Process:
[Link] heat exchange in boilers, turbines, and condensers using differential equations.
2. Analyzing thermodynamic cycles (e.g., Rankine, Brayton).
3. Optimizing system design and operating conditions.
Differential Equation (Heat Exchanger):
dQ/dt = UAFΔT
Where:
dQ/dt = Rate of Heat Transfer
U = Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient
A = Heat Transfer Area
F = Correction Factor
ΔT = Temperature Difference
Example:
Combined-Cycle Power Plants
Use both gas and steam turbines to produce electricity .
Combined-Cycle
Process:
1. Gas turbine generates electricity and waste heat.
2. Waste heat produces steam in Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG).
3. Steam turbine generates additional electricity.
Heat Transfer Models:
2. Boiler heat transfer: Q = m_c_ΔT
2. Turbine heat transfer: dQ/dt = h_A_(T - Ts)
3. Condenser heat transfer: dQ/dt = U_A_ΔT
Benefits:
1. Improved thermal efficiency (up to 60%)
2. Increased power output
3. Reduced fuel consumption
4. Lower emissions
THANK
YOU!
SUBMITTED BY:
Harmanpreet kaur ,24BAI70575
Omika gupta ,24BAI70535
Gitika ,24BAI70574
SECTION 109A
