Problem 51

Carbon steel balls (ρ =7833 kg/m3, k = 54 W/m. °C, c = 0.465 kJ/kg. °C, and α=1.474×10-6
m2/s) 8 mm indiameter are annealed by heating them first to 900°C in a furnace and then
allowing them to cool slowly to 100°C in ambient air at 35°C. If the average heat transfer
coefficient is 75 W/m2. °C, determine how long the annealing process will take.
If 2500 balls are to be annealed per hour, determine the total rate of heat transfer from the balls
to the ambient air.

Solution :
The characteristic length of the balls and the Biot number are

Therefore, the lumped system analysis is applicable.

Then the time for the annealing process is determined to be
1 1 𝜋𝐷3 𝜌𝑐𝐷
𝜏𝑡 = ( ) (𝜌𝑉𝑐) = ( ) (𝜌 ( ) 𝑐) = = 63.13 s
ℎ𝐴𝑠 ℎ(𝜋𝐷2 ) 6 6ℎ
𝑇 − 𝑇∞ 𝑡 100 − 35 𝑡
= exp [− ] → = exp [− ]
𝑇𝑖 − 𝑇∞ 𝜏𝑡 900 − 35 63.13
→ 𝑡 = 163 s = 2.7 min
The amount of heat transfer from a single ball is

𝑄ball = 𝑚𝑐(𝑇𝑖 − 𝑇𝑓 ) = 𝜌𝑉𝑐(𝑇𝑖 − 𝑇𝑓 ) = 781 J

Then the total rate of heat transfer from the balls to the ambient air becomes

𝑄̇ = 𝑛̇ ball 𝑄 = 2500 balls/hr × 781 J/ball = 1952.5 kJ/h = 543 W

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Problem 61
A plane wall of a furnace is fabricated from plain carbon steel (𝑘 = 60 W/mK, 𝜌 =
7850 kg/m3 , 𝑐 = 430 J/kg K) and is of thickness 𝐿 = 10 mm. To protect it from the corrosive
effects of the furnace combustion gases, one surface of the wall is coated with a thin ceramic
film that, for a unit surface area, has a thermal resistance of 𝑅𝑓′′ = 𝑅𝑓 𝐴 = 0.01 m2 K/W. The
opposite surface is well insulated from the surroundings.

At furnace start-up the wall is at an initial temperature of 𝑇𝑖 = 300 K, and combustion gases at
𝑇 = 1300 K enter the furnace, providing a convection coefficient of ℎ = 25 W/m2 K at the
ceramic film.
Assuming the film to have negligible thermal capacitance, how long will it take for the inner
surface of the steel to achieve a temperature of 𝑇𝑠,𝑖 = 1200 K?
What is the temperature 𝑇𝑠,𝑜 of the exposed surface of the ceramic film at this time?
Solution :
Heat transfer to the wall is determined by the total resistance to heat transfer from the gas to the
surface of the steel, and not simply by the convection resistance.
The overall coefficient
−1
−1 1
𝑈 = (𝑅𝑡𝑜𝑡 𝐴) = ( + 𝑅𝑓′′ ) = 20 W/m2 K
ℎ
The Biot Number
𝑈𝐿 20 × 0.01
Bi = = = 0.0033 ≪ 1
𝑘 60
and the lumped capacitance method can be used.
𝑇 − 𝑇∞ 𝑡 𝑡 𝑈𝑡
= exp [− ] = exp [− ] = exp [− ]
𝑇𝑖 − 𝑇∞ 𝜏𝑡 𝑅𝑡 𝐶𝑡 𝜌𝐿𝑐
𝜌𝐿𝑐 𝑇 − 𝑇∞
𝑡=− ln = 3886 s = 1.08 h
𝑈 𝑇𝑖 − 𝑇∞

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Performing an energy balance at the outer surface:
ℎ(𝑇∞ − 𝑇𝑠,𝑜 ) = (𝑇𝑠,𝑜 − 𝑇𝑠,𝑖 )/𝑅𝑓′′
ℎ𝑇∞ + 𝑇𝑠,𝑖 /𝑅𝑓′′ 25 × 1300 + 1200/0.01
→ 𝑇𝑠,𝑜 = ′′ =
ℎ + 1/(𝑅𝑓 ) 25 + 1/(0.01)
→ 𝑇𝑠,𝑜 = 1220 K

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Problem 71
The 150-mm-thick wall of a gas-fired furnace is constructed of fireclay brick (k = 1.5 W/m. K,
ρ = 2600 kg/m3, c = 1000 J/kg.K) and is well insulated at its outer surface. The wall is at a
uniform initial temperature of 20°C, when the burners are fired and the inner surface is exposed
to products of combustion for which T∞ = 950°C and h = 100 W/m2.K.
How long does it take for the outer surface of the wall to reach a temperature of 750°C?
Note : An insulated wall is equivalent to one-half of a wall of thickness 2L with symmetric
convection conditions at its two surfaces.
Solution :

Check first whether lumped capacitance method is applicable.

ℎ𝐿
Bi = = 10 > 0.1
𝑘
We will use the one-term approximation to compute the desired time

Note that, since Fo = 0.867 > 0.2, the approximate series solution is appropriate.

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Problem 82
A long cylinder of 30-mm diameter, initially at a uniform temperature of 1000 K, is suddenly
quenched in a large, constant-temperature oil bath at 350 K. The cylinder properties are k = 1.7
W/m.K, c = 1600 J/kg. K, and ρ = 400 kg/m3, while the convection coefficient is 50 W/m2.K.
Calculate the time required for the surface of the cylinder to reach 500 K.
Solution :

Check first whether lumped capacitance method is applicable.

ℎ𝐿𝑐 ℎ(𝑟0 /2) 50 × (0.015/2)
Bi = = = = 0.221 > 0.1
𝑘 𝑘 1.7
Using the approximate series solution for the infinite cylinder,

Note that, since Fo = 1.72 > 0.2, the approximate series solution is appropriate.

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Problem 91
A very thick slab with thermal diffusivity 5.6×10-6 m2/s and thermal conductivity 20 W/m.K
is initially at a uniform temperature of 325°C. Suddenly, the surface is exposed to a coolant at
15°C for which the convection heat transfer coefficient is 100 W/m2 .K.
Determine temperatures at the surface and at a depth of 45 mm after 3 min have elapsed.
Solution :

The temperature distribution for a semi-infinite solid with surface convection is given

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Problem 102
The soil temperature in the upper layers of the earth varies with the variations in the atmospheric
conditions. Before a cold front moves in, the earth at a location is initially at a uniform
temperature of 10°C. Then the area is subjected to a temperature of -10°C and high winds that
resulted in a convection heat transfer coefficient of 40 W/m2 ·°C on the earth’s surface for a
period of 10 h. Taking the properties of the soil at that location to be k = 0.9 W/m.°C and α =
1.6×10-5 m2/s, determine the soil temperature at distances 0, 10, 20, and 50 cm from the earth’s
surface at the end of this 10-h period.

Solution :
The one-dimensional transient temperature distribution in the ground can be determined from

Then we conclude that the last term in the temperature distribution relation above must be
zero regardless of 𝑥 despite the exponential term tending to infinity since (1) erfc(w) → 0 for
ξ > 3 (see Table 4-3) and (2) the term has to remain less than 1 to have physically meaningful
solutions. That is,

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