Curtin University of Technology

Department of Mechanical Engineering

End of Semester Examinations - November 2002

Internal Students: Department of Mechanical Engineering

Subject:

Heat Transfer 332

SPK# & Version: 302860 V.1

Time Allowed:

TWO hours preceded by a 10 minute reading period.

Supervisor will indicate when answering of exam may begin. If
you wish to make notes, please use the back of your exam
paper, or on the edge columns.

Questions to be
Attempted:

Attempt FOUR (4) questions out of five (5)

Total Marks:

100

Aids Allowed:

Any silent type calculator

Aids to be supplied by the University:

None

Aids to be supplied by the student:

Any silent type calculator

THIS IS A CLOSED BOOK EXAMINATION

Page 2 of 5
Heat Transfer 332 (302860 V.1)
End of Semester Examination, November 2002
_________________________________________________________________________________________
___

As shown in Fig. 1, a guarded-heating arrangement with two independent thin film heaters
is used to heat water at 90 oC. The heater (1) generates a constant heating power of 300
W per unit length. The power of heater (2) is adjustable and is used to control stray heat
leakage through the insulation (1) to the ambient air. Thickness L and thermal conductivity
k of composite layers, and convective heat transfer coefficients h for fluid media are as
indicated in the figure.
(a)

Assuming steady one-dimensional heat flow in the heater arrangement, draw the
thermal network per unit length. Indicate values of thermal resistances.

(b)

If the guarded-heating arrangement is operated with the heater (2) turned off,
determine the temperature of the heater (1) and the fraction of heat dissipation
through the insulation (1) to the ambient air.

(c)

The power of heater (2) is adjusted to stop any heat from heater (1) leaking to the
ambient air through the insulation (1). Find the operating heating power of heater (2)
under this condition and the steady operating temperatures of the two heaters.
(25 Marks)

Heater (2)
Adjustable power

Heater (1)
300 W/m of power

Ambient air at 20 oC
ha = 8 W/m2.K

Water at 90 oC
hw = 30 W/m2.K

Insulation (1)
L1 = 40 mm, k1 = 0.1 W/m.K

Metal plate
L3 = 5 mm, k3 = 40 W/m.K

Insulation (2)
L2 = 10 mm, k2 = 0.5 W/m.K

Figure 1

Page 3 of 5
Heat Transfer 332 (302860 V.1)
End of Semester Examination, November 2002
_________________________________________________________________________________________
___

A radiant heater consists of a circular heating base and a conical reflector that is well
insulated on the outside surface, as shown in Fig. 2. The heating base is steadily
maintained at a temperature of 1000 K by an external heat supply while the open end of the
reflector emits radiant heat to the ambient at 300 K. All inner surfaces of the heater
assembly and the ambient can be treated as black for thermal radiation. Conductive and
convective modes of heat transfer in the heater assembly may be neglected.
(a)

For the dimensions given in Fig. 2, obtain the shape factors F13, F12, and F23 for the
heater assembly. Hence, draw the thermal network for the radiation heat transfer
process indicating the values of thermal resistances.

(b)

Determine the rate of external heat supply to the circular heating base and the
surface temperature of the conical reflector during heater operation.

The following information is provided:

(i)

F=

For parallel circular discs of radii b and c separated by distance a along common
centre-to-centre normal, the shape factor F is given by,

1 + B2 + C2

(1 + B
2B

+ C2

4B 2C 2

, where B =

b
c
and C = .
a
a

(ii)

Thermal radiation resistance between two black surfaces is given by

(iii)

Boltzmann constant, = 5.7 x 10-8 W/m 2.K4.

1
.
AF

(25 Marks)

2
Black Heater Base
T1 = 1000 K, D1 = 30 cm

Black conical reflector

Axial length of reflector, L = 40 cm

External Heat Supply

Q1

Black Srroundings
3

T3 = 300 K
D3 = 50 cm

Figure 2

Page 4 of 5
Heat Transfer 332 (302860 V.1)
End of Semester Examination, November 2002
_________________________________________________________________________________________
___

An airtight lecture theatre is fitted with an air conditioner of 20 kW cooling capacity. Heat
leakage through the walls of the lecture theatre is given by 25(35 - T) kJ/min, where T is
the inside room air temperature in oC. During a lecture, at time t=0, the air conditioner is
switched on and the air is cooled from its initial temperature of 30 oC. The coccupants in
the lecture theatre release 8 kW of heat to the room air.
(a)

Working from first principles, derive an expression for the subsequent variation of air
temperature in the lecture theatre with time. Hence, determine the time taken for the
room air to cool from 30 oC to 25 oC.

(b)

As the room air temperature reaches 25 oC, the air conditioner develops a fault and
shuts itself off. Find the air temperature 5 mins after the failure.

Data provided:
Volume of the lecture theatre
Density of air
Specific heat of air, c p

500 m 3
1.2 kg/m 3
1.005 kJ/kg.K

It may be assumed that the room air is always fully mixed and the air temperature is
uniform throughout the room.
(25 Marks)

Working from first principles, show that the temperature variation along a slender uniform
long fin is given by,

( TT )
= e mx
(To T )

where m 2 =

hp
and the other symbols have their usual meaning.
kA

The end of a long metal rod of 20 mm diameter is steadily ground by pressing against a
grinding wheel. Heat generated during grinding is dissipated from the surface of the metal
rod to an ambient of temperature 20 oC with a heat transfer coefficient of 10 W/m 2.K. A
steady temperature of 85 oC is registered at a distance of 100 mm from the grinding end
of the rod.
(a)

Obtain an expression for the temperature distribution along the metal rod.

(b)

Find the temperature of the grinding surface of the metal rod and the rate of heat
generation due to grinding.

It is given that:

d 2
(i) the solution for the differential equation
m 2 = 0 is
2
dx
mx
mx
= Ce + De , where C and D are arbitrary constants;
(ii) thermal conductivity of metal rod material k, is 50 W/m.K.
(25 Marks)

Page 5 of 5
Heat Transfer 332 (302860 V.1)
End of Semester Examination, November 2002
_________________________________________________________________________________________
___

Hot oil is cooled from 180 oC to 100 oC in a heat exchanger of 20 kW heat transfer duty.
Cooling water at 50 oC enters the heat exchanger with a mass flow rate of 22 kg/min. The
specific heat capacity of the oil and the water are 2.5 kJ/kg.K and 4.2 kJ/kg.K, respectively.
The convective heat transfer coefficient on the oil side is 160 W/m 2.K and that on the water
side is 600 W/m 2.K.
(a)

Calculate the outlet cooling water temperature and the mass flow rate of the oil.

(b)

Find the effectiveness and the overall heat transfer coefficient of the heat exchanger.

(c)

Determine the number of transfer units (NTU) of the heat exchanger for both
counter-flow and parallel-flow arrangements.

(d)

Estimate the minimum heat exchanger area necessary for the cooling process.

The following expressions for heat exchanger effectiveness, are provided:

(i) Parallel-flow heat exchanger:
(ii) Counter-flow heat exchanger:
where D =

(m& c) min
(m& c )max

, N = NTU =

1 e N (1+ D)
=
[1 + D]
1 e N (1 D)
=
1 D e N (1 D)

UA
, A = heat transfer area, U = overall heat transfer
(m& c) min

coefficient, m = mass flow rate and c = specific heat capacity.

(25 Marks)

- End of Examination Paper -