Related Course/s:

Aims & Objectives:

The aim of this unit is to introduce engineering students to the basic principles of heat transfer and related processes and their influence on systems in every day life. During the course we aim to develop in students:

•  An understanding of the heat transfer process and numerical heat transfer with some computer applications
• An appreciation of the design principles in thermo-fluid systems
• An ability to analyse existing thermo-fluid systems and contribute to new designs

After successfully completing this unit, students should be able to:

• Solve given problems and shows an understanding of the heat transfer process and numerical heat transfer with/without computer applications
• Demonstrate an appreciation of the design principles in thermo-fluid systems
• Analyse existing thermo-fluid systems and contribute to new designs

Teaching Methods:

Lectures (36 hours), Tutorials (20 hours), Laboratory Work (4 hours)

Assessment:

Final Examination (55%-70%), Lab Reports (10%-20%), Assignments (5%-15%), Group Project (10%-15%)

Generic Skills Outcomes:

In this unit, students are expected to enhance the Key Generic Skills below as recognised by Engineers Australia. The Unit Outline explains how these outcomes will be achieved.

• Ability to apply knowledge of basic science and engineering fundamentals
• Ability to communicate effectively, not only with engineers but also with the community at large
• Ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution
• Ability to utilize a systems approach to design and operational performance
• Ability to function effectively as an individual and in a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams, with the capacity to be a leader or manager as well as an effective team member
• Understanding of the social, cultural, global and environmental responsibilities of the professional engineer, and the need for sustainable development
• Understanding of the principles of sustainable design and development.

Content:

• The First Law of Thermodynamics, forms of energy, heat transfer mechanisms.

• Review of differential equations, 1-D conduction, general conduction equation, boundary and initial values, solutions and methods, heat generation.

• Heat conduction in plain walls, thermal contact resistance, resistance networks, heat conduction in cylinders and spheres, critical radius of insulation, finned surfaces.

• Lumped system analysis, transient heat conduction in walls, cylinders, spheres, semi-infinite solids, multi-dimensional systems.

• Finite difference formulations, 1-D steady heat conduction, solution methods, 2-D steady conduction, transient heat conduction, controlling the numerical error.

• Physical mechanisms of forced convection, velocity boundary layer, thermal boundary layer, flow over flat plates, flow across cylinders and spheres, flow in tubes.

• Physical mechanisms of natural convection, natural convection over surfaces, natural convection in enclosures, natural convection from finned surfaces.

• Types of heat exchangers, the overall heat transfer coefficient, analysis of heat exchangers, the Log-Mean-Temperature-Difference method, the effectiveness-NTU method

Textbooks:

References: