Thermal 02: wall with internal heat generation

Wall with a distributed internal heat generation.

Case Description

A 40 inch thick plane wall has a distributed internal heat generation of 1 BTU / (hour · in3). The external temperature at the front and back face is held at 70˚ F. No thermal loads are applied to the top, bottom, left, or right faces of the model. The conductivity of the material is 0.5 BTU / (hr · in · ˚F). The result we want is the maximum temperature within the interior of the wall.

Dimensions (inches)

• a = 80
• b = 40
• t = 40

Study Type

• Thermal

Mesh Parameters

• Mesh Type = Solid, Tetrahedral
• Mesh Size = 7 inches, absolute
• Element Order = Parabolic
• Adaptive Mesh Refinement: None

Material Properties

• Thermal Conductivity, K = 0.5 Btu / (hr · inch · ˚F)

  [Equivalent to 1.3889 x 10-4 Btu / (second · inch · °F)]

Loads

• Applied temperature at FRONT and BACK faces (*/- Z faces) = 70˚ F

• Internal Heat Generation applied to entire body = 1 BTU / (hour · in3)

  [Equivalent to 2.7778 x 10-4 BTU / (second · in3)]

Comparison of Results

The result of interest is the maximum temperature within the interior of the wall.

Reference

Holman, J. P., Heat Transfer, Third Edition, New York: McGraw-Hill, 1981