Introduction to Engineering Heat Transfer

In this chapter, we will begin the formal study of conduction heat transfer by introducing the fundamental rate equation, Fourier’s Law. This rate equation will then be applied to situations that are both one-dimensional and steady state. This chapter also provides an initial exposure to the formal process of deriving a differential equation by applying the First Law of Thermodynamics to a differentially small control volume. The alternative process of solving a problem using numerical techniques in which the First Law of Thermodynamics is applied to small but finite control volumes is introduced. Both of these approaches are repeated throughout the text as the problems that are considered become increasingly complex. Finally, the concept of a thermal resistance is introduced in this chapter. Thermal resistances are a primary tool for understanding heat transfer problems in order to simplify and solve them.