PROVIDES A CONCISE COMPUTATIONAL APPROACH TO HEAT TRANSFER FUNDAMENTALS WITH PYTHON-BASED PROBLEM-SOLVING APPLICATIONS
Heat transfer is a foundational topic in engineering, bridging theory and application across fields such as mechanical, aerospace, chemical, electrical, and fire engineering. Yet students often find it challenging due to its heavy mathematical content and abstract concepts. Heat Transfer Explained: A Computational Perspective meets this challenge by introducing heat transfer through a clear, structured approach that integrates traditional fundamentals with accessible computational methods. Designed to align with the typical heat transfer course syllabus, this textbook systematically covers conduction, convection, and radiation.
Each chapter integrates Python code presented in pseudocode notation, providing reusable “recipes” to solve modern heat transfer problems. This approach makes the content accessible for those with limited programming experience while still offering rigor for advanced learners. Application-based examples and learning objectives guide students through each concept, supported by a final chapter with multi-modal case studies that illustrate the integration of different heat transfer modes. The textbook encourages active learning throughout, bridging prerequisite knowledge with new material to equip students with both theoretical and computational skills.
- Explains heat transfer fundamentals through a computational lens to improve conceptual understanding
- Covers essential topics including conduction, forced convection, natural convection, phase change, and radiation through surface-to-surface exchange and participating media
- Includes examples of practical engineering applications for each mode of heat transfer
- Offers an online companion site with Jupyter Notebook files
- Aligns with standard heat transfer course syllabi for undergraduate and graduate engineering programs
Heat Transfer Explained: A Computational Perspective is designed for undergraduate and graduate students in Heat Transfer, Computational Methods for Heat Transfer, and related courses in mechanical, aerospace, and chemical engineering programs. It is also an excellent reference for early-career engineers and professionals in industry who need to strengthen their computational skills in solving heat transfer problems.
Table of Contents:
About the Author xi
Preface xiii
Acknowledgments xv
1 Introduction 1
1.1 What Is Heat Transfer? 1
1.2 Three Basic Heat Transfer Modes 2
1.3 Relations to Thermodynamics 6
1.4 A Brief Review of the Prerequisite 11
1.5 Summary 15
2 Introduction to Conduction 17
2.1 Thermal Conductivity 17
2.2 General Description of Conduction 20
2.3 General Solution Procedure to 1D Steady-state Heat Equation 27
2.4 Steady-state Conduction with No Internal Source: The Thermal Resistance Network Method 28
2.5 Summary 33
3 Multidimensional Conduction 35
3.1 Conduction Beyond Steady-state One-dimensional Problems 35
3.2 Numerical Methods 45
3.3 Summary 61
4 Introduction to Convective Heat Transfer 63
4.1 Boundary Layers 63
4.2 Nusselt Number 68
4.3 Connecting Momentum Transport and Heat Transfer: Prandtl Number 69
4.4 Reynolds Analogy 71
4.5 Impact of Turbulence 72
4.6 Virtual Laboratory: Boundary Layer Measurement 73
4.7 Summary 77
5 Forced Convection 79
5.1 External Convection 81
5.2 Internal Convection 91
5.3 Summary 101
6 Natural Convection and Phase Change 105
6.1 The Physical Processes of Natural Convection and Phase Change 105
6.2 Correlations for Natural Convection 111
6.3 Correlations for Phase Change Process 118
6.4 Summary 119
7 Introduction to Radiative Heat Transfer 121
7.1 The Physical Process of Thermal Radiation 121
7.2 Basic Concepts in Radiation 122
7.3 The Idealized “Blackbody” 125
7.4 Surface Properties 128
7.5 Summary 133
8 Radiative Exchange Between Surfaces 135
8.1 View Factor 135
8.2 Surface Exchange Between Gray Diffuse Surfaces 144
8.3 Virtual Laboratory: Radiation Within a Backward-facing Step Combustor 148
8.4 Summary 150
9 Radiation in Participating Media 151
9.1 The Characteristics of Gaseous Radiation 151
9.2 The Characteristics of Radiative Interactions with Particles 153
9.3 The Characteristics of Radiation in Semitransparent Medium 154
9.4 Radiative Absorption: The Beer's Law 154
9.5 Radiative Emission 156
9.6 Virtual Laboratory: Measurement of Wall Temperature in a Combustor Using IR Camera 157
9.7 Summary 159
10 Applications: Fin and Heat Exchanger 161
10.1 Fins 162
10.2 Heat Exchanger 173
10.3 Summary 186
11 Contemporary Application of Heat Transfer 189
11.1 A Simplified Energy Balance for Earth 191
11.2 Conjugate Heat Transfer Within a Thermal Barrier Coating Layer 196
11.3 Electronics Cooling 201
11.4 Thermal Runaway of Lithium-ion Batteries 208
11.5 Summary 213
Bibliography 213
Index 215
