Conduction with Heat Generation – Solution of Heat Equation. In this article we will solve heat transfer problems in materials with internal source of heat. Thermal Engineering
Conduction with Heat Generation
Conduction with Heat Generation
In the preceding section we considered thermal conduction problems without internal heat sources. For these problems the temperature distribution in a medium was determined solely by conditions at the boundaries of the medium. But in engineering we can often meet a problem, in which internal heat sources are significant and determines the temperature distribution together with boundary conditions.
In nuclear engineering, these problems are of the highest importance, since most the heat generated in nuclear fuel is released inside the fuel pellets and the temperature distribution is determined primarily by heat generation distribution. Note that, as can be seen from the description of the individual components of the total energy energy released during the fission reaction, there is significant amount of energy generated outside the nuclear fuel (outside fuel rods). Especially the kinetic energy of prompt neutrons is largely generated in the coolant (moderator). This phenomena needs to be included in the nuclear calculations.
Thermal energy sources in power operation of pressurized water reactor
For LWR, it is generally accepted that about 2.5% of total energy is recovered in the moderator. This fraction of energy depends on the materials, their arrangement within the reactor, and thus on the reactor type.
Note that, heat generation is a volumetric phenomenon. That is, it occurs throughout the body of a medium. Therefore, the rate of heat generation in a medium is usually specified per unit volume and is denoted by gV [W/m3].
The temperature distribution and accordingly the heat flux is primarily determined by:
Geometry and boundary conditions. Different geometry leads to completely different temperature field.
Heat generation rate. The temperature drop through the body will increase with increased heat generation.
Thermal conductivity of the medium. Higher thermal conductivity will lead to lower temperature drop.
References:
Heat Transfer:
Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer, 7th Edition. Theodore L. Bergman, Adrienne S. Lavine, Frank P. Incropera. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, 2011. ISBN: 9781118137253.
Heat and Mass Transfer. Yunus A. Cengel. McGraw-Hill Education, 2011. ISBN: 9780071077866.
Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer. C. P. Kothandaraman. New Age International, 2006, ISBN: 9788122417722.
U.S. Department of Energy, Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow. DOE Fundamentals Handbook, Volume 2 of 3. May 2016.
Nuclear and Reactor Physics:
J. R. Lamarsh, Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Theory, 2nd ed., Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA (1983).
J. R. Lamarsh, A. J. Baratta, Introduction to Nuclear Engineering, 3d ed., Prentice-Hall, 2001, ISBN: 0-201-82498-1.
W. M. Stacey, Nuclear Reactor Physics, John Wiley & Sons, 2001, ISBN: 0- 471-39127-1.
Robert Reed Burn, Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Operation, 1988.
U.S. Department of Energy, Nuclear Physics and Reactor Theory. DOE Fundamentals Handbook, Volume 1 and 2. January 1993.
Paul Reuss, Neutron Physics. EDP Sciences, 2008. ISBN: 978-2759800414.
Advanced Reactor Physics:
K. O. Ott, W. A. Bezella, Introductory Nuclear Reactor Statics, American Nuclear Society, Revised edition (1989), 1989, ISBN: 0-894-48033-2.
K. O. Ott, R. J. Neuhold, Introductory Nuclear Reactor Dynamics, American Nuclear Society, 1985, ISBN: 0-894-48029-4.
D. L. Hetrick, Dynamics of Nuclear Reactors, American Nuclear Society, 1993, ISBN: 0-894-48453-2.
E. E. Lewis, W. F. Miller, Computational Methods of Neutron Transport, American Nuclear Society, 1993, ISBN: 0-894-48452-4.
See also:
Heat Equation
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In the preceding section we considered thermal conduction problems without internal heat sources. For these problems the temperature distribution in a medium was determined solely by conditions at the boundaries of the medium. But in engineering we can often meet a problem, in which internal heat sources are significant and determines the temperature distribution together with boundary conditions.
