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School of Engineering and Informatics (for staff and students)

Heat Transfer (H3055)

Heat Transfer

Module H3055

Module details for 2025/26.

15 credits

FHEQ Level 6

Pre-Requisite

Engineering Fluid Mechanics
Engineering Maths 1A
Engineering Maths 1B
Engineering Thermodynamics

Module Outline

Heat transfer is ubiquitous throughout modern life – from the design of fusion reactors and improving the efficiency of gas turbine engines to sustainable measures for warming and cooling homes. In this module students will develop upon and be introduced to topics related to heat transfer. Students will apply theory and modern numerical methods in the solution of complex engineering problems across a range of relevant technologies. Topics will include the fundamentals of heat transfer via conduction, convection and radiation and extend further in each of these areas to cover more complex situations and geometries. Practical sessions will reinforce underlying theory whilst demonstrating the effects of experimental uncertainties in the context of sustainable energy technologies. Topics explored in this module are directly applicable to UN SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy.

Module Topics
• Fundamentals - Revision of the basic laws of and simple concepts in, conduction, convection, and radiation.
• Conduction - 1-D steady state conduction in plane and radial geometries, heat transfer from extended surfaces. Simple time-dependent heat conduction.
• Numerical Methods in Conduction - Finite difference approximations, implementation of boundary conditions, 2D steady state and 1D time dependent problems, direct and indirect solution methods. Use of Matlab PDE toolbox in solution of Heat transfer problems.
• Principles of Convection - Modes of convection, the convection coefficient and how to obtain it. Dimensionless groups, the average Nusselt number, the Reynolds analogy.
• Applications of Convection - Flat plate laminar and turbulent flow, pipe flow, free convection from vertical and horizontal surfaces
• Radiation - The Stefan-Boltzmann law, radiative properties, view factors, black body and grey body analysis. Combined radiation and convection.

C2, C3, C4, C7, C12, M2, M3, M4, M7, M12

Library

• Essential Heat Transfer by Christopher Long
• Heat Transfer by C. Long and A. Sayma (a free downloadable e-book)
• Heat Transfer by Adrian Bejan
• Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer by Frank Incroperra and David DeWitt
• Heat and Mass Transfer by A.F. Mills
• Thermal Radiation Heat Transfer by Robert Siegel and John R. Howell
• A Catalog of Radiation Configuration Factors by John R. Howell
• Boundary Layer Theory by H. Schlichting

Module learning outcomes

Have a systematic understanding of the main principles of heat transfer by conduction, single phase convection and radiation.

Deploy established techniques of analysis to engineering problems in heat transfer by conduction, single phase convection and radiation. Deploy established techniques of analysis to engineering problems in heat transfer by conduction, single phase convection and radiation.

Describe and comment upon current research in heat transfer and applications to sustainable technologies.

Have an appreciation of experimental uncertainty and its impact on the design and control of new sustainable technologies Have an appreciation of experimental uncertainty

TypeTimingWeighting
Coursework50.00%
Coursework components. Weighted as shown below.
PortfolioT2 Week 11 100.00%
Unseen ExaminationSemester 2 Assessment50.00%
Timing

Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.

Weighting

Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.

TermMethodDurationWeek pattern
Spring SemesterLaboratory2 hours00111111000
Spring SemesterClass2 hours01010101010
Spring SemesterLecture2 hours11111111111

How to read the week pattern

The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.

Dr Mark Puttock-Brown

Assess convenor
/profiles/218138

Please note that the University will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver courses and modules in accordance with the descriptions set out here. However, the University keeps its courses and modules under review with the aim of enhancing quality. Some changes may therefore be made to the form or content of courses or modules shown as part of the normal process of curriculum management.

The University reserves the right to make changes to the contents or methods of delivery of, or to discontinue, merge or combine modules, if such action is reasonably considered necessary by the University. If there are not sufficient student numbers to make a module viable, the University reserves the right to cancel such a module. If the University withdraws or discontinues a module, it will use its reasonable endeavours to provide a suitable alternative module.

School of Engineering and Informatics (for staff and students)

School Office:
School of Engineering and Informatics, ÈÕº«ÎÞÂë, Chichester 1 Room 002, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QJ
ei@sussex.ac.uk
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