Heat Transfer into a heat reservoir

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on estimating heat transfer from a small metal bar with dimensions 2.5mm length, 0.2mm width, and 0.2μm thickness, subjected to a current I. The power input is calculated using the formula Pin = I2R, while the power output includes contributions from blackbody radiation, air, and substrate. The user seeks to simplify the model by ignoring convection and treating the air and substrate as heat reservoirs, but faces challenges in applying Fourier's law due to the lack of a defined temperature gradient. The discussion highlights the need for a characteristic length scale to estimate the temperature gradient.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electrical power calculations (P = I2R)
  • Familiarity with heat transfer concepts, specifically Fourier's law
  • Knowledge of blackbody radiation and emissivity
  • Basic principles of thermal conduction in solids and fluids
NEXT STEPS
  • Research methods for calculating heat conduction into substrates, focusing on thermal conductivity
  • Study the effects of temperature on electrical resistance in conductors
  • Explore the concept of characteristic length scales in heat transfer analysis
  • Learn about transient heat transfer and its implications in short timescale scenarios
USEFUL FOR

Engineers, physicists, and students involved in thermal analysis, electrical engineering, or materials science, particularly those interested in heat transfer dynamics in small-scale systems.

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I've got a problem with calculating (estimating) how much heat is flowing out of a metal bar in the following system; it seems like it should be simple but I can't see where to go with it.

System:
A small metal bar with length l=2.5mm, width w=0.2mm, thickness t=0.2μm with resistance R is on a substrate, with the rest of the material open to the air.
I want to work out what temperature the bar will be with a given current I flowing through it (and conversely what current is needed to maintain it at a temperature T).

My thoughts are to balance the power in and out of the bar.
I've got
$$P_{in}=I^2R$$
$$P_{out}=P_{blackbody} + P_{air} + P_{substrate}$$

I can calculate the blackbody radiation power fine (using an emissivity of 0.1), but I'm not sure how to calculate the conduction into the substrate and air.

I only need an estimate, so I was thinking of ignoring the effects of convection, and just treating the air and the substrate as heat reservoirs.
This is looking at short timescales (less than 1 second really), so I was thinking of ignoring heating of the air and substrate, assuming that they stay at room temperature.

My main problem comes from the fact that Fourier's law, q=-kdT/dx requires a temperature gradient, which I have no idea how to calculate. Approximating the gradient as ΔT/Δx requires some characteristic length scale, which I'm not sure how to approach.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can estimate this, or point out some flaw in my reasoning (bearing in mind that this is only a rough estimate)?
 
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Please note that temperature will change the resistance of the conductor.
 

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