AbstractOptimal homotopy asymptotic method (OHAM) is employed to investigate steady‐state heat conduction with temperature dependent thermal conductivity and uniform heat generation in a hollow cylinder. Analytical models are developed for dimensionless temperature distribution and heat transfer for two cases using mixed boundary conditions (Dirichlet, Neumann, and Robin). The inner cylinder is assumed to be insulated in both cases. In the first case, the outer cylinder is assumed to be isothermal whereas in the second case, the outer cylinder is convectively cooled by a fluid of temperature T2 through a uniform heat transfer coefficient h. The effects of Biot number, dimensionless heat generation, and thermal conductivity parameters on the temperature distribution and heat transfer are determined analytically and validated numerically using MAPLE 14. In both cases, the results obtained by OHAM are found to be in good agreement with the numerical results. It is found that as the Biot number increases, the results approach that of the isothermal case. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/htj). DOI 10.1002/htj.20407