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Heat Transfer Calculator
Calculate heat transfer rates for conduction, convection, radiation, and heat exchangers
Calculation Type
Parameters
Heat Transfer Modes
Conduction
Q = kA(ΔT)/L
Heat through solid materials
Convection
Q = hA(Ts - T∞)
Heat between surface and fluid
Radiation
Q = εσA(T₁⁴ - T₂⁴)
Heat by electromagnetic waves
Material Properties
Copper385 W/m·K
Aluminum205 W/m·K
Steel50 W/m·K
Concrete1.4 W/m·K
Glass Wool0.04 W/m·K
Air0.026 W/m·K
Convection Coefficients
Free air5-25 W/m²·K
Forced air10-200 W/m²·K
Free water20-100 W/m²·K
Forced water50-10,000 W/m²·K
Boiling water3,000-100,000 W/m²·K
Key Concepts
Thermal Resistance
Opposition to heat flow, analogous to electrical resistance. Higher R-value means better insulation.
Heat Flux
Heat transfer rate per unit area (W/m²). Used to compare thermal performance across different surfaces.
Effectiveness
Ratio of actual to maximum possible heat transfer. Higher effectiveness indicates better heat exchanger design.