1. What is Convective Heat Transfer?

Convective heat transfer is the transfer of heat between a surface and a moving fluid. It plays a crucial role in many engineering applications including HVAC systems, electronics cooling, and industrial processes.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the convective heat transfer equation:

Where:

• \( Q \) — Heat transfer rate (W)
• \( h \) — Convection coefficient (W/m²·K)
• \( A \) — Surface area (m²)
• \( \Delta T \) — Temperature difference between surface and fluid (K)

Explanation: The equation calculates the rate of heat transfer due to convection based on the surface area, temperature difference, and the convection coefficient which depends on fluid properties and flow conditions.

3. Importance of Heat Transfer Calculation

Details: Accurate heat transfer calculations are essential for designing efficient thermal systems, preventing overheating in electronics, and optimizing energy usage in heating and cooling applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the convection coefficient in W/m²·K, surface area in m², and temperature difference in Kelvin. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are typical values for convection coefficient (h)?
A: Natural convection in air: 5-25 W/m²·K, forced convection in air: 10-200 W/m²·K, water: 50-10,000 W/m²·K depending on flow conditions.

Q2: How is ΔT determined?
A: ΔT is the difference between surface temperature and bulk fluid temperature (T_surface - T_fluid).

Q3: What affects the convection coefficient?
A: Fluid properties (viscosity, thermal conductivity), flow velocity, surface geometry, and temperature difference.

Q4: Can this be used for boiling or condensation?
A: No, phase change heat transfer involves different mechanisms and typically much higher heat transfer coefficients.

Q5: What about radiation heat transfer?
A: This calculator only considers convection. For systems where radiation is significant, additional calculations would be needed.