Question 1

What is the heat transfer coefficient?

Accepted Answer

It quantifies the rate of heat transfer per unit area per unit temperature difference between a surface and the surrounding fluid.

Question 2

What affects the heat transfer coefficient?

Accepted Answer

Fluid velocity, viscosity, surface roughness, and flow regime (laminar vs turbulent) all affect the coefficient.

Question 3

What are typical heat transfer coefficient values?

Accepted Answer

Natural convection in air: 5–25 W/(m²·K). Forced convection in air: 10–500. Natural convection in water: 100–1,200. Forced convection in water: 500–10,000. Boiling water: 2,500–25,000 W/(m²·K).

Heat Transfer Coefficient Converter

Common Questions