Heat Transfer Coefficient Converter

Value:

From Unit:

To Unit:

1. What is the Heat Transfer Coefficient Calculator?

Definition: This calculator converts heat transfer coefficient values between various units. The heat transfer coefficient measures the rate of heat transfer per unit area per unit temperature difference, typically in watts per square meter per Kelvin (W/m²·K).

Purpose: Essential in thermodynamics, HVAC design, and engineering for converting heat transfer coefficient units in applications like heat exchanger design and building insulation.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses conversion factors relative to the base unit watt/square meter/K [W/m²·K]:

Input value is converted to W/m²·K by dividing by the "From" unit’s factor.
The result is converted to the "To" unit by multiplying by the "To" unit’s factor.

Supported units:

watt/square meter/K [W/m²·K] (Factor: 1.00000)
watt/square meter/°C (Factor: 1.00000)
joule/second/square meter/K (Factor: 1.00000)
calorie(IT)/second/square centimeter/°C (Factor: 2.3885e-5)
kilocalorie(IT)/hour/square meter/°C (Factor: 0.85985)
kilocalorie(IT)/hour/square foot/°C (Factor: 0.07987)
Btu(IT)/second/square foot/°F (Factor: 4.8914e-5)
Btu(th)/second/square foot/°F (Factor: 4.8944e-5)
Btu(IT)/hour/square foot/°F (Factor: 0.17617)
Btu(th)/hour/square foot/°F (Factor: 0.17624)
CHU/hour/square foot/°C (Factor: 0.17617)

Steps:

Enter the value to convert.
Select the "From" unit (the unit of the input value).
Select the "To" unit (the desired output unit).
Submit to perform the conversion.
Results are formatted to 5 decimal places, with scientific notation for values less than 0.001.

3. Importance of Heat Transfer Coefficient Conversion

Heat transfer coefficient conversion is critical for:

Engineering: Designing efficient heat exchangers and cooling systems.
Building Design: Calculating insulation requirements.
Energy Efficiency: Optimizing thermal performance in industrial processes.

4. Using the Calculator

Example 1: Convert 1 watt/square meter/K to Btu(IT)/hour/square foot/°F:

Input: 1 W/m²·K
From Unit: watt/square meter/K (factor: 1)
To Unit: Btu(IT)/hour/square foot/°F (factor: 0.1761655)
Calculation: \( 1 / 1 \times 0.1761655 = 0.1761655 \)

Result: 0.17617 Btu(IT)/hour/square foot/°F

Example 2: Convert 1 kilocalorie(IT)/hour/square meter/°C to watt/square meter/K:

Input: 1 kilocalorie(IT)/hour/square meter/°C
From Unit: kilocalorie(IT)/hour/square meter/°C (factor: 0.8598452279)
To Unit: watt/square meter/K (factor: 1)
Calculation: \( 1 / 0.8598452279 \times 1 = 1.163 \)

Result: 1.16300 watt/square meter/K

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the heat transfer coefficient?
A: The heat transfer coefficient quantifies the rate of heat transfer per unit area per unit temperature difference, typically in W/m²·K.

Q: Why are there different units for heat transfer coefficient?
A: Different fields use different unit systems (e.g., SI, imperial, caloric), requiring conversions for consistency.

Q: What’s the difference between IT and th Btu?
A: IT Btu is based on the international steam table (1 Btu(IT) ≈ 1055.056 J), while thermochemical Btu is slightly different (1 Btu(th) ≈ 1054.350 J).

Q: Can this calculator be used for all heat transfer scenarios?
A: Yes, it converts units of heat transfer coefficient, which applies to any scenario involving heat transfer per unit area and temperature difference.

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