Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient

Calculate overall heat transfer coefficient - walls or heat exchangers

The overall heat transfer coefficient for a wall or heat exchanger can be calculated as: 1 / U A = 1 / h1 A1 + dxw / k A + 1 / h2 A2 (1) where U = the overall heat transfer coefficient (W/m2K) A = the contact area for each fluid side (m2) k = the thermal conductivity of the material (W/mK) h = the individual convection heat transfer coefficient for each fluid (W/m2K) dxw = the wall thickness (m) The thermal conductivity - k - for some typical materials (varies with temperature)

Polypropylene PP : 0.1 - 0.22 W/mK Stainless steel : 16 - 24 W/mK Aluminum : 205 - 250 W/mK More about conductive Heat Transfer Thermal Conductivity for Several Materials

The convection heat transfer coefficient - h - depends on

the type of fluid - gas or liquid the flow properties such as velocity other flow and temperature dependent properties

Heat transfer coefficient for some common fluids:

Air - 10 to 100 W/m2K Water - 500 to 10 000 W/m2K

Thermal resistance
The overall heat transfer coefficient can also be calculated by the view of thermal resistance - R. The wall is split in areas of thermal resistance where

the heat transfer between the fluid and the wall is one resistance the wall it self is one resistance the transfer between the wall and the second fluid is a thermal resistance

Surface coatings or layers of "burned" product adds extra thermal resistance to the wall decreasing the overall heat transfer coefficient.
Some typical heat transfer resistances static layer of air, 40 mm (1.57 in) - R = 0.18 m2K/W inside heat transfer resistance, horizontal current - R = 0.13 m2K/W

outside heat transfere resistance, horizontal current - R = 0.04 m2K/W inside heat transfer resistance, heat current from down upwards - R = 0.10 m2K/W outside heat transfere resistance, heat current from above downwards - R = 0.17 m2K/W

Example - Heat Transfer in a Heat Exchanger

A single plate exchanger with media A transfers heat to media B. The wall thickness is 0.1 mm and the material is polypropylene PP, aluminum or stainless steel. Media A and B are air with a convection heat transfer coefficient of hair = 50 W/m2K. The overall heat transfer coefficient U per unit area can be expressed as: U = 1 / (1 / hA + dxw / k + 1 / hB) (1b) Using the values from above the overall heat transfer coefficient can be calculated to:

Polypropylene PP : U = 24.5 W/m2K Steel : U = 25.0 W/m2K Aluminum : U = 25.0 W/m2K

Typical Overall Heat-Transfer Coefficients

Free Convection Gas - Free Convection Gas : U = 1 - 2 W/m2K (typical window, room to outside air through glass) Free Convection Gas - Forced liquid (flowing) water : U = 5 - 15 W/m2K (typical radiator central heating) Free Convection Gas - Condensing Vapor Water : U = 5 - 20 W/m2K (typical steam radiators) Forced Convection (flowing) Gas - Free Convection Gas : U = 3 - 10 W/m2K (superheaters) Forced Convection (flowing) Gas - Forced Convection Gas : U = 10 - 30 W/m2K (heat exchangers gases) Forced Convection (flowing) Gas - Forced liquid (flowing) water : U = 10 - 50 W/m2K (gas coolers) Forced Convection (flowing) Gas - Condensing Vapor Water : U = 10 - 50 W/m2K (air heaters) Liquid Free Convection - Forced Convection Gas : 10 - 50 W/m2K (gas boiler)

Liquid Free Convection - Free Convection Liquid : 25 - 500 W/m2K (oil bath for heating) Liquid Free Convection - Forced Liquid flowing (Water) : 50 - 100 W/m2K (heating coil in vessel water, water without steering), 500 - 2000 W/m2K (heating coil in vessel water, water with steering) Liquid Free Convection - Condensing vapor water : 300 - 1000 W/m2K (steam jackets around vessels with stirrers, water), 150 - 500 W/m2K (other liquids) Forced liquid (flowing) water - Free Convection Gas : 10 - 40 W/m2K (combustion chamber + radiation) Forced liquid (flowing) water - Free Convection Liquid : 500 - 1500 W/m2K (cooling coil - stirred) Forced liquid (flowing) water - Forced liquid (flowing) water : 900 - 2500 W/m2K (heat exchanger water/water) Forced liquid (flowing) water - Condensing vapor water : 1000 - 4000 W/m2K (condensers steam water) Boiling liquid water - Free Convection Gas : 10 - 40 W/m2K (steam boiler + radiation) Boiling liquid water - Forced Liquid flowing (Water) : 300 - 1000 W/m2K (evaporation of refrigerators or brine coolers) Boiling liquid water - Condensing vapor water : 1500 - 6000 W/m2K (evaporators steam/water)