Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient

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Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient Formulas

\( 1 \;/\; U \; A   =  (1 \;/\; h_1 \; A_1)  +  ( l_1 \;/\; k \; A)   +  (1 \;/\; h_2 \; A_2)  \) 

\( U  =  1 \;/\; (1 \;/\; h_1) + ( l_1 \;/\; k_1) + (1 \;/\; h_2 )  \)     (heat transfer through the plane wall and disregarding radiation)

\( U  =  1 \;/\; (1 \;/\; h_1) + ( l_1 \;/\; k_1) + ( l_2 \;/\; k_2) + (1 \;/\; h_2)   \)     (heat transfer through the plane composite wall, no thermal contact resistance and disregarding radiation

Symbol English Metric
\( U \)  = overall heat transfer coefficient  \(Btu \;/\; hr-ft^2-F\)   \(W \;/\; m^2-K\) 
\( A \) = contact area for each fluid side \(ft^2\) \(m^2\)
\( A_1 \) = contact area for one of the fluids \(ft^2\) \(m^2\)
\( A_2 \) = contact area for the other fluid \(ft^2\) \(m^2\)
\( h_1 \) = individual heat transfer convection coefficient for one of the fluids \(Btu \;/\; hr\) \(W\)
\( h_2 \) = individual heat transfer convection coefficient for the other fluid \(Btu \;/\; hr\) \(W\)
\( k \) = thermal conductivity of the material \(Btu-ft \;/\; hr-ft^2-F\) \(W \;/\; m-K\)
\( l_1 \) = wall thickness \(in\) \(mm\)
\( l_2 \) = wall thickness \(in\) \(mm\)

Overall heat transfer coefficient, abbreviated as U, is the heat transfer between items like walls in buildings or across heat exchangers for the conduction within materials.

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Tags: Heat Transfer Coefficient Heat