EngiRef / Thermodynamics Engineering Formula

Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient

Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient: Combined convection-conduction-convection resistance. A Heat Transfer formula in thermodynamics engineering.

Heat Transfer

Specification

Name
Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient
Discipline
thermodynamics
Category
Heat Transfer
LaTeX
\frac{1}{U} = \frac{1}{h_1} + \frac{t}{k} + \frac{1}{h_2}
Description
Combined convection-conduction-convection resistance
Conditions
Plane wall with convection on both sides
Can solve for
U
Tags
overall, heat, transfer, coefficient, resistance

Variables

Variables for Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient
SymbolNameUnitSi Unit
UOverall HTCW/(m²·K)W/(m²·K)
h₁Convection Coeff 1W/(m²·K)W/(m²·K)
h₂Convection Coeff 2W/(m²·K)W/(m²·K)
tWall Thicknessmm
kThermal ConductivityW/(m·K)W/(m·K)

Common questions

What is the Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient formula?
Combined convection-conduction-convection resistance. It sits under Heat Transfer, Thermo engineering in the EngiRef reference.
What do the symbols in the Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient formula mean?
In Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient, U is overall htc in W/(m²·K); h₁ is convection coeff 1 in W/(m²·K); h₂ is convection coeff 2 in W/(m²·K); t is wall thickness in m; k is thermal conductivity in W/(m·K).
When does the Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient formula apply?
Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient holds under this condition: Plane wall with convection on both sides.