Average Temperature Difference Between Plate And Fluid Calculator

Formula Used:

\[ \delta T_{avg} = \frac{\frac{q' \cdot L}{k}}{0.679 \cdot Re_L^{0.5} \cdot Pr^{0.333}} \]

Heat Flux (q'):

W/m²

Distance L:

Thermal Conductivity (k):

W/(m·K)

Reynolds Number at Location L (ReL):

Prandtl Number (Pr):

Average Temperature Difference (δTavg):

Unit Converter ▲

Unit Converter ▼

From:	To:

1. What Is The Average Temperature Difference Formula?

The average temperature difference formula calculates the temperature difference between a plate and fluid using heat flux, distance, thermal conductivity, Reynolds number, and Prandtl number. This is important in heat transfer analysis for determining thermal gradients in fluid flow systems.

2. How Does The Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

\[ \delta T_{avg} = \frac{\frac{q' \cdot L}{k}}{0.679 \cdot Re_L^{0.5} \cdot Pr^{0.333}} \]

Where:

\( q' \) — Heat flux (W/m²)
\( L \) — Distance from leading edge (m)
\( k \) — Thermal conductivity (W/(m·K))
\( Re_L \) — Reynolds number at location L
\( Pr \) — Prandtl number

Explanation: The formula accounts for convective heat transfer characteristics between a surface and fluid flow, incorporating both fluid properties and flow conditions.

3. Importance Of Temperature Difference Calculation

Details: Accurate temperature difference calculation is crucial for heat exchanger design, thermal system analysis, and optimizing heat transfer processes in various engineering applications.

4. Using The Calculator

Tips: Enter heat flux in W/m², distance in meters, thermal conductivity in W/(m·K), Reynolds number (dimensionless), and Prandtl number (dimensionless). All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the significance of Reynolds number in this calculation?
A: Reynolds number determines the flow regime (laminar or turbulent) which significantly affects the heat transfer characteristics between the plate and fluid.

Q2: How does Prandtl number influence the temperature difference?
A: Prandtl number represents the ratio of momentum diffusivity to thermal diffusivity, affecting how quickly heat transfers relative to fluid motion.

Q3: What are typical values for these parameters?
A: Heat flux varies by application (100-10,000 W/m²), thermal conductivity depends on material, Reynolds number indicates flow type, and Prandtl number varies by fluid (0.7 for air, 7 for water).

Q4: When is this formula most applicable?
A: This formula is particularly useful for forced convection heat transfer analysis over flat plates in various engineering applications.

Q5: Are there limitations to this equation?
A: The formula has limitations at extreme flow conditions, for complex geometries, or when additional factors like radiation or phase change are significant.