1. What is Film Temperature?

Film temperature is the average temperature between the plate surface temperature and the free stream fluid temperature. It is commonly used in heat transfer calculations to determine properties at the boundary layer.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Film Temperature formula:

Where:

• \( T_f \) — Film temperature (K)
• \( T_w \) — Plate surface temperature (K)
• \( T_\infty \) — Free stream fluid temperature (K)

Explanation: The formula calculates the arithmetic mean of the plate surface temperature and the free stream fluid temperature to obtain the film temperature.

3. Importance of Film Temperature Calculation

Details: Accurate film temperature calculation is crucial for determining fluid properties in convective heat transfer analysis, which affects heat transfer coefficients and overall system performance.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter plate surface temperature and free stream fluid temperature in Kelvin. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is film temperature important in heat transfer?
A: Film temperature is used to evaluate fluid properties at the boundary layer, which are essential for accurate convective heat transfer calculations.

Q2: Can this formula be used for any fluid?
A: Yes, the film temperature formula is applicable to various fluids as it provides an average temperature for property evaluation.

Q3: What are typical units for temperature inputs?
A: While Kelvin is preferred for scientific calculations, any consistent temperature unit can be used as long as both inputs are in the same unit.

Q4: Are there limitations to this formula?
A: This formula provides a simplified average and may not account for complex temperature gradients in some boundary layer scenarios.

Q5: How accurate is the film temperature approximation?
A: For many engineering applications, the arithmetic mean provides a sufficiently accurate estimate of the film temperature for property evaluation.