soojusvahetustegur

Soojusvahetustegur, also known as the heat transfer coefficient, quantifies the rate of heat transfer across a boundary between a solid surface and a fluid. It is a measure of how effectively heat is transferred by convection and sometimes radiation. The symbol typically used for the heat transfer coefficient is 'h' and its SI unit is watts per square meter per Kelvin (W/m²K).

A higher heat transfer coefficient indicates a more efficient transfer of heat. This value depends on several factors, including the properties of the fluid (like viscosity, thermal conductivity, and density), the flow regime (laminar or turbulent), and the geometry of the surface. For example, turbulent flow generally results in a higher heat transfer coefficient than laminar flow due to increased mixing of the fluid.

The heat transfer coefficient is a crucial parameter in many engineering applications, particularly in the design of heat exchangers, radiators, and cooling systems. It allows engineers to calculate the amount of heat transferred in a given system, which is essential for optimizing performance and ensuring safety. The concept is also fundamental to understanding heat transfer in natural phenomena, such as weather patterns and biological processes. It is often determined experimentally or through empirical correlations derived from dimensional analysis.