Technology Tuesdays: Heat Transfer

Hello Partners!

A very important concept in energy efficiency is heat transfer. There are 3 different types of heat transfer: conduction, convection, and radiation.

Conduction or conductive heat transfer occurs when two substances or materials are in direct contact with each other. Certain types of materials are better at transferring heat and facilitate heat transfer much faster than other materials. Metal is a great example of a good heat conductor.

Convection is another method of heat transfer and occurs in liquid or gas. Warmer areas of that liquid or gas rise to the cooler areas. The cooler areas are replaced with the warmer areas which creates a cycle of continual warming. This can be seen in a convection stove. This can also be seen in our atmosphere when the sun warms the gases in the Earth’s atmosphere. When those gases are warmed, they rise and are replaced by cooler gases.

The final method of heat transfer is radiation. Unlike conduction and convection, radiation does not rely on contact between the heat source and the object is it heating. Radiation heat transfer can occur through empty space and is often called infrared radiation. An example of this is heat transfer from the sun, it does not have to touch an object to warm it.

So, why are we talking about heat transfer? Why is this important? It is important to understand how heat is transferred to understand many aspects of energy efficiency.

In some cases, the name of the game for achieving energy efficiency is to prevent heat transfer which is the purpose of insulation. Insulation prevents heat from being transferred from in the inside of your home or office to the outside where it can’t do you any good.

An example of “good” heat transfer is with a heat exchanger. There are some examples of process machinery where excess generated heat is inevitable. However, with a heat exchanger, that thermal energy can be redirected and used in other places. This reduces the total amount of heating required for multiple processes.

Examples of heat transfer exists all around us and it is up to us to determine where heat transfer is occurring that reduces energy efficiency and where adding heat transfer can improve efficiencies.

The savings never stop!

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Sources:
https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Heat_transfer
https://www.earthwiseenvironmental.com/solutions/utility-process-water/heat-transfer-efficiency
https://www.ipieca.org/resources/energy-efficiency-solutions/efficient-use-of-heat/heat-exchangers/