Heat Flow 17

HEAT TRANSFER

Heat naturally flows from a higher energy level to a lower

energy level. In other words, heat travels from a warmer sub-
stance to a cooler substance. When there is a temperature differ-
ence between two substances, heat transfer will occur. In fact,
temperature difference is the driving force behind heat transfer.
The greater the temperature difference, the greater the heat trans-
fer.

TYPES OF HEAT TRANSFER

The three types of heat transfer are conduction, convection

and radiation.

Conduction
Conduction heat transfer is heat energy traveling from one
molecule to another. A heat exchanger in an HVAC system or
home furnace uses conduction to transfer heat. Your hand touch-
ing a cold wall is an example of heat transfer by conduction from
your hand to the wall. However, heat does not conduct at the
same rate in all materials. For example, all HVAC copper con-
ducts at a different rate than iron or aluminum, etc.

Convection
Heat transfer by convection is when some substance that is
readily movable such as air, water, steam, or refrigerant moves
heat from one location to another. Compare the words “convec-
tion” (the action of conveying) and “convey” (to take or carry
from one place to another). An HVAC system uses convection in
the form of air, water, steam and refrigerants in ducts and piping
to convey heat energy to various parts of the system. When air is
heated, it rises; this is heat transfer by “natural” convection.
“Forced” convection is when a fan or pump is used to convey
heat in fluids such as air and water. For example, many large
18 HVAC Fundamentals

buildings have a central heating plant where water is heated and

pumped throughout the building to the final heated space. Fans
then move heated air into the conditioned space.

Radiation
Heat transferred by radiation travels through space without
heating the space. Radiation or radiant heat does not transfer the
actual temperature value. The first solid object that the heat rays
encounter absorbs the radiant heat. A portable electric space
heater that glows red-hot is an example of heat transfer by radia-
tion. As the electric heater coil glows red-hot it radiates heat into
the room. The space heater does not heat the air (the space)—
instead it heats the solid objects that come into contact with the
heat rays. Any heater that glows has the same effect. However,
radiant heat diminishes by the square of the distance traveled;
therefore, space heaters must be placed accordingly. Another
good example of radiant heat is the sun; the sun heats the earth,
but not the air around the earth. The sun is also a good example
of diminishing heat. The earth does not experience the total heat
of the sun because the sun is some 93 million miles from the earth.

UNITS OF HEAT ENERGY AND HEAT POWER

A British thermal unit (Btu) is used to describe the quantity

of heat contained in a given substance. Because the Fahrenheit
scale is the standard system of temperature measurement used in
the United States, a Btu is defined as the amount of heat required
to raise the temperature of 1 pound (lb) of water 1 degree Fahr-
enheit (°F). A Btu is a unit of heat energy.
The rate of heat consumption, called power, can be deter-
mined with a unit of heat energy and a unit of time. For example,
Btu per minute or Btu per hour, written: Btu/m or Btum and Btu/
hr or Btuh are common units of power used in HVAC work. Btu/
hr is a unit of heat power.