FM-AA-CIA-15 Rev.

0 10-July-2020

Study Guide in (AU 312 – Building Utilities 2) Module No. 3

STUDY GUIDE FOR MODULE NO. ___

3

HEAT AND HEAT TRANSFER

MODULE OVERVIEW

In this module you will learn the basic principles of heat and heat transfer as applied to building envelope.
Understanding how heat is produced and enter inside the buildings is important in creating a comfortable
living environment for the occupants of that building. We are going to learn how heat affect our buildings
through the different modes of heat transfer.

MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this module the student should be able to:

1. To learn basic principles of heat and heat transfer in buildings.
2. To define common terms related to heat and heat transfer.
3. To understand how heat is developed and transferred in the interior environment of the buildings.

LEARNING CONTENTS (Heat and Heat transfer)

THERMODYNAMICS AND HEAT TRANSFER

Heat - The form of energy that can be transferred from one system to another as a result of temperature
difference.

Thermodynamics is concerned with the amount of heat transfer as a system undergoes a process from one
equilibrium state to another.

Heat Transfer deals with the determination of the rates of such energy transfers as well as variation of
temperature.

 The transfer of energy as heat is always from the higher-temperature medium to the lower-
temperature one.
 Heat transfer stops when the two mediums reach the same temperature.
 Heat can be transferred in three different modes:
conduction, convection, radiation

What is heat transfer?

Heat transfer (or heat) is energy in transit due to a temperature difference

HEAT TRANSFER MODES

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Study Guide in (AU 312 – Building Utilities 2) Module No. 3

Heat Conduction

Conduction is heat transfer by means of molecular agitation within a material without any motion of the
material as a whole.

If one end of a metal rod is at a higher temperature, then energy will be transferred down the rod toward the
colder end because the higher speed particles will collide with the slower ones with a net transfer of energy to
the slower ones.

conduction though glass

Conduction is the transfer of heat through a material. Heat is transferred directly in and through the
substance. Conduction heat loss or gain results from the transfer of heat directly through the materials of the
building envelope. If the outside temperature is greater than the inside temperature, there is heat gain from
outside the building.
Heat is primarily lost or gained through our windows, walls and roofs.
We speak of building materials as being poor or good conductors of heat.

Conduction is an important transfer (in order of importance) through

1. Solid objects
2. Liquids
3. Gases

Example of Conduction - the inside of a concrete wall which has one side exposed to outside winter
temperature feels cold to the touch. Heat is being conducted from the side of higher temperature to that of
lower temperature. To prevent heat loss by conduction, we must use materials that are poor conductors.

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Study Guide in (AU 312 – Building Utilities 2) Module No. 3

Heat Convection

Convection is heat transfer by mass motion of a fluid such as air or water when the heated fluid is caused to
move away from the source of heat, carrying energy with it.

Convection above a hot surface occurs because hot air expands, becomes less dense and rises (natural or
free). Convection assisted by breeze, pump or fan – forced convection.

Hot water is likewise less dense than cold water and rises, causing convection currents which transport
energy.

Why not heat the water at the top?

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Study Guide in (AU 312 – Building Utilities 2) Module No. 3

Forced convection

Warm air rises above the ground

Why do we get this pollution haze?

Temperature inversion prevents air rising and the dispersing the pollution

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In bathrooms, the heater is often near the ceiling. What is the problem with this?

Where is the freezer compartment put in a fridge?

Freezer compartment

Inside the refrigerator, Why are the cooling coils at the top?

It is put at the top, because cool air sinks, so it cools the food on the way down.

It is warmer at the bottom, so this warmer air rises and a convection current is set up.

Convection is the transfer of heat from particle to particle. It is the transfer of heat by the movement of fluids
such as air or water. For example, the heated air around a stove will tend to rise to the ceiling. We all know
hot air rises and cool air sinks. That is natural convection. Forced convection refers to the use of fans or
pumps to move a fluid/air and the heat contained in it. We generally have forced-air furnaces in our homes.

Convection transfers heat (in order of importance)

1. Between fluids and solids 
2. Within fluids. 

RADIATION
Energy transferred by electromagnetic waves

All materials radiate thermal energy in amounts determined by their temperature, where the energy is carried
by photons of light in the infrared and visible portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Radiation is energy transmitted directly through space.  Although it does not require matter in transmission, it
does require a line of sight connection between the objects. All objects radiate energy or heat, which heats all
cooler objects around it. Solar radiation passes through space to heat (and light) objects that it strikes. A
person in a room with cold windows will radiate heat to the windows and that person will feel cool even if the
air in the room is warm. If the window is covered, the sight connection is broken and that person will no longer
feel cool.

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Why are pipes in solar panels painted black ?

The greenhouse effect is experienced first hand by entering a closed car that has been sitting in the sun.
Solar radiation is primarily in the range of visible light, and readily passes through transparent objects, like the
car window, then is absorbed by the objects inside and converted to heat. Much of the inside build-up of heat
from the sunshine is due to the protection of the enclosure. It provides against heat loss by convective air
movement. 

Phase change happens at constant temperatures with the movement of energy or latent heat.   For example,
evaporation absorbs energy and condensation releases energy. 

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Study Guide in (AU 312 – Building Utilities 2) Module No. 3

Heat Transfer

 Heat always moves from a warmer place to a cooler place.

 Hot objects in a cooler room will cool to room temperature.
 Cold objects in a warmer room will heat up to room temperature.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 1

Do further reading on Heating buildings found in the Utilities 2 book by arch. Salvan.

LEARNING CONTENTS ()

LEARNING ACTIVITY 2

SUMMARY

In this module we learned the basic principles of heat and heat transfer as applied to building envelope and understand
how heat is produced and enter inside the buildings which is important in creating a comfortable living environment for
the occupants of that building. We also learned how heat affect our buildings through the different modes of heat
transfer.

REFERENCES

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