Thermal Conduction/Thermal Convection Heat Transfer Calculations Using Thermal Resistances

Heat transfer calculations involving thermal conduction and thermal convection can be done using thermal resistances that are analagous to electrical resistances. Expressions for the thermal resistances can be found from Fourier's Law of Heat Conduction and Newton's Law of Cooling. The convective thermal resistance depends upon the convection heat transfer coefficient, and area perpendicular to heat flow.The conductive thermal resistance depends upon thermal conductivity, area perpendicular to heat flow, and distance through which heat conduction takes place. Calculations with thermal resistances in series or parallel can be handled in the same way as electrical resistances in series or parallel.