Thermal Resistance Convection⚠ unverified
Physics / Heat Transfer · Compute the thermal resistance of a convective boundary
Parameters
| Input | Symbol | Unit | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| h | h | — | 1.0 | Convective heat transfer coefficient, in watts per square metre-kelvin (W/(m**2*K)) |
| A | A | m**2 | 1.0 | Surface area exposed to the fluid |
| Output | Symbol | Unit | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| result | R | K/W | Convection thermal resistance, in kelvin per watt (K/W). Returns positive infinity when the product ``h * A`` is not positive |
The science & history
Understanding the Parameters
- $h$, $A$ — larger $hA$ → smaller resistance.
- $h$ may be mislabelled dimensionless — use W/(m²·K).
- Combine with conduction $R$ in series for wall + film networks.
Derivation (Approaching a Proof)
From $Q = h A \Delta T$, $R \equiv \Delta T/Q = 1/(hA)$.
History
Film resistance is the surface term in every overall-$U$ calculation for heat exchangers and buildings.
Related Concepts: Convection Heat Transfer, Thermal Resistance Conduction, Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient, Nusselt Number
Notes: Registry calculator thermal-resistance-convection (unverified).