Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient Table Charts and Equation

Thermodynamics Directory
Heat Transfer Directory

Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient Table Chart:

The heat transfer coefficient is the proportionality coefficient between the heat flux and the thermodynamic driving force for the flow of heat (i.e., the temperature difference, ΔT):

h = q / (Ts - K)

where:

q: amount of heat required (Heat Flux), W/m2 i.e., thermal power per unit area, q = d\dot{Q}/dA
h: heat transfer coefficient, W/(m2 K)
Ts = Solid Surface temperature
K = Surrounding fluid area Temperature

It is used in calculating the heat transfer, typically by convection or phase transition between a fluid and a solid. The heat transfer coefficient has SI units in watts per squared meter kelvin: W/(m2K). Heat transfer coefficient is the inverse of thermal insulance. This is used for building materials (R-value) and for clothing insulation.

Related Resources:

Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient Table Chart Pipes and Tubes

Types
Application
Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient - U -
W/(m2 K) Btu/(ft2 oF h)
Tubular, heating or cooling Gas at atmospheric pressure inside and outside tubes 5 - 35 1 - 6
Gas at high pressure inside and outside tubes 150 - 500 25 - 90
Liquid outside (inside) and gas at atmospheric pressure inside (outside) tubes 15 - 70 3 - 15
Gas at high pressure inside and liquid outside tubes 200 - 400 35 - 70
Liquids inside and outside tubes 150 - 1200 25 - 200
Steam outside and liquid inside tubes 300 - 1200 50 - 200
Tubular, condensation Steam outside and cooling water inside tubes 1500 - 4000 250 - 700
Organic vapors or ammonia outside and cooling water inside tubes 300 - 1200 50 - 200
Tubular, evaporation steam outside and high-viscous liquid inside tubes, natural circulation 300 - 900 50 - 150
steam outside and low-viscous liquid inside tubes, natural circulation 600 - 1700 100 - 300
steam outside and liquid inside tubes, forced circulation 900 - 3000 150 - 500
Air-cooled heat exchangers Cooling of water 600 - 750 100 - 130
Cooling of liquid light hydrocarbons 400 - 550 70 - 95
Cooling of tar 30 - 60 5 - 10
Cooling of air or flue gas 60 - 180 10 - 30
Cooling of hydrocarbon gas 200 - 450 35 - 80
Condensation of low pressure steam 700 - 850 125 - 150
Condensation of organic vapors 350 - 500 65 - 90
Plate heat exchanger liquid to liquid 1000 - 4000 150 - 700
Spiral heat exchanger liquid to liquid 700 - 2500 125 - 500
condensing vapor to liquid 900 - 3500 150 - 700

Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient Table Chart Heat Exchangers

Heaters (no phase change)

Hot Fluid Cold Fluid Overall U
(BTU/hr-ft2 -F)
Steam Air 10 – 20
Steam Water 250 – 750
Steam Methanol 200 – 700
Steam Ammonia 200 – 700
Steam Aqueous solutions 100 – 700
Steam Light hydrocarbons
(viscosity < 0.5 cP)
100 – 200
Steam Medium hydrocarbons
(0.5 cP < viscosity < 1 cP)
50 – 100
Steam Heavy hydrocarbons
(viscosity > 1)
6 – 60
Steam Gases 5 – 50
Dowtherm Gases 4 – 40
Dowtherm Heavy oils 8 – 60
Flue gas Aromatic hydrocarbon and steam 5 – 10

Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient Table Chart Industrial Evaporators

Evaporators

Hot Fluid Cold Fluid Overall U
(BTU/hr-ft2 -F)
Steam Water 350 – 750
Steam Organic solvents 100 – 200
Steam Light oils 80 – 180
Steam Heavy oils (vacuum) 25 – 75
Water Refrigerant 75 – 150
Organic solvents Refrigerant 30 – 100

Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient Table Chart Industrial Coolers

Coolers (no phase change)

Cold Fluid Hot Fluid Overall U
(BTU/hr-ft2 -F)
Water Water 150 – 300
Water Organic solvent 50 – 150
Water Gases 3 – 50
Water Light oils 60 – 160
Water Heavy oils 10 – 50
Light oil Organic solvent 20 – 70
Brine Water 100 – 200
Brine Organic solvent 30 – 90
Brine Gases 3 – 50
Organic solvents Organic solvents 20 – 60
Heavy oils Heavy oils 8 – 50

Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient Table Chart Industrial Condensers

Condensers

Cold Fluid Hot Fluid Overall U
(BTU/hr-ft2 -F)
Water Steam (pressure) 350 -750
Water Steam (vacuum) 300 – 600
Water or brine Organic solvent (saturated, atmospheric) 100 – 200
Water or brine Organic solvent ( atmospheric, high non-condensables) 20 – 80
Water or brine Organic solvent (saturated, vacuum) 50 – 120
Water or brine Organic solvent (vacuum, high non-condensables) 10 – 50
Water or brine Aromatic vapours (atmospheric with non-condensables) 5 – 30
Water Low boiling hydrocarbon (atmospheric) 80 – 200
Water High boiling hydrocarbon (vacuum) 10 – 30

Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient Table Chart Various Fluids

no phase change

Fluid Film Coefficient
(BTU/hr-ft2 -F)
Water 300 – 2000
Gases 3 – 50
Organic Solvents 60 – 500
Oils 10 – 120

Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient Table Chart Condensing Fluids

Condensing

Fluid Film Coefficient
(BTU/hr-ft2 -F)
Steam 1000 – 3000
Organic Solvents 150 – 500
Light Oils 200 – 400
Heavy Oils (vacuum) 20 – 50
Ammonia 500 – 1000

Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient Table Chart Various Fluids (Liquids and Gasses)

Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient Table Chart Various Fluids (Liquids and Gasses)