Understand Principle Concepts Behind Fluid Heat Transfer

If you want to be certain that your home is efficient in terms of energy use then it is important to understand the concept of heat mass transfer. Typically, it is the cost of heating our homes that makes up the largest chunk of our annual utility bill. If your property is not kept correctly insulated then the result can be very severe. In these days of financial uncertainty it is important that we take all the steps we can to ensure that we do not waste energy.

Even at a young age we are taught that heat moves from a hot surface to a cold one. We can see this everyday in our lives. For example, if you have a chair next to an electric heater then it is going to heat up faster than a chair further across the room. The basic principle is referred to as radiation.

If the heat transfers through an object then the process at work is known as conduction. A good example is when we place an iron poker in an open fire; the heat transfers through the metal to the handle. This is an essential principle to understand when we come to insulate our properties. Without choosing the right material you’ll find that heat is lost more rapidly through the structure of the building.

Another form of heat transfer is what is referred to as convection. This occurs when the heat is dissipated by water or air. We imagine a convection current as an actual moving body. The world’s climate system is driven by convection currents. If you have an electrical fan heater than this will also use the same principle. In a negative way a draughty room loses heat energy through convection.

So, the basic ways in which heat is transferred are now clear. But how can we use this knowledge to improve the energy efficiency of our homes? Well, to start with it is important to realize that heat transfer also needs to involve ensuring that our properties do not get too hot in the summer months. The right type of insulation will lessen your requirement for an AC unit in the summer and a heating system in the winter; the flow of heat inwards and out needs to be controlled.

When checking out insulation materials you need to keep your eyes open for a special rating. This is often termed an “R” rating. The greater the number, the more efficient the product will be at slowing down the transfer of heat.

It is essential to realize that heat is not just lost through the roof or ceiling. Doors, walls, windows, and any physical structure can be a surface through which heat is transferred. You need to address your building as a whole rather than focus on individual rooms.

It is no use designing a plan to keep your home warm in the winter months but then not consider how to cool the property during hot summer days. The technology from Pratt Whitney involved with fluid heat transfer has rapidly advanced over the last decade as greater emphasis is placed on energy efficient homes. Apart from the cost benefits there is also the factor that less energy use and wastage will cause less damage to the environment.