Heat transfer is the movement of heat from one object to another through radiation, convection or conduction. It involves the process of generation, usage, conversion, and exchange of thermal energy between 2 physical systems. Why is this process important? The reason is because heat transfer is present in almost all sectors of the economy. It is used by people in everyday life like cooking, using of home equipment, home heating systems, etc. Since it is winter time, this subject is important for your heating system at home. Today, you’ll deal a bit with technical aspects to test yourself how far you can practice your DIY passion.

How heat is transferred:

The 3 main methods of heating exchange include conduction, convection and radiation.

• Conduction – When used in solids and liquids, conduction operates as kinetic energy of one object being passed to another object. In this process, thermal heating energy passes from a hot material to a cold one. However, when it comes to liquids, convection is more significant than heat transfer. In the case of metals, conduction works differently. Here, electrons can move freely through the metal’s body.
• Radiation – Radiation occurs when a hot object emits electromagnetic radiation. You can determine the precise characteristics of radiation depending on the temperature of a hot object. Fairly-hot objects like human beings radiate in infrared, so they can be detected through IR cameras. On the other hand, hot objects such as incandescent lamps or bulbs emit strong radiation in a visible spectrum. This allows you to see them through their light. The radiation of welding equipment and arcs is so strong in the near ultraviolet that those who use arc welding equipment have to wear special masks to avoid burn to their eyeballs.
• Convection – This process works when a liquid or gas is heated that changes its density. Here, the fluid expands on heating, so it becomes less dense. Convection is considered the hardest among other forms of heat transfer. Its flow is affected by the differences in temperature involved, and also the thermal expansion of any objects in contact with fluid.

Did you enjoy reading this technical information about heat transfer? This is important in determining what heating system is more practical for your home. But if you think you’re not designed for it, then you can ask a company offering flat rate on materials and labor for your heating needs.