What Is This Tool?
This tool converts heat transfer coefficients measured in joule/second/square meter/K to Btu (th)/hour/square foot/%b0F, facilitating the translation between metric SI units and Imperial units commonly used in building energy analysis and HVAC design.
How to Use This Tool?
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Enter the heat transfer coefficient value in joule/second/square meter/K.
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Select joule/second/square meter/K as the input unit.
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Choose Btu (th)/hour/square foot/%b0F as the output unit.
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Click the convert button to see the equivalent value in Btu (th)/hour/square foot/%b0F.
Key Features
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Converts heat transfer coefficients between metric and Imperial units.
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Supports calculations for building envelopes, heat exchangers, and HVAC systems.
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Browser-based and easy to use with quick results.
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Uses the precise conversion rate of 1 joule/second/square meter/K = 0.1762280394 Btu (th)/hour/square foot/%b0F.
Examples
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5 joule/second/square meter/K converts to 0.881140197 Btu (th)/hour/square foot/%b0F.
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10 joule/second/square meter/K converts to 1.762280394 Btu (th)/hour/square foot/%b0F.
Common Use Cases
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Calculating U-values and heat loss through building components such as walls, windows, and roofs.
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Specifying convective heat transfer coefficients for fluid flow in HVAC and aerodynamic cooling applications.
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Designing and rating heat exchangers and assessing insulation or coating thermal performance.
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Performing energy and thermal envelope calculations in building construction.
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Sizing and evaluating the performance of HVAC heat exchangers, radiators, and surface heat transfer in Imperial units.
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Comparing insulation performance and calculating steady-state heat loss or gain through assemblies.
Tips & Best Practices
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Ensure consistent use of temperature and area units during conversion.
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Apply this tool mainly under steady-state heat transfer conditions.
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Verify material and fluid properties separately as they affect heat transfer beyond unit conversion.
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Double-check units when switching between Kelvin and Fahrenheit temperature scales.
Limitations
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Assumes steady-state heat transfer and linear temperature differences.
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Requires consistent application of temperature scales and area units to avoid errors.
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Does not account for material or fluid thermal property variations.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What does joule/second/square meter/K measure?
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It measures the heat transfer coefficient representing the rate of heat flow per unit area per unit temperature difference in SI units.
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Why convert to Btu (th)/hour/square foot/%b0F?
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This unit is commonly used in Imperial system engineering to specify heat transfer rates for building energy analysis and HVAC applications.
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Can this converter be used for non-steady-state conditions?
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No, the conversion is designed assuming steady-state heat transfer with linear temperature differences.
Key Terminology
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joule/second/square meter/K
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A unit measuring heat transfer coefficient indicating the heat flow per unit area per degree Kelvin temperature difference in SI units.
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Btu (th)/hour/square foot/%b0F
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An Imperial unit quantifying heat transfer rate through a unit area per degree Fahrenheit temperature difference per hour.
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Heat Transfer Coefficient
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A measure of the rate of heat transfer between a surface and its environment per unit area and per temperature difference.