What Is This Tool?
This tool converts thermal conductivity values between Btu (th) foot/hour/sq. foot/°F and calorie (IT)/second/cm/°C, bridging imperial and legacy metric calorie-based units used in material characterization and heat transfer calculations.
How to Use This Tool?
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Enter the thermal conductivity value in Btu (th) foot/hour/sq. foot/°F
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Select the source unit as Btu (th) foot/hour/sq. foot/°F
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Choose the target unit calorie (IT)/second/cm/°C
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Click convert to get the corresponding value in calorie (IT)/second/cm/°C
Key Features
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Converts thermal conductivity from Btu (th) foot/hour/sq. foot/°F to calorie (IT)/second/cm/°C
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Supports unit translation between imperial and legacy metric/calorie systems
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Includes commonly used conversion factor for engineering calculations
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Browser-based, easy to use with quick input and output
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Suitable for HVAC, building energy, and thermal research applications
Examples
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5 Btu (th) foot/hour/sq. foot/°F = 0.020655121 calorie (IT)/second/cm/°C
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10 Btu (th) foot/hour/sq. foot/°F = 0.041310242 calorie (IT)/second/cm/°C
Common Use Cases
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Translating thermal conductivity data between US customary units and legacy calorie-based units
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Performing heat transfer and conduction calculations in building and HVAC design
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Converting older literature data on metals and insulation materials for modern analysis
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Supporting engineering assessments involving both imperial and historical unit conventions
Tips & Best Practices
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Double-check unit selections to ensure correct conversion direction
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Consider temperature scale differences (°F vs. °C) when applying results
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Use this tool as a step for converting legacy data before further SI unit analysis
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Be mindful of geometry and measurement conditions impacting thermal conductivity
Limitations
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Temperature scale differences require attention during unit translation
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Calorie (IT) is a legacy unit and may need conversion to SI units for some uses
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Rounding in conversion factors may affect precision
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Measurement conditions and material geometry differences can influence results
Frequently Asked Questions
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What does Btu (th) foot/hour/sq. foot/°F measure?
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It measures thermal conductivity indicating heat transfer rate through a 1-foot thickness with a 1 square-foot area per 1 °F temperature difference.
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Why convert to calorie (IT)/second/cm/°C?
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Calorie (IT)/second/cm/°C is used in older literature and legacy data, enabling compatibility with historical measurements and engineering analyses.
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Can I use this tool for modern SI unit conversions?
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This tool converts between imperial and legacy calorie-based units; additional steps are needed to convert to SI units like watts per meter-Kelvin.
Key Terminology
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Btu (th) foot/hour/sq. foot/°F
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A unit quantifying heat transfer rate through a 1-foot thickness with a 1 square-foot area for a 1 °F temperature difference.
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Calorie (IT)/second/cm/°C
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A legacy thermal conductivity unit representing heat energy transferred per second through a 1 cm thickness under a 1 °C temperature difference.
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Thermal Conductivity
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A material property indicating the rate at which heat passes through a substance due to a temperature gradient.