Convective Heat Transfer Coefficients Table Chart

Related Resources: heat transfer

Convective Heat Transfer Coefficients Table Chart

The following table charts of typical convective convection heat transfer coefficients for fluids and specific applications

Typical values of heat transfer coefficient

Flow type	(W/m² K)
Forced convection; low speed flow of air over a surface	10
Forced convection; moderate speed flow of air over a surface	100
Forced convection; moderate speed cross- flow of air over a cylinder	200
Forced convection; moderate flow of water in a pipe	3000
Forced Convection; molten metals	2000 to 45000
Forced convection; boiling water in a pipe	50,000
Forced Convection - water and liquids	50 to 10000
Free Convection - gases and dry vapors	5 to 37
Free Convection - water and liquids	50 to 3000
Air	10 to 100
Free convection; vertical plate in air with 30°C temperature difference	5
Boiling Water	3.000 to 100.000
Water fowing in tubes	500 to 1200
Condensing Water Vapor	5.0 - 100.0
Water in free convection	100 to 1200
Oil in free convection	50 to 350
Gas flow on tubes and between tubes	10 to 350

Typical values of heaters heat transfer coefficients

Heaters (no phase change) heat transfer coefficients
Hot Fluid	Cold Fluid	(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

Typical values of Evaporator heat transfer coefficients

Evaporators heat transfer coefficients
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

Typical values of Coolers heat transfer coefficients

Coolers (no phase change) heat transfer coefficients
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

Typical values of Condensers heat transfer coefficients

Condensers heat transfer coefficients
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