1. What is Thermal Conductance?

Thermal conductance (G) is a measure of a material's ability to conduct heat. It represents the quantity of heat that passes through a material per unit time when there is a unit temperature difference across it. It is the reciprocal of thermal resistance.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the thermal conductance equation:

Where:

• \( G \) — Thermal conductance (W/K)
• \( k \) — Thermal conductivity (W/m K)
• \( A \) — Cross-sectional area (m²)
• \( d \) — Thickness of material (m)

Explanation: The equation calculates how easily heat flows through a material based on its thermal properties and dimensions.

3. Importance of Thermal Conductance

Details: Thermal conductance is crucial in heat transfer applications, building insulation design, electronic cooling systems, and material selection for thermal management. It helps engineers optimize thermal performance and energy efficiency.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter thermal conductivity in W/m K, area in m², and thickness in m. All values must be positive numbers greater than zero for accurate calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between thermal conductivity and thermal conductance?
A: Thermal conductivity is a material property (W/m K), while thermal conductance depends on both material properties and geometry (W/K).

Q2: How does thickness affect thermal conductance?
A: Thicker materials have lower thermal conductance because heat must travel through more material, increasing resistance to heat flow.

Q3: What are typical thermal conductance values?
A: Values vary widely by material and application. Metals have high conductance (10-400 W/K), while insulators have low conductance (0.01-1 W/K).

Q4: When is thermal conductance used instead of thermal resistance?
A: Conductance is used when analyzing heat transfer through materials, while resistance is more common in electrical analogies and composite systems.

Q5: Can this calculator be used for composite materials?
A: This calculator is for single homogeneous materials. For composites, you would need to calculate the overall thermal resistance first.