Theory:
Heat transfer theory seeks to predict the energy transfer that takes place between material bodies as a result of temperature difference. This energy transfer is defined as heat. The three modes by which heat can be transferred from one place to another are conduction, convection and radiation.
It is well known that a hot plate of metal will cool faster when placed in front of a fan than when placed in still air. With the fan, we say that the heat is convected away, and we call the process convection heat transfer. Convection involves the transfer of heat by motion and mixing of a fluid.
Forced convection happens when the fluid is kept in motion by an external means, such as a turbine or a fan. Some examples of forced convection are stirring a mixture of ice and water, blowing on the surface of coffee in a cup, orienting a car radiator to face airflow, etc.
Convection is called natural convection when motion and mixing of fluid is caused by density variation resulting from temperature differences within the fluid. The density of fluid near the hot surface is less than that of the colder fluid away from the heated surface, and gravity creates a buoyant force which lifts the heated fluid upward.
In the case of conduction through a solid of area A and thickness L, heat flow is given by
(1)
Where ∆T is the temperature difference across the thickness L, and k is the thermal conductivity of the object.
In the case of convection, the heat flow is proportional only to the surface area A of the object,
(2)