Heat Flux to Temperature Calculator

Calculate temperature differences from heat flux values using thermal conductivity and material thickness. Perfect for thermal engineering, HVAC design, and heat transfer analysis.

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Thermal Properties

Rate of heat transfer per unit area

Material's ability to conduct heat

Material thickness or distance

Reference temperature for surface calculation

Temperature Results

Enter thermal properties to calculate temperature difference

Understanding Heat Flux and Temperature

Heat flux is the rate of heat transfer through a surface per unit area. When heat flows through a material, it creates a temperature difference across the material's thickness. This calculator helps you determine that temperature difference using the fundamental principles of heat conduction.

The relationship between heat flux, thermal conductivity, and temperature is governed by Fourier's law of heat conduction. Understanding this relationship is crucial for engineers designing insulation, HVAC systems, and thermal management solutions.

The Heat Flux Formula

ΔT = (Heat Flux × Thickness) ÷ Thermal Conductivity

Surface Temperature = Ambient Temperature + ΔT

This formula shows that the temperature difference across a material is directly proportional to the heat flux and thickness, but inversely proportional to the thermal conductivity. Materials with higher conductivity require less temperature difference to transfer the same amount of heat.

Heat Flux Calculation Examples

Heat Flux (W/m²) Conductivity (W/m·K) Thickness (m) ΔT (°C)
500 0.8 0.05 31.25
1200 1.5 0.02 16.00
300 0.6 0.10 50.00
900 2.0 0.03 13.50
750 1.2 0.04 25.00
1500 2.5 0.015 9.00
400 0.4 0.08 80.00
1100 1.8 0.025 15.28
650 0.9 0.06 43.33
1800 3.0 0.012 7.20
250 0.3 0.12 100.00
950 1.4 0.035 24.29
1350 2.2 0.018 11.02
550 0.7 0.055 42.86
1600 2.8 0.014 8.16
350 0.5 0.09 63.00
1250 1.9 0.022 12.11
800 1.1 0.045 32.73
1450 2.4 0.016 9.58
450 0.65 0.07 52.31
1050 1.6 0.028 18.52
1700 3.2 0.011 5.16
600 0.85 0.048 33.53

These examples demonstrate how different combinations of heat flux, material properties, and thickness affect the resulting temperature difference. Higher heat flux or thicker materials generally result in larger temperature differences, while materials with better thermal conductivity show smaller differences.

How to Calculate Temperature from Heat Flux

  1. Determine the heat flux: Measure or calculate the rate of heat transfer (W/m²)
  2. Identify thermal conductivity: Find the k-value for your material (W/m·K)
  3. Measure thickness: Determine the material thickness or heat flow distance
  4. Apply the formula: ΔT = (q × L) ÷ k where q is heat flux and L is thickness
  5. Calculate surface temperature: Add ambient temperature if surface temperature is needed

This calculator automatically handles unit conversions between different systems (SI and Imperial), making it useful for engineers working with international standards or legacy systems.

Heat flux calculations are essential in many engineering applications, from designing building insulation and HVAC systems to analyzing thermal performance in electronics and industrial equipment.