Quote:
Originally Posted by freebeard
Perhaps there is a 'cooling coefficient' that is dimensionless like Cd. With Area as a stand-in for total heat load? [ducks and covers]
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It would be the coefficient of heat transfer ( U ), which is the inverse of the R-Factor. Typically it has to do with the material chosen. Aluminum versus cork for instance.
Once the material is chosen, then it you're looking at your delta-T.
Everything will be compared on an equal thickness/per-square-foot, or similar area basis.
Your heat 'sink' is the atmosphere, and we can't control it's enthalpy. It is what it is.
In a liquid-to-liquid heat transfer, as with a nuclear-powered naval vessel in the Arabian Gulf, you may just have to set sail and leave when the water temperature becomes so high you endanger the reactor.
Upping your input temp increases the delta-T, and increases thermal efficiency, however, in an ICE engine, that might mean a burnt valve, molten piston top, or loss of lubricant viscosity, high-pointing, then engine seizure.
