Basic Airflow
Modes of Heat Transfer
- Conduction: heat flows from higher temperature region to a lower temperature. This occurs in solid, liquid or gaseous mediums that make physical contact
- Convection: the combined action of conduction, energy storage and mixing motion
- Radiation: heat flows from a higher temperature to a lower temperature when bodies are separated in space
| Pros | Cons | |
| Free Convections | Low cost High reliability Low noise | Poor cooling capacity |
| Conduction (heat sinks) | Low cost | Limited cooling capacity |
| Forced Convection (fans) | Moderate to good cooling | Medium/high cost Noise Reliability |
| Refrigeration | High cooling capacity | High cost Reliability Maintainability Size |