One way to measure the convection coefficient is to operate the resistor
in vacuum and air. By comparing the power verses temperature curves you
can find how much power you are losing to convection. This assumes that
you are operating at relatively low temperatures because it assumes that
thermal power losses are only through convection and conduction, not
radiation. Note: If your resistor is suspended above its substrate you
actually have 2 convection coefficients; one for the top and one for the
bottom. Also, don't be surprised if your convection "coefficient" shows
nonlinearities or a temperature dependence.

-Mike


>>> lharih1@uic.edu 2/19/2004 10:52:30 AM >>>
Hello,
  I have an assembly which consists of a resistor placed on a base and
held
together with screws (a crude description of the actual setup). My
setup is
placed in an oven. If all these materials and geometries are different
(I
cannot assume the geometry to be just a horizontal flat plate or
vertical
plate etc) how do I calculate the convection coefficient?
  I want to perform a thermal analysis on this setup and convection
coeff is a
required parameter.

Thanks in advance.
Lakshminarayan


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