natural convection
Heat-driven fluid movement
Natural convection is the movement of fluid (liquid or gas) driven by temperature differences rather than mechanical force.
Warmer fluid rises as it becomes less dense, while cooler fluid sinks, creating circulation patterns.
This is how radiators heat rooms and how air moves around a hot stovetop.
Contrast with forced convection, which uses fans or pumps.
Heat-driven vertical airflow
- cooling towerStructure for shedding process heat
- heat exchangerTransfers thermal energy between media
- passive coolingTemperature control without power
- solar collectorSurface gathering radiant energy
Volume increase from warming
- boundary layerViscous region near walls
- laminar flowSmooth, parallel fluid motion
- turbulent flowIrregular, swirling fluid dynamics
- thermal diffusivityHeat transfer rate coefficient
Fluid's upward resistance
- updraftUpward air movement
- downdraftDescending air current
- circulationMovement through a system
- airflowMovement of atmosphere
eddy · plume · vortex · streamlines · recirculation · stratification · mixing · fluid motion
Heat transfer through contact
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- thermal equilibriumEqual temperature throughout system
- heat exchangeEnergy flow between temperatures
- coolingLosing thermal energy
heating · heat sink · specific heat · heat capacity · surface temperature · ambient temperature · heat dissipation · heat loss
Heating through building orientation
- energy efficiencyMinimizing wasted power
- green buildingSustainably designed structure
- sustainable designMinimizing environmental harm intentionally
- cross ventilationAirflow between opposite openings
chimney effect
Heat-driven vertical airflow
- cooling towerStructure for shedding process heat
- heat exchangerTransfers thermal energy between media
- passive coolingTemperature control without power
thermal expansion
Volume increase from warming
- boundary layerViscous region near walls
- laminar flowSmooth, parallel fluid motion
- turbulent flowIrregular, swirling fluid dynamics
buoyancy
Fluid's upward resistance
- updraftUpward air movement
- downdraftDescending air current
- circulationMovement through a system
airflow · eddy · plume · vortex · streamlines · recirculation · stratification · mixing · fluid motion
conduction
Heat transfer through contact
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- thermal equilibriumEqual temperature throughout system
- heat exchangeEnergy flow between temperatures
cooling · heating · heat sink · specific heat · heat capacity · surface temperature · ambient temperature · heat dissipation · heat loss · heat gain
passive solar
Heating through building orientation
- energy efficiencyMinimizing wasted power
- green buildingSustainably designed structure
- sustainable designMinimizing environmental harm intentionally
cross ventilation · thermal mass · indoor air quality · ventilation shaft
- heatheat transfer, thermal energy, heatwave, radiation, insulators
- convectionthermal currents, updraft, downdraft, thermals, updrafts
- heat transferconduction, heat flow, heat transfer, conductors, insulators
- transport phenomenadiffusion, heat transfer, heat conduction, thermal conduction, flux
- heating and coolingheater, furnace, boiler, radiator, air conditioner
- thermal processesheating, burning, cooling, boiling, melting
natural, nature, naturally, unnatural, supernatural, natures, convection, naturism, naturopathy