thermofluids Thermofluids is a branch of science and engineering encompassing four intersecting fields: *Heat transfer *Thermodynamics *Fluid mechanics *Combustion The term is a combination of "thermo", referring to heat, and "fluids", which refers to liquids ...

dynamics, the bulk temperature, or the average bulk

temperature Temperature is a physical quantity that expresses quantitatively the perceptions of hotness and coldness. Temperature is measured with a thermometer. Thermometers are calibrated in various temperature scales that historically have relied o ...

in the thermal fluid, is a convenient reference point for evaluating properties related to

convective heat transfer Convection (or convective heat transfer) is the heat transfer, transfer of heat from one place to another due to the movement of fluid. Although often discussed as a distinct method of heat transfer, convective heat transfer involves the combin ...

, particularly in applications related to flow in

pipes Pipe(s), PIPE(S) or piping may refer to: Objects * Pipe (fluid conveyance), a hollow cylinder following certain dimension rules ** Piping, the use of pipes in industry * Smoking pipe ** Tobacco pipe * Half-pipe and quarter pipe, semi-circula ...

and ducts. The concept of the bulk temperature is that adiabatic mixing of the fluid from a given cross section of the duct will result in some equilibrium temperature that accurately reflects the average temperature of the moving fluid, more so than a simple average like the film temperature. Kreith, Frank, and Bohn, Mark S. ''Principles of Heat Transfer, Sixth Edition.'' Brooks/Cole: Pacific Grove, CA, 2001.

References

Continuum mechanics Heat transfer Temperature {{thermodynamics-stub