Heat flux

Heat flux or thermal flux is the rate of heat energy transfer through a given surface per unit time. The SI derived unit of heat rate is joule per second, or watt. Heat flux density is the heat rate per unit area. In SI units, heat flux density is measured in [W/m²]. The dimensional unit is ${\displaystyle [MT^{-3}]}$.Heat rate is a scalar quantity, while heat flux is a vectorial quantity. To define the heat flux at a certain point in space, one takes the limiting case where the size of the surface becomes infinitesimally small.

Heat flux is often denoted ${\displaystyle {\overrightarrow {\phi _{q}}}}$, the subscript q specifying heat rate, as opposed to mass or momentum rate. Fourier's law is an important application of these concepts.

For most solids in usual conditions, heat is transported mainly by conduction and the heat flux is adequately described by Fourier's law.

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