Skip to main page content
Ideas
  1. Course Search
  2. ENG-SCI 183

Introduction to Heat Transfer
ENG-SCI 183

Course Information

Description

The macroscopic description of the fundamentals of heat transfer and their application to practical problems in energy conversion, electronics and living systems with an emphasis on developing a physical and analytical understanding of conductive, convective and radiative heat transfer. Emphasis will be given to problem solving skills based on applying governing principles, mathematical models and physical intuition.

Topics include: steady state heat conduction in 1, 2 and 3D; transient heat conduction in 1D and 3D; introduction to convective heat transfer, forced convection as well as free convection; heat exchange analysis and design; elements of radiative heat transfer. There will be an emphasis on physical basis of heat transfer with mathematical description where appropriate, as well as using commercially available computer COMSOL software. Course includes (i) classes and problem sets, (ii) COMSOL simulations and (iii) a semester-long, multi-disciplinary team project.

 

School Faculty of Arts & Sciences
Credits 4
Cross Reg

Available for Harvard Cross Registration

Course Component Lecture
Grading Basis FAS Letter Graded
Course Requirements Prerequisite: (Applied Math 21a or Math 21a or equivalent) AND (Applied Math 21b or Math 21b or equivalent) AND (APPHY 50a or PHYSCI 12a or Physics 15a)
Exam/Final Deadline May 9, 2026
General Education N/A
Quantitative Reasoning with Data N/A
Divisional Distribution Science & Engineering & Applied Science
Course Level For Undergraduate and Graduate Students