Which metal has the best thermal conductivity?

 　　Thermal conductivity coefficient of exhaust metal [BTU/(hour · foot ·° F)]

　　1 copper 223

　　2 aluminum 118

　　3 Brass 64

　　4 steel 17

　　5 Bronze 15

　　As you can see, among more common metals, copper and aluminum have the highest thermal conductivity, while steel and bronze have the lowest thermal conductivity. Thermal conductivity is a very important attribute when deciding which metal to use for a specific application. As copper is an excellent heat conductor, it is suitable for heat exchangers, radiators, and even the bottom of frying pan. Because steel is a poor thermal conductor, it is beneficial for high-temperature environments such as aircraft engines.

　　The following are some important applications of metals that require good thermal conductivity:

　　heat exchanger

　　radiator

　　cooker

　　heat exchanger

　　Heat exchangers are a common application where good thermal conductivity is crucial. A heat exchanger completes its work by transferring heat to achieve heating or cooling.

　　Copper is a popular choice for heat exchangers in industrial facilities, air conditioning, refrigeration, hot water tanks, and floor heating systems. Its high thermal conductivity allows for rapid passage of heat. Copper has other properties required for heat exchangers, including corrosion resistance, biological pollution, stress, and thermal expansion.

　　Aluminum can also be used as a more cost-effective alternative for certain heat exchanger applications.

　　Heat exchangers are typically used in the following situations:

　　Industrial facilities

　　The heat exchangers in industrial facilities include fossil and nuclear power plants, chemical plants, seawater desalination plants, and marine services.

　　In industrial facilities, copper nickel alloys are used to construct heat exchanger tubes. This alloy has good corrosion resistance and can prevent corrosion in saline environments. It also has good resistance to biological pollution and can avoid the formation of algae and seaweed. Aluminum brass alloy has similar properties and can be used as a substitute.

　　Solar hot water system

　　Solar water heaters are an economical and efficient way of heating hot water, in which copper pipes are used to transfer solar energy to water. The use of copper is due to its high thermal conductivity, resistance to air and water corrosion, and mechanical strength.

　　Gas water heater

　　The gas water heat exchanger transfers the heat generated by gas fuel to water. They are common in residential and commercial boilers. For gas water heaters, copper is the preferred material because it has high thermal conductivity and is easy to manufacture.

　　Forced air heating and cooling

　　Air based heat pumps have long been used for residential and commercial heating. They work through the air to air heat exchange of the evaporator unit. They can be used for wooden stoves, boilers, and furnaces. Similarly, copper is commonly used for its high thermal conductivity.

　　radiator

　　A radiator is a type of heat exchanger that transfers heat generated by electronic or mechanical equipment to a moving coolant. The fluid transfers heat from the device and cools it to the desired temperature. Use metals with high thermal conductivity.

　　Computers use heat sinks to cool the central processing unit or graphics processor. The heat sink is also used for high-power devices such as power transistors, lasers, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

　　The radiator aims to maximize the surface area in contact with the coolant.

　　Aluminum alloy is the most common radiator material. This is because the cost of aluminum is lower than that of copper. However, copper is used where higher levels of thermal conductivity are required. Some radiators use composite aluminum fins with copper bases.