Thread: moving thermal radiation (heat) in a vacuum

got a question

can you move heat in a vacuum with fans ?

for example say

a. a vacuumed and sealed environment

b. a thermal source which continuously generates heat

c. fans

d. a cooling block beyond the fans


that's the experiment

what i know so far

1. in a vacuum heat (BTU) is mostly in the form of infrared radiation

2. that fans should not do any thing without atmosphere



the question

can fans in a vacuum move infrared radiation away from the heat source to cooling source

if not what is a way to move thermal radiation in a vacuum

thanks

No, this is not possible, because fans use the gas that they blow toward the hot material. In vacuum, basically only radiation works. If the heat source is coupled to something, the heat current to the other body can also transport the heat.

Originally Posted by andrewd

got a question

can you move heat in a vacuum with fans ?

for example say

a. a vacuumed and sealed environment

b. a thermal source which continuously generates heat

c. fans

d. a cooling block beyond the fans


that's the experiment

what i know so far

1. in a vacuum heat (BTU) is mostly in the form of infrared radiation

2. that fans should not do any thing without atmosphere



the question

can fans in a vacuum move infrared radiation away from the heat source to cooling source

if not what is a way to move thermal radiation in a vacuum

thanks

Thermal radiation in a vaccuum is already moving -- at the speed of light. In fact it is light, infrared generally, but certainly photons.
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/ra...fer-d_431.html

yeh but i think the post is whether or not the radiation can be redirected whilst in teh vacuum

A infrared mirror would work.

basically i figured it wouldn't be possible either so ill have to go with a normal atmosphere and use good ol convection thanks a lot please feel free to discuss the movement of heat in a vacuum and the various ways in which it could be done

A good link about heat radiators in space