How does friction heating effect pressure drop? Solution Heat transfer is not the consequence (or effect) of pressure drop. In the absence of a temperature gradient, it is possible to have pressure drop in a flow without heat transfer. Similarly, in unconfined convection over an external surface (imagine flow over a hot flat plate or for more simplicity, an aircraft flying at altitude), it is possible to have heat transfer without a pressure drop. (The pressures in front of the aircraft as well as behind the aircraft are the same!) Both pressure drop and heat transfer are consequences of a velocity gradient. For real fluids, a velocity gradient produces a shear force which is overcome by a sacrifice of fluid pressure (as in pipe flow). On the other hand, a velocity gradient gives rise to convective diffusion. In general, heat transfer is the desired effect while pressure drop is how we pay for that effect.This relationship is simply and beautifully brought out by the simplest of all analogies, the Reynolds Analogy. The friction factor fand the Conburn \'j\' factor are related as f/j 2. In other words, f can never be less than 2 x j.h and f which are convection and friction factor parameters ..