Mass Flow Rate Unit Converter

What is Mass Flow Rate?

Mass flow rate is a measure of the mass of a substance passing through a given surface per unit time. It is a fundamental concept in fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and many engineering applications. Mass flow rate is crucial in various fields, including chemical processing, HVAC systems, and aerospace engineering.

Formula and Units

The basic formula for mass flow rate is:

\[\dot{m} = \rho A v\]

Where:

• \(\dot{m}\) is the mass flow rate
• \(\rho\) is the density of the fluid
• \(A\) is the cross-sectional area
• \(v\) is the velocity of the fluid

Common mass flow rate units include:

• Kilogram per second (kg/s): The SI unit of mass flow rate
• Gram per second (g/s): Often used for smaller flow rates
• Pound per second (lb/s): Common in imperial systems
• Kilogram per hour (kg/h): Used in industrial applications
• Tonne per hour (t/h): Often used for large-scale processes

Calculation Steps

To convert between mass flow rate units, follow these steps:

1. Identify the initial and target units
2. Use the conversion formula: \(\dot{m}_{target} = \dot{m}_{initial} \times \frac{ConversionFactor_{initial}}{ConversionFactor_{target}}\)
3. Apply the appropriate conversion factors
4. Calculate and round the result to the desired precision

Example and Visual Representation

Let's convert 100 kg/s to lb/s:

\[100 \text{ kg/s} \times \frac{2.20462 \text{ lb}}{1 \text{ kg}} = 220.462 \text{ lb/s}\]

This diagram illustrates the equivalence between 100 kg/s and 220.462 lb/s, showing that they represent the same mass flow rate despite using different units. The full width of the bar represents both values, emphasizing their equality in terms of the physical quantity they describe.