Paritian

Heat & Fluids

Heat Energy Calculator

Energy needed to change the temperature of a mass, in megajoules and kilowatt-hours.

Results

Heat 28.2555 MJ
Energy 7.8488 kWh
Temperature change 45.00 K
Heat capacity of the whole thing 627.9000 kJ/K
Energy in kilojoules 28,255.5000 kJ

What this tool does

The energy needed depends on how much material there is, what it is made of and how far you want to move its temperature. The default specific heat is that of water, 4186 J per kilogram per kelvin — unusually high, which is why water is such a good heat store.

Formula

Q = m × c × ΔT

Variables

SymbolMeaningUnit
mMasskg
cSpecific heat capacityJ/(kg·K)
t1Initial temperature°C
t2Final temperature°C
QHeatMJ
QWEnergykWh
DTTemperature changeK
HCHeat capacity of the whole thingkJ/K
QKEnergy in kilojouleskJ

Worked example

  • Mass150 kg
  • Specific heat capacity4186 J/(kg·K)
  • Initial temperature15 °C
  • Final temperature60 °C
  • Heat28.2555 MJ
  • Energy7.8488 kWh
  • Temperature change45.00 K
  • Heat capacity of the whole thing627.9000 kJ/K
  • Energy in kilojoules28,255.5000 kJ

Limitations

  • The formula assumes ideal conditions: no friction losses, no air resistance and no efficiency losses unless you enter them.
  • The result is an estimate based only on the values you type. Real situations often include factors this calculator does not know about.