Q: How would I go about working out how I can make at least 180 F (80 C) and 3 gallons per minute (11 liters/min)?

[adam_j_bradley]

I'll elaborate a little. I trying to work out how to calculate and how to make at least 180 F (80 C) and 3 gallons per minute (11 liters/min)?

 

Thanks in advance!

Adam

[CaptainPanic]

I'm afraid that the title does not say it all...

 

In case you're talking about a heater for something (even that's not completely clear), you also have to tell us:

 

- what material are we talking about

- what temperature does it start at

- what's the purpose (any practical things you need solved, or do you just want the most basic formula?)

 

Your question doesn't have an answer I'm afraid... but a quick google search got me some heater calculators for water.

[adam_j_bradley]

Sorry I dropped off the radar, been caught up in the floods in Brisbane Australia.

 

I'm pumping water at 11 litres/minute and need to know the energy input required to heat that flow rate to 80C (from 20C).

 

Thanks for your patience.

 

Sincerely,

Adam

 

I think the following applies for heating water 11L/minute (0.183 kg/s) at 80C (dt is 55C)

 

q = h / ( cp ρ dt )

where

q = volumetric flow rate

h = heat flow rate

cp = specific heat capacity

ρ = density

dt = temperature difference

 

h = q ( cp ρ dt ) and

h = 0.183 ( 4.2 ) ( 55)

h = 42 kW

[CaptainPanic]

Your calculation is quite right... except that I don't know where you got the number 55 for the temperature difference.

 

80 - 20 = 60

 

And that would bring the power to 46 kW.

 

Good luck with the water heater... and with the floods (I hope they're not related)?