KEVOS® MAKEOS · Hydraulics
Coolant Flow for a Heat Load
What flow of water or oil removes this heat load for the allowed temperature rise?
Liquid flow needed to carry away a heat load at a given temperature rise, or the temperature rise for a given flow, for water, glycol mixtures or oil.
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How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Calculate | choice | Find the flow, or the temperature rise. |
| Heat load | kW | Heat to be removed (machine losses, hydraulic power loss, process heat). |
| Allowed temperature rise | K | Outlet minus inlet temperature you can accept. |
| Flow (rise mode) | L/min | Available flow (rise mode). |
| Specific heat of fluid | kJ/(kg·K) | Specific heat (water 4.18, 30% glycol about 3.7, mineral oil about 1.9 kJ/kg·K). |
| Fluid density | kg/m³ | Fluid density (water 998, 30% glycol about 1040, oil about 870 kg/m³). |
Method and formulas
- Heat Q = ṁ cp ΔT.
- Volume flow = heat ÷ (ρ cp ΔT), converted to L/min.
- Temperature rise = heat ÷ (ρ cp × flow).
- Example: 15 kW with a 5 K rise needs 43.148 L/min of water.
Limitations
- Steady state; fluid properties taken at the mean temperature.
- Heat exchanger size is a separate calculation (see the LMTD tool).
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Size cooling water for a machine, mould or oil cooler
- Check temperature rise in a hydraulic return line
- Size a chiller circuit
Who it is for
- Process engineers
- Maintenance engineers
- Design engineers
What you get
- Flow or temperature rise
- Mass flow
Interpreting the result
- A smaller allowed temperature rise needs proportionally more flow.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 371–374. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
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