KEVOS® MAKEOS · Materials
Heating Energy and Time
How much energy and time does it take to heat this material or liquid?
Energy to raise a mass through a temperature range from its specific heat, and the heating time with a given heater power and efficiency.
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How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Mass to heat | kg | Mass of the material or liquid (water: 1 kg per litre). |
| Specific heat capacity | kJ/(kg·K) | Specific heat over the range (water about 4.18, steel about 0.49, aluminium about 0.90 kJ/kg·K). |
| Start temperature | °C | Starting temperature. |
| Final temperature | °C | Target temperature. |
| Heater power | kW | Rated heater power. |
| Heating efficiency (heat reaching the load) | % | Share of heater output that reaches the load (losses to surroundings reduce it). |
| Energy price | AUD/kWh | Energy tariff for cost per batch. |
Method and formulas
- Q = m c (T₂ − T₁) (kJ); in kWh ÷ 3600.
- Time = Q ÷ (P × η) (hours when Q is in kWh).
- Energy drawn = Q ÷ η; cost = energy drawn × price.
- Example: 500 kg of water from 15 to 60 °C needs 26.125 kWh, about 3.415 h with 9 kW.
Limitations
- No phase change (melting or boiling) is included; add latent heat separately.
- Heat loss during heating is represented only by the efficiency.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Size a tank or oven heater
- Estimate warm-up time
- Compare energy cost of heating batches
Who it is for
- Process engineers
- Maintenance engineers
What you get
- Heat energy required
- Heating time
- Energy drawn and cost per batch
Interpreting the result
- Heat losses rise with temperature; use a lower efficiency for long, hot warm-ups.
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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