1. What is Cooling Water Flow Rate?

Definition: This calculator determines the required water flow rate to remove a specific heat load given water properties and temperature difference.

Purpose: Essential for designing cooling systems in HVAC, industrial processes, power plants, and other thermal management applications.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( Q \) — Water flow rate (m³/s)
• \( \text{heat} \) — Heat load (W)
• \( \rho \) — Water density (kg/m³, default 1000)
• \( c_p \) — Specific heat capacity (J/kg·K, default 4186)
• \( \Delta T \) — Temperature difference (K)

Explanation: The heat energy is divided by the product of water density, specific heat, and temperature change to determine the required volumetric flow rate.

3. Importance of Flow Rate Calculation

Details: Proper flow rate calculation ensures efficient heat removal, prevents overheating, and optimizes pump sizing and energy consumption.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the heat load in watts, water density (default 1000 kg/m³), specific heat (default 4186 J/kg·K), and temperature difference in Kelvin. All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is specific heat capacity important?
A: It determines how much energy water can absorb per degree of temperature rise, directly affecting the required flow rate.

Q2: What's a typical ΔT for cooling systems?
A: Common ΔT values range from 5-10K for chilled water systems and up to 20K for some industrial applications.

Q3: Can I use this for other liquids?
A: Yes, but you must input the correct density and specific heat values for the particular fluid.

Q4: How do I convert m³/s to more common units?
A: Multiply by 1000 for liters/second or by 3600 for m³/hour.

Q5: Does this account for system inefficiencies?
A: No, consider adding 10-20% to the calculated flow rate for practical system design.