Sensible Heat Energy Calculator

How the sensible heat energy calculator works

Ideal sensible heat in kJ = mass in kg × entered specific heat in kJ/(kg·K) × (final temperature − initial temperature). A temperature difference has the same numerical value in kelvins and degrees Celsius. Divide kJ by 3,600 to obtain kWh.

Positive heat means energy added to the material under this sign convention; negative heat means energy removed. Equal initial and final temperatures give zero sensible heat. The entered temperatures must be at or above absolute zero, and specific heat must be positive. The illustrative value is an assumption rather than a supplied material-property database.

Use a constant or appropriate average heat capacity over a range where the material stays in the modeled phase. Phase change, chemical reactions, container heating, environmental losses and temperature-dependent property integration are excluded. The result is not electrical input, fuel use, required equipment capacity or heating time.

Worked example

For 1,000 kg, an entered 4.18 kJ/(kg·K), and a rise from 20°C to 60°C, the temperature change is 40 K and ideal heat is 167,200 kJ, or about 46.444 kWh. Changing the final temperature to 10°C gives −41,800 kJ, representing energy removed under the declared convention.

Sources and assumptions

The source material explains the underlying calculation or pricing structure. Entered prices, costs, schedules and scenario choices are your assumptions; this tool does not obtain supplier quotes or predict actual results.

• OpenStax: specific heat and Q = mcΔT