Engineering ToolBox - Resources, Tools and Basic Information for Engineering and Design of Technical Applications!

Electric Heating of Mass

Electric heating of an object or mass - temperature change vs. energy supplied.

When an electric heater heats an object - the electric energy is transformed to heat by increased object temperature. The electric energy used equals the change in thermal energy and can be expressed as:

P t μ = U I t μ

= c m dT                                (1)

electric energy supplied = thermal energy change in object

where

P = power (watts, W)

U = potential difference (volts, V)

I = electrical current (amps, A)

t = time (sec)

μ = heating efficiency

c = specific heat of the heated substance (J/kgoC)

m = mass of the heated substance (kg)

dT = temperature differance (oC)

Example - 12 Volt Car Water Heater

 

12 volts car water heater

 

The temperature change in a 12 volts and 10 amps Car Water Heater (100% efficient => μ = 1) with 0.4 kg water and 5 minutes heating period can be calculated by modifying (1) to

dT = U I t μ / c m

   = (12 volts) (10 amps) (300 sec) 1 / (4200 J/kgoC) (0.4 kg)

   = 21.4 oC

Note! The mass of the water heater and the heat loss from the heater during heating is neglected in the calculation. In reality the mass of the heater and the heat loss from the heater during the heating process will influence the temperature change.

Electric Heating Calculator

This calculator can be used to calculate temperature rise in an electric heated object or mass. Heat loss during heating is neglected.

heating water - power vs. time

Related Topics

  • Electrical

    Electrical engineering with units, amps and electrical wiring. Wire gauges, electrical formulas, motors and more.
  • Thermodynamics

    Calculate heat, work, temperature and energy. The thermodynamics of steam and condensate systems. Water and Ice properties.

Related Documents

Search

Search is the most efficient way to navigate the Engineering ToolBox.

Engineering ToolBox - SketchUp Extension - Online 3D modeling!

3D Engineering ToolBox Extension to SketchUp - add parametric components to your SketchUp model

Add standard and customized parametric components - like flange beams, lumbers, piping, stairs and more - to your Sketchup model with the Engineering ToolBox - SketchUp Extension - enabled for use with older versions of the amazing SketchUp Make and the newer "up to date" SketchUp Pro . Add the Engineering ToolBox extension to your SketchUp Make/Pro from the Extension Warehouse !

Translate this Page

Translate this page to Your Own Language .

About the Engineering ToolBox!

Privacy Policy

We don't collect information from our users. More about

We use a third-party to provide monetization technologies for our site. You can review their privacy and cookie policy here.

You can change your privacy settings by clicking the following button: .

Citation

This page can be cited as

  • The Engineering ToolBox (2011). Electric Heating of Mass. [online] Available at: https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/electrical-heating-mass-d_1757.html [Accessed Day Month Year].

Modify the access date according your visit.

3D Engineering ToolBox - draw and model technical applications! 2D Engineering ToolBox - create and share online diagram drawing templates! Engineering ToolBox Apps - mobile online and offline engineering applications!

Unit Converter

















































4.19.9

.