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Heat Rejection Calculator

Calculate heat rejection in kW with our Heat Rejection Calculator. Find fluid heat loss, condenser heat rejection, and cooling-water flow with ease.

Q̇ = ṁ × Cp × ΔT
Enter the cooling fluid's flow rate, specific heat, and inlet/outlet temperatures.
Qcond = Qevap + Wcomp
Enter the evaporator cooling load and compressor power input for the refrigeration cycle.
ṁ = Q̇ ÷ (Cp × ΔT)
Enter the required heat rejection rate along with the cooling fluid's Cp and inlet/outlet temperatures.
Note: Heat rejection rate (kW) is power, not total energy (kJ) — don't confuse the two. For heat-exchanger sizing (area/coefficient based), the corresponding relationship is Q̇ = UA·ΔTlm, which uses different inputs than the flow-based formulas above.
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The Heat Rejection Calculator helps you find how much heat a system must remove or reject. It works with fluid flow, condenser load, and cooling-water flow.

You can use it for water, air, cooling systems, condensers, radiators, and other thermal systems. The calculator also supports common units such as kg/s, kg/min, kg/hr, lb/s, lb/min, lb/hr, GPM, kW, tons of refrigeration, BTU/hr, and HP.

It gives a quick and clear result without doing manual unit conversions.

Heat Rejection Formula

The main rate of heat rejection formula is:

Heat Rejection = Mass Flow Rate × Specific Heat × Temperature Difference

In normal notation:

Q̇ = ṁ × Cp × ΔT

Where Q̇ is heat rejection in kW, ṁ is mass flow in kg/s, Cp is specific heat in kJ/kg·K, and ΔT is the temperature change in K or °C.

The temperature difference is:

ΔT = Outlet Temperature − Inlet Temperature

For water, this calculator uses Cp = 4.186 kJ/kg·K. For air, it uses Cp = 1.005 kJ/kg·K.

Condenser Heat Rejection

For condenser heat rejection, the calculator uses:

Qcond = Qevap + Wcomp

Here, Qcond is total condenser heat rejection, Qevap is the evaporator cooling load, and Wcomp is compressor power.

Required Cooling-Water Flow

For required cooling-water flow, the formula is:

ṁ = Q̇ ÷ (Cp × ΔT)

For water, the calculator can also convert the result to US GPM.

These formulas also apply to many water heat rejection, radiator heat rejection, and cooling-system calculations. The exact method depends on the system and the data available.

How to Use Online Heat Rejection Calculator

  1. Choose the calculation mode. Select Fluid Heat Rejection Rate, Condenser Heat Rejection, or Required Cooling-Water Flow.
  2. Enter the required values. Depending on the mode, enter mass flow, Cp, inlet temperature, outlet temperature, evaporator load, or compressor power.
  3. Select the correct units. You can use the available flow, temperature, power, and heat-load units.
  4. Check the inputs. Make sure the temperatures, flow rate, Cp, and heat load are valid. For GPM, select Water because the calculator treats GPM as US gallons per minute of water.
  5. Calculate the result. The calculator converts the units, applies the correct formula, and displays the heat rejection or required flow.

Example Heat Rejection Calculation

Suppose water flows at 10 kg/s. Its specific heat is 4.186 kJ/kg·K. The water enters at 25°C and leaves at 30°C.

First, find the temperature difference:

ΔT = 30 − 25 = 5°C

Now apply the heat rejection formula:

Q̇ = 10 × 4.186 × 5

Q̇ = 209.3 kW

So, the heat rejection rate is 209.3000 kW.

For a condenser example, assume the evaporator load is 100 kW and compressor power is 25 kW.

Qcond = 100 + 25

Qcond = 125 kW

Thus, the condenser must reject 125 kW of heat.

For cooling-water flow, if the heat rejection is 125 kW and water temperature rises from 25°C to 30°C:

ṁ = 125 ÷ (4.186 × 5)

ṁ = 5.9737 kg/s

The calculator also gives about 94.674 GPM for water.

Heat Rejection Applications

Heat rejection calculations are useful in many engineering systems. They can help estimate heat dissipation for electrical equipment, cooling-water demand, condenser loads, radiator performance, and engine cooling requirements.

A cooling tower heat rejection calculation can use the water-side heat balance when flow rate, specific heat, and temperature change are known. Likewise, an air conditioning heat rejection formula can help determine condenser heat rejection from cooling capacity and compressor input.

The term heat of reaction calculator is different. It normally refers to chemical reaction enthalpy, not thermal heat rejection. So it should not be confused with this calculator.

Final Verdict

The Heat Rejection Calculator makes heat rejection calculations faster and easier. Its core methods are Q̇ = ṁCpΔT, Qcond = Qevap + Wcomp, and ṁ = Q̇/(CpΔT).

It handles common unit conversions and provides practical results for fluid cooling, condenser heat rejection, and required cooling-water flow.

FAQs

What is the formula for heat rejection?

The main formula is Q̇ = ṁ × Cp × ΔT.

What is heat rejection measured in?

Heat rejection rate is commonly measured in watts or kilowatts. This calculator reports the main heat-rejection result in kW.

How do you calculate condenser heat rejection?

Use Qcond = Qevap + Wcomp. Add the evaporator cooling load and compressor power after converting both to kW.

How do you calculate cooling-water flow?

Use ṁ = Q̇ ÷ (Cp × ΔT). The result is mass flow in kg/s.

Can I calculate water heat rejection with this calculator?

Yes. Select Water, enter the water flow, Cp, inlet temperature, and outlet temperature. The calculator uses Cp = 4.186 kJ/kg·K.

What is the difference between heat rejection and heat dissipation?

Both terms describe removing heat from a system. Heat rejection often refers to heat transferred out of a system, while heat dissipation is commonly used for heat released to the surrounding environment.