Mass Flow Rate Calculator

What is the mass flow rate?

The mass flow rate is also known as mass flux and it is a measurement of the amount of mass that passes through a given area per unit of time. It is commonly expressed in units such as kilograms per second (kg/s) or pounds per second (lb/s).

Formula:      

Mass flow rate = Density × Velocity × Area

• Velocity (V) represents the speed at which the substance is flowing.
• Area (A) is the cross-sectional area through which the substance is flowing. It is typically measured in square meters (m²) or square feet (ft²).
• Density (ρ) is the mass per unit volume and is typically measured in kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³) or pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft³).

How to find the mass flow rate

Example 1:

Determine the mass flow rate of a liquid if the density of the liquid is 34 kg/m³, the velocity of the liquid is 43 m/s, and the flow area of the liquid is 12 cm².

Solution

Step 1:

Write the given values

ρ = 34 kg/m³

V = 43 m/s

A = 12 cm²

Step 2:

Using the formula for mass flow rate

m = ρ × V × A

m = 34 × 43 × 12

m = 17544 kg/s

Mass Flow Rate = 17544 kg/s

Example 2:

Determine the mass flow rate of a liquid if the density of the liquid is 45 kg/m³, the velocity of the liquid is 56 m/s, and the flow area of the liquid is 23 cm².

Solution

Step 1:

Write the given values

ρ = 45 kg/m³

V = 56 m/s

A = 23 cm²

Step 2:

Using the formula for mass flow rate

m = ρ × V × A

m = 45 × 56 × 23

m = 57960 kg/s

Mass Flow Rate = 57960 kg/s