Mass flow rate is a fundamental parameter in process engineering, representing the mass of a substance passing through a given cross-section per unit of time. The units kg/h (kilograms per hour) and kg/s (kilograms per second) are both SI-derived units used to quantify this flow.
kg/h: Commonly used in industrial process reporting, such as daily production throughput or long-term fuel consumption rates.
kg/s: The standard SI unit for mass flow rate, frequently utilized in transient analysis, fluid dynamics, and high-speed control systems where instantaneous response is critical.
To convert between these units, we recognize that one hour contains 3,600 seconds. Therefore, the conversion factor is derived from the relationship \( 1 \text{ h} = 3600 \text{ s} \), leading to the conversion factor \( \frac{1}{3600} \approx 0.0002777777777777778 \).
Kilogram per hour to Kilogram per second Conversion Reference Table
Kilogram per hour (kg/h)
Kilogram per second (kg/s)
0.1
2.7778e-05
0.5
1.3889e-04
1.0
2.7778e-04
2.0
5.5556e-04
5.0
0.0014
10.0
0.0028
20.0
0.0056
50.0
0.0139
100.0
0.0278
500.0
0.1389
1000.0
0.2778
Conversion Example: 10 kg/h to kg/s
To convert a mass flow rate from kg/h to kg/s, multiply the value by the conversion factor of approximately 0.0002777777777777778.
The kilogram per second (kg/s) is the SI base unit for mass flow rate. Using it ensures consistency in equations involving other SI units like Newtons, Joules, and Watts, which prevents errors when calculating power, force, or energy balances.
To convert from kg/s to kg/h, simply multiply the value by 3,600. This reverses the division performed during the initial conversion.
"On fait la science avec des faits, comme on fait une maison avec des pierres ; mais une accumulation de faits n'est pas plus une science qu'un tas de pierres n'est une maison." "Science is built up of facts, as a house is built of stones; but an accumulation of facts is no more a science than a heap of stones is a house." — Henri Poincaré (French Mathematician, Theoretical Physicist & Mining Engineer)