Mass flow rate is a critical parameter in process engineering, representing the mass of a substance passing through a specific cross-section per unit of time. The conversion between kilograms per hour (kg/h) and pounds per hour (lb/h) is essential when reconciling metric-based process equipment with imperial-based control systems.
Kilogram per hour (kg/h): The SI unit for mass flow, commonly used in international chemical and mechanical engineering projects.
Pound per hour (lb/h): The standard unit in the United States customary system, frequently encountered in legacy plant documentation and North American industrial standards.
To convert between these units, we utilize the precise conversion factor where \(1 \text{ kg/h} \approx 2.20462 \text{ lb/h}\). This relationship is defined by the international avoirdupois pound, where exactly \(1 \text{ kg} = 2.204622614072198 \text{ lb}\).
Kilogram per hour to Pound per hour Conversion Reference Table
Kilogram per hour (kg/h)
Pound per hour (lb/h)
0.1
0.2205
0.5
1.1023
1.0
2.2046
2.0
4.4092
5.0
11.0231
10.0
22.0462
20.0
44.0925
50.0
110.2311
100.0
220.4623
500.0
1102.3113
1000.0
2204.6226
Step-by-Step Conversion Example
To convert a mass flow rate from kg/h to lb/h, multiply the given value by the conversion factor of 2.204622614072198.
The factor 2.204622614072198 is derived from the international agreement that defines the pound as exactly 0.45359237 kilograms. Taking the reciprocal of this value provides the exact multiplier for converting kilograms to pounds.
No. Mass flow rate is independent of temperature and pressure, unlike volumetric flow rate. Because mass is conserved regardless of the state of the fluid, the conversion factor remains constant.
"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)