Lumped system analysis is a very important tool in heat transfer calculations. This approach makes the heat transfer calculations easier if we compare it with the conventional heat transfer methods. So, we prepared a lumped system analysis calculator to calculate the total temperature of the body after a time. Check the calculator below.

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Lumped System Analysis Calculator
Most of the time, we are using lumped system analysis to calculate the total heat transfer. It is one formula but calculation by hand can be very burdensome. Because we are using these calculations in very complex heat transfer calculations. So, you can use this lumped system analysis calculator in your heat transfer calculations.
Before starting the lumped system analysis calculation, you need to calculate the Biot number of your system. Biot number tells whether you can use lumped system analysis for a heat transfer calculation.
Firstly, the use of the lumped system calculator is very simple. You just need to enter the values inside the brackets to see the temperature of the body. These parameters are,
- The temperature of the Body: This is the uniform temperature of the body at the beginning of the heat transfer. Unit: K or °F.
- Ambient Temperature: In the lumped system analysis, it is assumed that ambient temperature does not change. Enter the ambient temperature which has the unit of K or °F.
- Heat Transfer Coefficient: This is the heat transfer coefficient between the body and the environment. The unit is: W/(m2°C) or Btu/(hr-ft2°F).
- Surface Area of Body: This is the surface area of the body that has the unit of m2 or ft2.
- The density of Body: Density of the body material. Unit: kg/m3 or lbs/ft3.
- The volume of the Body: The total volume of the body. Unit: m3 or ft3.
- Specific Heat Capacity of Body: The specific heat capacity of the body under constant pressure. Unit: kJ/kg°C or Btu/lb°F.
- Time: The total time that heat transfer takes place. Unit: seconds.
After that, click on the ‘Calculate!’ button to see the final temperature of the body in these conditions.
If you want to make further calculations, click on the ‘Reset’ button then re-enter the values.
What is Lumped System Analysis?
So, lumped system analysis is a very useful heat transfer calculation technique. In the calculations of body temperatures in an environment, you can use lumped system analysis. But, lumped system analysis is valid for the bodies which have the same temperature gradient. All the temperatures throughout the body must be the same. But in reality, it is not like this.
For example, if you cut bread that you took from the oven, you will see that the temperatures of the inner side of the bread are not the same as the outer sides. So, you can not use lumped system analysis for this system.
But you can use a lumped system analysis up to deviation values such as 15%. So, if the Biot number is below 0.1, you can use lumped system analysis.
How to Calculate the Lumped System Analysis?
The formula of the lumped system analysis is like this;

With this formula, you can find the temperature of a body at a specific time where heat transfer starts.
Conclusion
In other words, lumped system analysis is a very useful tool in the heat transfer of bodies in different environments. So, If we compare it with the conventional techniques of heat transfer, it is very simple to calculate. You need to use only one formula as you see above.
Above all, Mechanicalland does not accept any responsibility for calculations made by users in calculators. A good engineer must check calculations again and again.
Also, You can find out much more calculators like this in Mechanicalland! Take a look at the other engineering calculators available in Mechanicalland!
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