Mass Flow Rate

Mass flow rate, abbreviated as \(\dot m_f\), is the average velocity of a mass that passes by a point.  In engineering, mass flow rate is often used, along with the conservation of mass to determine how much product moves through a pipe or duct.

Mass flow rate is the amount of mass that passes through a given area cross-section per unit of time.  It represents the rate at which mass is transported or flowing in a fluid system, such as a pipe, channel, or duct.  The equation shows that the mass flow rate depends on the product density, cross-sectional area, and velocity of the fluid.  A larger area or higher velocity will result in a greater mass flow rate.  In practical applications, the mass flow rate is often used to characterize the flow of fluids in various engineering and industrial processes.  It is important in areas such as fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and chemical engineering, where understanding and controlling the mass flow rate of fluids is crucial for designing and optimizing systems.

• See Article  -  Density of an Element, Density of Materials

 

Mass Flow Rate formula
\( \dot m_f \;=\; \rho \; v \; A_c  \)     (Mass Flow Rate) \( \rho \;=\;   \dot m_f  \;/\;  v \; A_c \)  \( v \;=\;   \dot m_f \;/\;  \rho \; A_c \)  \( A_c \;=\;   \dot m_f \;/\;  \rho \; v \)
Symbol	English	Metric
\( \dot m_f \) = Mass Flow Rate	\(lbm \;/\; sec\)	\(kg \;/\; s\)
\( \rho \)  (Greek symbol rho) = Fluid Density	\(lbm \;/\; ft^3\)	\(kg \;/\; m^3\)
\( v \) = Fluid Velocity	\(ft \;/\; sec\)	\(m \;/\; s\)
\( A_c \) = Area Cross-section	\(ft^2\)	\(m^2\)