Free specialty workspace

Fluid and thermal industrial calculator

Use this fluid and thermal industrial calculator for cylinder force, pneumatic air consumption, pump power, pipe pressure loss, tank volume, thermal expansion and heating time.

Method version 1.0.0 · Reviewed November 2, 2026 · Calculated on your device

Your calculation

Choose a method, then enter your figures. Examples are illustrative, not recommended settings or rates.

What would you like to calculate?

Choose a method, then enter actual dimensions, operating conditions and sourced properties.

Unit system

Review the unit printed in each label. Changing this selector does not convert entries; Load example gives a matching converted example.

Cylinder bore diameter (in / mm)

Internal piston diameter.

Rod diameter (in / mm)

Zero for no rod; single-rod double-acting model.

Stroke length (in / mm)

One full stroke travel.

Supply gauge pressure (psi / bar)

Gauge pressure above atmosphere at the working cylinder port.

Opposing gauge back pressure (psi / bar)

Return or exhaust chamber pressure above atmosphere.

Entered effective efficiency (%)

Cylinder: lumped force efficiency. Pump: combined efficiency for the desired input power basis. Heating: fraction of input power reaching the modeled mass.

Actual volumetric flow (US gal/min / L/min)

Hydraulic: inlet flow to active chamber. Pipe/pump: actual operating liquid flow.

How this calculation works

Cylinder force = supply pressure × working area − opposing pressure × opposing area; hydraulic power = density × g × flow × head; sensible heat = mass × specific heat × temperature rise.

What information do I need?

Only fields for your selected method are required. Use consistent units and scope. Changing an entry method or unit system does not convert the numbers already entered. Previously calculated results are cleared when inputs change.

Input definitions and where to find them

What would you like to calculate?: Choose a method, then enter actual dimensions, operating conditions and sourced properties.
Unit system: Review the unit printed in each label. Changing this selector does not convert entries; Load example gives a matching converted example.
Cylinder bore diameter (in / mm): Internal piston diameter.
Rod diameter (in / mm): Zero for no rod; single-rod double-acting model.
Stroke length (in / mm): One full stroke travel.
Supply gauge pressure (psi / bar): Gauge pressure above atmosphere at the working cylinder port.
Opposing gauge back pressure (psi / bar): Return or exhaust chamber pressure above atmosphere.
Entered effective efficiency (%): Cylinder: lumped force efficiency. Pump: combined efficiency for the desired input power basis. Heating: fraction of input power reaching the modeled mass.
Actual volumetric flow (US gal/min / L/min): Hydraulic: inlet flow to active chamber. Pipe/pump: actual operating liquid flow.
Reference absolute atmospheric pressure (psi / bar): Absolute reference pressure for equal-temperature free-air volume. Not gauge pressure.
Complete extension / retraction cycles per minute: One cycle fills both cap and rod chambers once.
Total developed pump head (ft / m): Total duty head, not merely discharge gauge pressure.
Fluid density (lb/ft³ / kg/m³): Actual density at operating temperature; lb means mass here.
Pipe internal diameter (in / mm): Actual internal bore, not nominal pipe size.
Straight pipe length (ft / m): Physical length; fittings are handled separately through K.
Dynamic viscosity (cP / mPa·s): Same numerical units in both systems. Obtain at actual temperature; not kinematic viscosity.
Absolute internal roughness (in / mm): Documented roughness for actual condition. Zero permits ideal smooth-pipe approximation.
Sum of local fitting-loss K coefficients: Each coefficient must use the same pipe velocity basis; do not also count an equivalent length for the same fitting.
Tank internal geometry: No rounded/dished ends or tilt.
Internal axial length / vertical-cylinder diameter (ft / m): Box/horizontal cylinder: length. Vertical cylinder: diameter.
Internal height / horizontal-cylinder diameter (ft / m): Box/vertical cylinder: height. Horizontal cylinder: diameter.
Internal box width (ft / m): Rectangular tank only.
Current liquid depth (ft / m): Vertical liquid depth from lowest inside point; no greater than height/diameter.
Constant inlet flow (US gal/min / L/min): Enter zero if no inflow.
Constant outlet flow (US gal/min / L/min): Enter zero if no outflow. Gravity draining usually is not constant.
Initial unconstrained length (ft / m): Reference dimension before the temperature change.
Linear expansion coefficient (microstrain/°F / microstrain/°C): Enter coefficient × 10⁶: 6.5 means 6.5 millionths per °F in US. Match actual material and temperature range.
Signed temperature change (°F / °C): Positive heats, negative cools. This is a difference, not absolute final temperature.
Initial gap to a fixed boundary (in / mm): Assumes the opposite boundary does not move.
Material mass (lb / kg): Mass only; add vessel/fixtures through a justified equivalent mass if appropriate.
Specific heat (BTU_IT/lb·°F / kJ/kg·K): Actual material specific heat over the modeled temperature interval.
Temperature rise (°F / °C): Nonnegative temperature difference. No phase change included.
Input heater power (kW): Actual available input power during heating, before the entered efficiency.

Worked example

This example uses the initial method shown in the selector. Load an example in the form to try it.

Example inputs

What would you like to calculate?: hydraulic
Unit system: us
Cylinder bore diameter (in / mm): 2
Rod diameter (in / mm): 1
Stroke length (in / mm): 12
Supply gauge pressure (psi / bar): 100
Opposing gauge back pressure (psi / bar): 0
Entered effective efficiency (%): 90
Actual volumetric flow (US gal/min / L/min): 5

Example answer: Extension net force estimate = 282.743339 lbf

Use the result well

Double-acting, single-rod cylinder; gauge supply and opposing back pressure are explicit. Efficiency is an entered lumped force factor, not a recommended setting. Negative force means the entered pressure conditions oppose commanded travel. No acceleration, seal breakaway, rod buckling or load holding assessment.

Same inlet flow is assumed on either stroke. Leakage, compressibility and valve/line limitations are excluded; force efficiency does not alter ideal flow time.

Use actual material, equipment and operating specifications. This is a stated-model calculation, not approval of a part, machine, lifting arrangement or structure. Verify units and assumptions before use.

Review the limits shown with each result. Browser arithmetic has finite precision; small differences may reflect rounding. Print or download important results before closing the tab. This workspace does not store projects online or replace an approved examination calculator, engineering design or professional judgment.

Method and sources

References support the stated mathematical concepts; the interface and implementation are original. Publishers do not endorse this site.