Gigacalories per Hour to Megawatts Converter
Convert industrial thermal power from Gcal/h to Megawatts (MW). Features unit prefix scaling and power plant comparison for engineering and grid management.
Input value to see grid scale comparison.
About
In heavy industry and district heating, power capacity is often designated in Gigacalories per hour (Gcal/h). However, electrical engineering specifications and international standards predominantly use Megawatts (MW). This discrepancy necessitates a reliable conversion tool for engineers verifying turbine output or boiler capacity. Accuracy is paramount; a miscalculation in grid capacity scaling can lead to significant operational inefficiencies.
This tool facilitates the direct conversion of thermal flow rates to electrical power units. It utilizes the mechanical equivalent of heat where 1 Gcal/h is energetically equivalent to approximately 1.163 MW. The interface is optimized for large-scale values typical of nuclear or coal-fired power plants, handling inputs up to several thousand units without precision loss.
Formulas
The conversion factor is derived from the definition of the calorie and the watt. The precise calculation used is:
To convert to other prefixes:
Reference Data
| Gcal/h | Megawatts (MW) | Kilowatts (kW) | Approx. Scale Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.86 | 1.00 | 1,000 | Small industrial boiler |
| 10.00 | 11.63 | 11,630 | District heating block |
| 50.00 | 58.15 | 58,150 | Large hospital complex |
| 100.00 | 116.30 | 116,300 | Small Power Plant unit |
| 430.00 | 500.00 | 500,000 | Standard Coal Unit |
| 860.00 | 1,000.00 | 1,000,000 | Nuclear Reactor (1 GW) |
| 2,580.00 | 3,000.00 | 3,000,000 | Major Hydro Dam |
| 10,000.00 | 11,630.00 | 11,630,000 | Regional Grid Load |