Thermal Efficiency Calculator
Compute efficiency of a heat engine or device.
Instructions
Enter useful work output and total heat input. The calculator shows efficiency as a fraction and percentage.
Formula
η = Wout / Qin
About Thermal Efficiency
Thermal efficiency measures how effectively a device converts heat into work. It is bounded by the Carnot efficiency for ideal engines.
Common Questions
Can efficiency exceed 100%?
No for heat engines; however, heat pumps use a different metric (COP) which can exceed 1.
What about losses?
Losses reduce W_out relative to Q_in, lowering efficiency.