Converting from one unit of temperature to another at some stage of an engineering project might seem like it would be a relatively quick and stress-free exercise.
After all, there are currently only three main temperature scales in common use – Fahrenheit, Celsius (or Centigrade), and Kelvin.
You might imagine, then, that once you have educated yourself on the relevant conversion formulas across these three main temperature scales, there would be relatively little further work for you to do when it comes to temperature conversion.
You Must, However, Be Vigilant to The Risk of Temperature Conversion Errors
Much of the reason why we are writing this article, is because of the potentially severe consequences that can unfold if you make even just one error with a temperature conversion during an engineering project.
· If a particular temperature conversion isn’t accurate, this can lead to compromised designs, and might well impact the safety of the resulting product.
· In the event, for instance, that you wrongly convert or misinterpret a particular temperature during the material selection process, this could have dire effects on the final engineered item’s structural integrity.
· Alternatively, you may mis-convert temperatures in boilers, turbines, or HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems. This could mean that the given equipment goes on to exceed its operational limits and ultimately breaks down prematurely.
When unwanted events like these do occur, the subsequent downtime, redesign, and/or repair costs will further add to the burden of what might have been just one bodged temperature conversion.
So, it is in your interests to guard against these risks in your engineering projects. Doing so will help you maximise efficient and smooth operations, while streamlining costs.
3 Steps to Help Ensure Accurate Temperature Conversions, Every Time
Here are some proven ways to make sure you consistently get the temperature conversion process right, at every stage of your next engineering project:
· Familiarise Yourself with The Temperature Scales
As we touched on earlier, there are essentially three temperature units to be aware of when it comes to engineering applications: Celsius (C), Fahrenheit (F), and Kelvin (K).
In accordance with this, you should also educate yourself on the key distinctions between them. For example, Kelvin is the base unit for temperature in the International System of Units (SI), while Celsius is also metric, and Fahrenheit is imperial.
· Swot Up on The Relevant Temperature Conversion Formulas
Once you know the required input unit and output unit for your application, you should determine the formula you will require for the conversion.
Alternatively, you could seek out a reliable calculator for switching temperature units in technical projects… or you could combine both manual and digital calculation methods.
It is, of course, good practice to ultimately take the latter route – combining both approaches. Knowing the formula for the Celsius-to-Fahrenheit conversion, for example, will enable you to quickly perform a manual calculation. You will then be able to cross-check the result with the figure you got out of your chosen digital calculator.
Above, we included a link to the temperature conversion calculator provided by the electrical component supplier, RS Online. Navigate to that page, and you will see a list of temperature conversion formulas, too.
So, the aforementioned Celsius-to-Fahrenheit conversion formula is F = (9/5 x C) + 32.
· Document And Audit Your Temperature Conversions
You can help guard against future disputes or errors with your temperature conversions, by maintaining an audit trail of the conversion calculations you have undertaken.
This should entail keeping records of the tools, formulas, and conversion factors used. Doing this will provide you with a reference in case you later need to revisit or revalidate a particular conversion.
Implement An Optimised Temperature Conversion Process to Help Your Projects Succeed
The scope for human error might be impossible to eradicate completely from temperature conversions and other specialised engineering processes.
However, by ensuring you possess a clear understanding of the temperature conversion formulas your project requires, as well as a willingness to constantly cross-verify data and keep meticulous documentation, you can go a long way to ensuring accuracy on every occasion.
