Power density

This article is about power per volume. For power per unit mass, see Power-to-weight ratio. For power per area, see Surface power density. For power per frenquency, see Power spectral density.

Power density is the amount of power (time rate of energy transfer) per unit volume.^[1]It is typically measured in watts per cubic meter (W/m³) and represents how much power is distributed within a given space. In various fields such as physics, engineering, and electronics, power density is used to evaluate the efficiency and performance of devices, systems, or materials by considering how much power they can handle or generate relative to their size or volume.^[2]

Power density
SI unit	W/m3
In SI base units	kg·m−1s−3
Derivations from other quantities	P/V

In energy transformers including batteries, fuel cells, motors, power supply units, etc., power density refers to a volume, where it is often called volume power density, expressed as W/m³.

In reciprocating internal combustion engines, power density (power per swept volume or brake horsepower per cubic centimeter) is an important metric, based on the internal capacity of the engine, not its external size.

Examples

Storage material	Energy type	Specific power (W/kg)	Power density (W/m3)
Hydrogen (in star)	Stellar fusion	0.00184	276.5
Plutonium	Alpha decay	1.94	38,360
Supercapacitors	Capacitance	up to 15000	Variable
Lithium-ion	Chemical	~250–350	~700

See also

• Surface power density, energy per unit of area
• Energy density, energy per unit volume
• Specific energy, energy per unit mass
• Power-to-weight ratio/specific power, power per unit mass
  • Specific absorption rate (SAR)