How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the flow rate in gallons per minute (GPM)
- Enter the pipe diameter in inches
- The fluid density is set to the default value of 62.4 lb/ft³ (water at 60°F), but can be adjusted if needed
- Click the "Calculate" button to compute the velocity and cross-sectional area
- The results will be displayed in feet per second (ft/s) for velocity and square feet (ft²) for area
Working Principle
This calculator converts flow rate (GPM) to velocity using the formula:
Velocity (ft/s) = (Q × 7.48) / (A × 60)
Where:
- Q = Flow Rate in GPM
- A = Cross-sectional Area of the pipe in square feet
- 7.48 = Conversion factor (gallons per cubic foot)
- 60 = Conversion factor (minutes per hour)
Applications
This calculator is useful in various fluid dynamics applications including:
- Plumbing system design
- Hydraulic system analysis
- Water flow measurement
- Industrial process monitoring
Example
If you have a pipe with a diameter of 6 inches and a flow rate of 500 GPM, the velocity would be calculated as follows:
- Area = π × (3/24)² = π × 0.002604 ≈ 0.00818 ft²
- Velocity = (500 × 7.48) / (0.00818 × 60) ≈ 602.6 ft/s