Flow Rate Calculator for Pipe

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Pipe Flow Rate Calculator

Flow Rate: — m³/s

Understanding Pipe Flow Rate

The flow rate in a pipe is a fundamental concept in fluid dynamics, representing the volume of fluid that passes through a given cross-sectional area per unit of time. It's a critical parameter in various engineering applications, including plumbing, chemical processing, and hydraulic systems.

The Formula

The flow rate (Q) is calculated using a straightforward formula that relates the cross-sectional area of the pipe (A) to the average velocity of the fluid flowing through it (v):

Q = A * v

Where:

  • Q is the volumetric flow rate (typically in cubic meters per second, m³/s).
  • A is the cross-sectional area of the pipe (typically in square meters, m²).
  • v is the average velocity of the fluid (typically in meters per second, m/s).

Since pipes are usually circular, the cross-sectional area (A) is calculated using the inner diameter (D) of the pipe:

A = π * (D/2)²

Substituting this into the flow rate formula gives:

Q = π * (D/2)² * v

In our calculator, we use the inner diameter (D) directly.

How to Use This Calculator

To find the flow rate, you need to provide two key pieces of information:

  1. Pipe Inner Diameter (m): This is the internal diameter of the pipe through which the fluid is flowing, measured in meters.
  2. Average Fluid Velocity (m/s): This is the average speed at which the fluid is moving within the pipe, also measured in meters per second.

Once you enter these values and click "Calculate Flow Rate", the calculator will output the volumetric flow rate in cubic meters per second (m³/s).

Example Calculation

Let's consider a scenario where you have a pipe with an inner diameter of 0.1 meters (which is 10 cm) and the average fluid velocity is 2.0 meters per second.

Using the calculator:

  • Pipe Inner Diameter: 0.1 m
  • Average Fluid Velocity: 2.0 m/s

The calculator will determine the cross-sectional area: A = π * (0.1 / 2)² = π * (0.05)² = π * 0.0025 ≈ 0.00785 m²

Then, it calculates the flow rate: Q = 0.00785 m² * 2.0 m/s ≈ 0.0157 m³/s

This means that approximately 0.0157 cubic meters of fluid pass through this pipe every second.

function calculateFlowRate() { var pipeDiameter = parseFloat(document.getElementById("pipeDiameter").value); var fluidVelocity = parseFloat(document.getElementById("fluidVelocity").value); var resultSpan = document.getElementById("flowRateOutput"); if (isNaN(pipeDiameter) || isNaN(fluidVelocity) || pipeDiameter <= 0 || fluidVelocity < 0) { resultSpan.textContent = "Invalid input"; return; } var crossSectionalArea = Math.PI * Math.pow((pipeDiameter / 2), 2); var flowRate = crossSectionalArea * fluidVelocity; resultSpan.textContent = flowRate.toFixed(4); // Display with 4 decimal places }

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