Pipe Flow Rate Calculator
Results:
Flow Rate: – L/min
Understanding Pipe Flow Rate
The flow rate of a fluid through a pipe is a crucial parameter in many engineering and industrial applications. It quantifies the volume of fluid that passes a specific point in the pipe per unit of time. Accurately calculating flow rate is essential for system design, performance monitoring, and ensuring efficient operation.
This calculator helps you determine the volumetric flow rate (commonly expressed in liters per minute, L/min) given the inner diameter of the pipe and the average velocity of the fluid flowing through it.
How it Works:
The fundamental principle behind this calculation is the relationship between area, velocity, and flow rate. The formula used is derived from the concept of continuity in fluid dynamics:
Flow Rate (Q) = Area (A) × Velocity (v)
- Area (A): This is the cross-sectional area of the pipe through which the fluid flows. For a circular pipe, the area is calculated using the formula for the area of a circle: A = π × (radius)², where the radius is half of the inner diameter.
- Velocity (v): This is the average speed at which the fluid is moving through the pipe.
In this calculator, we first convert the pipe's inner diameter from millimeters (mm) to meters (m) for consistent units in our calculations. The radius is then calculated (diameter / 2). The cross-sectional area is computed in square meters (m²). This area is then multiplied by the fluid velocity (in m/s) to get the flow rate in cubic meters per second (m³/s). Finally, this value is converted to liters per minute (L/min) for easier interpretation.
Units:
- Pipe Inner Diameter is typically measured in millimeters (mm).
- Fluid Velocity is measured in meters per second (m/s).
- The resulting Flow Rate is displayed in liters per minute (L/min).
Example Calculation:
Let's say you have a pipe with an inner diameter of 75 mm and the fluid is flowing at an average velocity of 1.5 m/s.
- Convert diameter to meters: 75 mm = 0.075 m
- Calculate radius: 0.075 m / 2 = 0.0375 m
- Calculate cross-sectional area: A = π × (0.0375 m)² ≈ 0.004418 m²
- Calculate flow rate in m³/s: Q = 0.004418 m² × 1.5 m/s ≈ 0.006627 m³/s
- Convert to L/min: 0.006627 m³/s × 1000 L/m³ × 60 s/min ≈ 397.6 L/min
Therefore, the flow rate for this pipe would be approximately 397.6 L/min.
function calculateFlowRate() {
var pipeDiameterInput = document.getElementById("pipeDiameter");
var flowVelocityInput = document.getElementById("flowVelocity");
var flowRateResultSpan = document.getElementById("flowRateResult");
var pipeDiameter = parseFloat(pipeDiameterInput.value);
var flowVelocity = parseFloat(flowVelocityInput.value);
if (isNaN(pipeDiameter) || isNaN(flowVelocity) || pipeDiameter <= 0 || flowVelocity < 0) {
flowRateResultSpan.textContent = "Invalid input. Please enter positive numbers.";
return;
}
// Convert diameter from mm to meters
var pipeDiameterMeters = pipeDiameter / 1000;
// Calculate the radius in meters
var pipeRadiusMeters = pipeDiameterMeters / 2;
// Calculate the cross-sectional area in square meters
var pipeAreaSqMeters = Math.PI * Math.pow(pipeRadiusMeters, 2);
// Calculate flow rate in cubic meters per second (m³/s)
var flowRateCubicMetersPerSec = pipeAreaSqMeters * flowVelocity;
// Convert flow rate from m³/s to Liters per minute (L/min)
// 1 m³ = 1000 Liters
// 1 minute = 60 seconds
var flowRateLitersPerMin = flowRateCubicMetersPerSec * 1000 * 60;
flowRateResultSpan.textContent = flowRateLitersPerMin.toFixed(2);
}
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