Calculation of Flow Rate in Pipe

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Understanding Flow Rate in Pipes

Flow rate 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 is crucial in various engineering applications, from water supply systems and industrial processes to blood circulation. Understanding flow rate helps in designing efficient pipelines, managing fluid distribution, and ensuring operational safety.

The calculation of flow rate often depends on the fluid's velocity and the pipe's cross-sectional area. The most common formula used is:

Flow Rate (Q) = Area (A) × Velocity (v)

Where:

  • Q is the flow rate, typically measured in cubic meters per second (m³/s) or liters per minute (L/min).
  • A is the cross-sectional area of the pipe, measured in square meters (m²) or square centimeters (cm²). For a circular pipe, the area is calculated using the formula A = πr², where 'r' is the radius of the pipe.
  • v is the average velocity of the fluid, measured in meters per second (m/s) or centimeters per second (cm/s).

In some cases, you might have the pipe's diameter instead of its radius. The formula for the area then becomes A = π(d/2)², where 'd' is the diameter.

This calculator will help you determine the flow rate given the pipe's inner diameter and the fluid's average velocity. We'll provide the result in both cubic meters per second (m³/s) and liters per minute (L/min) for convenience.

Pipe Flow Rate Calculator

function calculateFlowRate() { var diameter = parseFloat(document.getElementById("pipeDiameter").value); var velocity = parseFloat(document.getElementById("fluidVelocity").value); var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result"); resultDiv.innerHTML = ""; // Clear previous results if (isNaN(diameter) || diameter <= 0) { resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid positive number for Pipe Inner Diameter."; return; } if (isNaN(velocity) || velocity < 0) { resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid non-negative number for Fluid Average Velocity."; return; } // Calculate radius from diameter var radius = diameter / 2; // Calculate cross-sectional area in square meters var area_m2 = Math.PI * Math.pow(radius, 2); // Calculate flow rate in cubic meters per second (m³/s) var flowRate_m3ps = area_m2 * velocity; // Convert flow rate to liters per minute (L/min) // 1 m³ = 1000 liters // 1 minute = 60 seconds var flowRate_lpm = flowRate_m3ps * 1000 * 60; resultDiv.innerHTML = "

Results:

" + "Cross-sectional Area: " + area_m2.toFixed(6) + " m²" + "Flow Rate (Q): " + flowRate_m3ps.toFixed(6) + " m³/s" + "Flow Rate (Q): " + flowRate_lpm.toFixed(2) + " L/min"; } .calculator-wrapper { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 20px; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; overflow: hidden; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; } .article-content { flex: 1; min-width: 300px; padding: 20px; background-color: #f9f9f9; border-right: 1px solid #ddd; } .calculator-form { flex: 1; min-width: 300px; padding: 20px; background-color: #fff; } .calculator-form label { display: block; margin-bottom: 8px; font-weight: bold; } .calculator-form input[type="number"] { width: calc(100% – 20px); padding: 10px; margin-bottom: 15px; border: 1px solid #ccc; border-radius: 4px; box-sizing: border-box; } .calculator-form button { background-color: #4CAF50; color: white; padding: 12px 20px; border: none; border-radius: 4px; cursor: pointer; font-size: 16px; width: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; } .calculator-form button:hover { background-color: #45a049; } #result { margin-top: 20px; padding: 15px; border: 1px dashed #eee; background-color: #fefefe; border-radius: 4px; } #result h4 { margin-top: 0; color: #333; }

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