Home
Back
Flow Rate Equation:
| From: | To: |
Flow rate through a pipe represents the volume of fluid passing through a cross-section per unit time. It is a fundamental concept in fluid dynamics and hydraulic engineering, essential for designing piping systems and understanding fluid behavior.
The calculator uses the continuity equation:
Where:
Explanation: The equation demonstrates that flow rate equals the product of cross-sectional area and fluid velocity, based on the principle of continuity in fluid dynamics.
Details: Accurate flow rate calculation is crucial for designing efficient piping systems, determining pump requirements, ensuring proper fluid transport, and optimizing industrial processes involving fluid flow.
Tips: Enter cross-sectional area in square meters (m²) and velocity in meters per second (m/s). Both values must be positive numbers. For circular pipes, area can be calculated using \( A = \pi r^2 \) where r is the radius.
Q1: What units should I use for the calculation?
A: Use consistent SI units: area in m², velocity in m/s, resulting in flow rate in m³/s. For imperial units, use ft² and ft/s to get ft³/s.
Q2: How do I calculate cross-sectional area for different pipe shapes?
A: For circular pipes: \( A = \pi r^2 \). For rectangular ducts: \( A = width \times height \). For annular sections: \( A = \pi (R^2 - r^2) \).
Q3: Does this equation work for all fluids?
A: Yes, the continuity equation applies to all incompressible fluids. For compressible fluids, additional factors like density changes must be considered.
Q4: What is the relationship between flow rate and pipe diameter?
A: Flow rate is proportional to the square of the diameter for circular pipes, since area increases with diameter squared.
Q5: How does velocity affect flow rate?
A: Flow rate increases linearly with velocity when cross-sectional area remains constant. Higher velocity means more fluid passes through per unit time.