Relationship between flow rate, flow velocity, and pipe diameter.


Choosing the Right Flow Meter: The Importance of Flow Rate, Flow Velocity, and Pipe Diameter

 

In order to choose the best flow meter, you have to evaluate flow rate, flow velocity, and pipe diameter data. But with only ⅔ of the necessary data you can still figure out the last ⅓ using the chart below. For example, if you know flow rate and pipe size, the chart can guide you to calculate the flow velocity.

 

  Relationship between flow rate, flow velocity, and pipe diameter.

 


    
    
        

            
            
LPM

            		
            Pipe size
            1/2 in. pipe
            3/4 in. pipe
            1 in. pipe
            1-1/4 in. pipe
            1-1/2 in. pipe
            2 in. pipe
            2-1/2 in. pipe
        

        

            Caliber (mm)
            16
            20
            25
            31
            40
            51
            68
        

        

            
            
flow velocity

            
(m/s)

            		
            0.1
            1.2
            1.9
            2.9
            4.5
            7.5
            12.3
             21.8
        

        

            0.15
            1.8
            2.8
            4.4
            6.8
            11.3
            18.4
             32.7
        

        

            0.2
            2.4
            3.8
            5.9
            9.1
            15.1
            24.5
             43.6
        

        

            0.3
            3.6
            5.7
            8.8
            13.6
            22.6
            36.8
             65.4
        

        

            0.5
            6.0
            9.4
            14.7
            22.6
            37.7
            61.3
             109.0
        

        

            1
            12.1
            18.8
            29.5
            45.3
            75.4
            122.6
             217.9
        

        

            2
            24.1
            37.7
            58.9
            90.6
            150.8
            245.1
             435.8
        

        

            3
            36.2
            56.5
            88.4
            135.9
            226.2
            367.7
             653.7
        

        

            4
            48.3
            75.4
            117.8
            181.1
            301.6
            490.3
             871.6
        

        

            5
            60.3
            94.2
            147.3
            226.4
            377.0
            612.8
             1089.5
        

        

            6
            72.4
            113.1
            176.7
            271.7
            452.4
            735.4
             1307.4
        

        

            7
            84.4
            131.9
            206.2
            317.0
            527.8
            858.0
            1525.3
        

        

            8
            96.5
            150.8
            235.6
            362.3
            603.2
            980.6
            1743.2
        

        

            9
            108.6
            169.6
            265.1
            407.6
            678.6
            1103.1
            1961.1
        

        

            10
            120.6
            188.5
            294.5
            452.9
            754.0
            1225.7
             2179.0
        

        

            15
            181.0
            282.7
            441.8
            679.3
            1131.0
            1838.5
             3268.5
        

        

            20
            241.3
            377.0
            589.0
            905.7
            1508.0
            2451.4
            4358.0

 


    
    
        

            
            
GPM

            		
            Pipe size
            1/2 in. pipe
            3/4 in. pipe
            1 in. pipe
            1-1/4 in. pipe
            1-1/2 in. pipe
            2 in. pipe
            2-1/2 in. pipe 
        

        

            Caliber (inch)
            0.622
            0.824
            1.049
            1.38
            1.61
            2.067
            2.677
        

        

            
            

            
flow velocity

            
(ft/s)

            

            		
            0.3
            0.28
            0.50
            0.81
            1.40
            1.90
            3.14
            5.26
        

        

            0.5
            0.47
            0.83
            1.35
            2.33
            3.17
            5.23
            8.77
        

        

            0.7
            0.66
            1.16
            1.89
            3.26
            4.44
            7.32
            12.28 
        

        

            1
            0.95
            1.66
            2.69
            4.66
            6.35
            10.46
            17.54
        

        

            2
            1.89
            3.32
            5.39
            9.32
            12.69
            20.92
            35.09
        

        

            3
            2.84
            4.99
            8.08
            13.99
            19.04
            31.38
            52.63
        

        

            5
            4.74
            8.31
            13.47
            23.31
            31.73
            52.30
            87.72
        

        

            7
            6.63
            11.63
            18.86
            32.63
            44.42
            73.21
            122.80
        

        

            10
            9.47
            16.62
            26.94
            46.62
            63.45
            104.59
            175.43
        

        

            13
            12.31
            21.61
            35.02
            60.61
            82.49
            135.97
            228.06
        

        

            17
            16.10
            28.26
            45.79
            79.25
            107.87
            177.80
            298.23
        

        

            20
            18.94
            33.24
            53.88
            93.24
            126.91
            209.18
             350.86 
        

        

            25
            23.68
            41.55
            67.34
            116.55
            158.64
            261.48
            438.58
        

        

            30
            28.41
            49.86
            80.81
            139.86
            190.36
            313.77
            526.29
        

        

            45
            42.62
            74.80
            121.22
            209.79
            285.55
            470.66
            789.44
        

        

            60
            56.83
            99.73
            161.63
            279.72
            380.73
            627.54
            1052.59

 

However, it is not uncommon for most users to not have all the data points necessary. LORRIC’s engineering team created this article to help users obtain all the right data points. Through formulas and explanations provided, users can learn how to calculate this data. As a result, users can use the relevant data to select the best flow meter.

First, we are going to introduce the formulas.

∙ Relationship between flow rate (LPM), flow velocity (m/s), and pipe diameter.

With the below formula, we can understand the relationship between flow rate, flow velocity, and pipe diameter:

Flow rate = Pipe cross-sectional area X Flow velocity

Pipe cross-sectional area could be obtained by the following formula:

Pipe cross-sectional area ＝ ID² / 4 Ｘπ (ID stands for pipe inner diameter, π stands for Pi which is 3.14)

 

Pipe cross-sectional area

 

Speaking of flow velocity, flow velocity is the speed of fluid flow, which is the distance the fluid moves in a unit time duration.

 

Speaking of flow velocity, flow velocity is the speed of fluid flow, which is the distance the fluid moves in a unit time duration.

 

∙ Here are the applicable flow velocity ranges of 3 different flow meters. Each flow meter uses a different theory of measurement:

 

➤ Variable area flow meters：0.05~3.5 m/s

 

➤ Paddle wheel flow meters of other brands：0.3~10 m/s

 

➤ LORRIC AxleSense paddle wheel flow meters：0.15~10 m/s

 

➤ Ultrasonic flow meters：0.1~20 m/s

 

 

∙ Below is an example to explain the formula to calculate the flow rate.

 

How much is the flow rate when the fluid flows in a 2” pipe within 1 m/s flow velocity?

The inner diameter of a 2” pipe is 51mm. Flow velocity is 1 m/s. The below formula shows the way to obtain flow rate with these 2 data points.

0.051² / 4Ｘ3.1415Ｘ1= 0.0020427604 m³/s (1m³＝1000L, LPM stands for liters per minute.）

＝ 0.0020427604Ｘ1000Ｘ60 L/min(LPM)

＝ 122.565624 L/min(LPM)

 

∙ Pay attention to the following matters

 

1. Consistent Flow: Flow rate should be consistent throughout the pipe as long as there are no leaks or forks. Therefore, the flow meter should be installed where there is a stable flow stream locations.

2. At any given flow rate, flow velocity is inversely proportional to the t cross sectional area of the pipe. Smaller pipes will lead to higher flow speeds; larger pipes, will lead to slower flow speeds. Therefore, we do not suggest you use a small flow meter on a large pipe. It will be a waste of energy and the flow velocity will be too fast to measure the flow rate.

3. Even for the same pipe size, the inner diameter will be different between US and Japan standard pipe. DN is defined as the outer diameter of a standard pipe. ID could be estimated as the inner diameter of a standard pipe.

4. If necessary, make any metric or imperial conversions when calculating. For example, 1000ml= 1l；1mm= 0.001m.

 

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