What is Flow rate: Definition and 494 Discussions

In physics and engineering, in particular fluid dynamics, the volumetric flow rate (also known as volume flow rate, rate of fluid flow, or volume velocity) is the volume of fluid which passes per unit time; usually it is represented by the symbol Q (sometimes V̇). The SI unit is cubic metres per second (m3/s). Another unit used is standard cubic centimetres per minute (SCCM).
In hydrometry, it is known as discharge.
In US customary units and imperial units, volumetric flow rate is often expressed as cubic feet per second (ft3/s) or gallons per minute (either US or imperial definitions).
Volumetric flow rate should not be confused with volumetric flux, as defined by Darcy's law and represented by the symbol q, with units of m3/(m2·s), that is, m·s−1. The integration of a flux over an area gives the volumetric flow rate.

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  1. X

    Is there a way to calculate gas flow rate from output PSI?

    I've noticed that certain propane torches will have a seemingly linear relationship between their PSI and BTU/hr. IE, 18 PSI -> 220,000 BTU/hr. From this a person could calculate how much gas is being burned per sec/minute/hr. So, is there a general relationship/formula that I can use to...
  2. B

    Under pressure -- flow rate through multiple holes in a pipe

    I am looking at air system that is under a constant pressure of 350 mbar into a pipe that has 40 - 2 mm round holes. Is there a formula that I can use to calculate the total volume of air nm3/hr that will escape the system? Let's just say the air temp is constant. Can anyone help with this?
  3. S

    Calculate Flow Rate From Pressure at Two Points?

    I am trying to find out what is the best method / correct formula to calculate Flow rate at inlet/outlet when pressure is known. Please see attached image. any help would be greatly appreciated. Note: Flow Rate can Vary from 100 sccm to 500 sccm.
  4. C

    Flow rate loss due to pressure loss

    If I'm losing 30 psi every 20 seconds at a pump, how many gallons am I losing in that time frame? I don't really have a lot of information to go on, which is frustrating. I know the diameter of the pipe is 8" and there's a total length of 500 feet of the pipe. With this info I'm having trouble...
  5. gfd43tg

    Heat flow rate with non-constant k through plane wall

    Homework Statement Consider a large plane wall with thickness L whose thermal conductivity varies in a specified temperature range as k(T) = k_{0}(1 + \beta T) where ##k_{0}## and ##\beta## are two specified constants. The wall surface at ##x=0## is maintained at a constant temperature of...
  6. S

    Vasoconstriction (constricting blood vessel) and flow rate?

    I was wondering why when the blood vessels constricted the speed of the blood decreased? I thought that since the flow rate has to be the same, the volume of blood that reaches a smaller area from a bigger area will increase in speed and hence decrease in pressure? Perhaps is this due to the...
  7. C

    How to find the volumetric flow rate?

    With a given 2kW pump That pumps a liquid with a density of 820kg/m³ from one tank to another that's 30m higher. With a calculated change in pressure to be 241.3kpa. Find the volumetric flow rate. I feel like there are not enough given variables for this problem. What do you think?
  8. T

    Volumetric flow rate through a pipe vented to atmosphere

    My chemical engineering is a little rusty after 25 years and I could use a little help with this real world problem. This isn't my project but I've been asked to advise. Sorry for the limited information. We have a 30 gallon tank with 75% hydrogen/25% nitrogen mixture at 100 psig. From the...
  9. G

    Flow rate in a gravity fed water pipeline

    Hi everyone, First post here. Was hoping for some help from a pipeline guru. I am looking into the maximum flow for a pipeline from a reservoir to an outlet about 40m lower. The way I have been looking at it is what is elevation head of the reservoir surface and that is effectively the...
  10. N

    Does pressure have anything to do with flow rate?

    Homework Statement For example, let's say we have a container and then we have a hole in the side of the container. Water that is in the container will have a greater flow speed at the hole of the container than let's say at the top of the container, Point A. (point A is subject to...
  11. P

    Calculate Flow Rate: Find Water Velocity & Qty Collected

    Homework Statement I am trying to calculate the flow rate of the following setup. A bottle with water (density = 1000 kg/m^3) is on a lab stand, and has rubber tubing at the end of the bottle coming down to the benchtop. The top of the water is 17 inches above the benchtop. You insert a...
  12. S

    Compressed gas flow rate calculation

    Folks, I'm new to this thread. I'm a mechanical engineer, but I haven't done much fluids work since I graduated, 20 years ago. I have a question about calculating gas flow rate, so any help would be greatly appreciated. I have a design that I'm working on that will use a compressed gas...
  13. N

    Calculating Flow Rate: Pressure Source to Converging Nozzle

    Hey everyone, sorry I posted this in two different forums. I think this forum was more applicable so I wanted to move it. I have a fluid system of water coming from a pressure source. Then there is a converging nozzle, which I have calculated the resistance coefficient using Crane's Manual...
  14. N

    Calculating Flow Rate in a Converging Nozzle System

    Hey everyone, I have a fluid system of water coming from a pressure source. Then there is a converging nozzle, which I have calculated the resistance coefficient using Crane's Manual and it has an outlet to the atmosphere. I have tried to simplify the system. The full system is a pressure...
  15. steves1080

    Calculate flow rate in parallel pipes

    So I have a 30" pipe that splits into 3 parallel paths, each 24" in dia. The pipes converge into a 30" outlet and then flows at about 40,000 gallons per minute at full head pressure. Assuming the same head pressure and one path closed off (i.e. now only flowing through 2 parallel paths), how...
  16. davidbenari

    Flow rate is calculated using only the parallel velocity

    So flow rate is calculated using only the parallel velocity to the area vector. Why is this? How can I mathematically prove this? Namely, how do I prove any perpendicular component of the velocity vector is not contributing to any volume output? I know this is the result of the dot product; I...
  17. J

    Compressed air flow rate from pipe to container

    Hello All,I was given a problem today that I could use some guidance on. I have a compressed air pipe flowing into a container. This container has a pressure of 5 psi while the pipe has a pressure of 90 psi. There is a valve that controls when the air is released into the vessel and only...
  18. R

    What is the flow rate through a capillary tube?

    Hi, I was wondering if there was an equation for the flow rate through a straight vertical or angled capillary tube. All I can find is how to calculate the height it rises but I would like to know how to find the rate it rises. I imagine it is not a steady rate since it must stop once it...
  19. W

    Low volumetric flow rate measurement

    Hi everyone, I'm currently a mechanical engineer interning at an HVAC company. I need to measure the resistance of a fluid through ductwork. The CFD shows a linear curve through a plenum when plotting R vs volumetric flow rate. For example, a straight rectangular box 1 1/16” by 2.5” and 3ft...
  20. L

    How Does Valve Opening Affect Flow Rate from a Pressurized Tank?

    Hello, Im a student and I try to design a valve connected to a tank. However I have some troubles to define the phenomena. I have a pressurized tank with air at 100 bar and I would like to know the evolution of the flow rate through the opened valve. The valve outlet is at the atmospheric...
  21. S

    Bernoulli's principle, flow rate, velocity and pressure

    Hello, I need some help understanding Bernoulli's principle, flow rate, velocity and pressure. I understand that when the diameter of a pipe decreases, the velocity will increase and the pressure will decrease. But I am having a hard time applying this to a practical application. For...
  22. B

    How Do You Calculate the Flow Rate from a Rectangular Opening in a Tank?

    Homework Statement A rectangular opening is cut into the side of a large open-topped water tank. The opening has width W and height H2 - H1, where H1 is the distance from the top of the tank to the top of the opening, and H2 is the distance from the top of the tank to the bottom of the...
  23. C

    Does covering half of a hose affect the flow rate of water from an open tank?

    Let's say that you have an open tank of water and a hose connected to the bottom of it. Water is flowing out of the hose. You then cover half of the hose with your thumb. Will the flow rate (liters/second) right before you cover the hole be the same, less, or greater than right after you cover...
  24. gfd43tg

    Vent line pressure and mass flow rate

    Homework Statement 1. An emergency vent line from a reactor is 55 feet long and has an inside diameter of 4.026 inches. The surface roughness of the pipe is 0.0012 inches. The line discharges hydrogen to the atmosphere (P = 14.7 psia) a) If the mass flow rate of hydrogen is 95 lb / minute...
  25. M

    Gas Flow Rate Calculation using Pressure Drop

    Homework Statement Hi everyone, I'm trying to calculate the flow rate of air in straight tubing that is 30cm long and has a diameter of .1875 in and has an outlet into a 100 mL vial which is vented to the atmosphere. The starting of the system pressure is 20 psi and the ending psi is 14.6...
  26. A

    Help with measure air flow rate with pressure difference in a cylinder

    Hi, I've got a horizontally moving piston in a pneumatic cylinder, the piston is moving backward to suck the air into the cylinder from a hole at one end, this will lead to an air flow rate. I would like to measure the air flow rate at that instant. I was thinking of with a pressure sensor...
  27. Q

    How do you calculate the mass flow rate, volume flow rate and velocity

    How do you calculate the mass flow rate, volume flow rate and velocity of a 6 bar compressed air supply through a 2mm tube? This is all the information I have been given. Is there any theory that could help me here? I can't seem to find much on the internet, so I have no clue where to begin...
  28. M

    Calculating Gas Stream Flow Rate from Condenser

    Homework Statement A gas stream contains 18.0 mole % hexane and the remainder nitrogen. The stream flows to a condenser, where its temperature is reduced and some of the hexane is liquefied. The hexane mole fraction in the gas stream leaving the condenser is 0.05. Liquid hexane condensate is...
  29. M

    Water jacketed reactor flow rate

    1. Homework Statement [/b] (135) 1. Liquid hydrazine (N2H4) is injected into a jet combustion chamber at 400 K and burned with 100 % excess air that enters at 700 K. The combustion chamber is jacketed with water. The combustion products leave the jet exhaust at 900 K. In the test, 50 kmol of...
  30. P

    How Does Stopping Water Flow Impact Balance Readings?

    Homework Statement Water from a faucet flows into a glass on a balance. The balance reacts quickly and the reading is increasing steadily. If the water flow is stopped suddently, how will the balance reading change compared to a reading just before the stop? Will the balance reading increase...
  31. S

    From actual flow rate to normal flow rate

    Hi all, I have developed a simscape model of a pressure regulator valve and I derive valve parameters from the valve datasheet. From the datasheet I get the following valve flow characteristic: http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/150x100q90/c/707/3emx.jpg The flow rate is in normal...
  32. S

    Help with engine displacement volume, fuel flow rate and crank angle

    Homework Statement An automobile has a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder, homogeneously charged, direct injected, four-stroke diesel engine. The maximum power output of this naturally aspirated engine is 200 HP at 4000 rpm. By turbocharging, the intake pressure is boosted twice as that for the naturally...
  33. U

    Estimate the flow rate and speed of the water going into the turbine

    Homework Statement Run-of-the-river projects harness power from the natural flow and elevation drop of a river. In the Brandywine project, water is diverted from the river into a pipe (r=0.75 m) in which it flows down the hill, through the turbine, and returns to the river. The project at...
  34. M

    Pressure and flow rate relationship

    If I 8000 gpm flowing in a pipe, and know that pressure of the water is 55psig, will the pressure be 27.5psig if the flow rate through the same pipe drops to 4000gpm.
  35. S

    Flow rate vs pressure relationship in a hydraulic cylinder

    Hi all, I need to model an hydraulic cylinder with simulink and to control it according to some rules. What I don't understand is to find a relationship between the flow rate and pressure inside it. Any suggestion is appreciated. Thanks
  36. S

    Heat Transfer Coefficient to Air Flow Rate

    Hey all, I'm trying to simulate a simple chip-heatsink situation in SolidWorks using their thermal modeling suite. I have found an ideal set of parametric values for the chip to work at a reasonable temperature, but I need to figure out what the convection coefficient means in terms of air flow...
  37. S

    What is the heat flow rate [ ]?

    "What is the heat flow rate [...]?" Homework Statement The problem is: "A copper tube (length, 3.0 m; inner diameter, 1.500 cm; outer diameter, 1.700 cm) extends across a 3.0-m long vat of rapidly circulating water maintained at 20 °C. Live steam at 100 °C passes through the tube. (a)...
  38. M

    Can vapor condensation cause significant drop in vapor flow rate?

    Need some help here! My plant just installed a water scrubber for controlling methanol emissions. Results obtained from stack tests have consistently shown the flow rate of the gasses from the scrubber outlet is about 30% of gas flow rate into the scrubber. From process knowledge, most of the...
  39. S

    Variation of heat transfer coefficeint with flow rate

    Hi all, Doing some calculations on an air-cooled heat exchanger at the moment and could use some help understanding the variation of air-side heat transfer coefficient (htc) with flow rate. It's more of an intuitive problem really as I'm okay with the math, etc. So I know that as you...
  40. mishima

    Gardening Project: Flow Rate from pressure requirement

    Hi, I have a small gardening project and am trying to decide what kind of pump I need in order to maintain 50 psi (344.7 kPa) inside the line. The line is a 0.170 inch inner diameter vinyl tube with mister nozzles every few inches, for a total of 2 feet. This is a volume of about 9 cm^3. I...
  41. C

    Calculating Mass Flow Rate of Nitrogen at 0.3m^3/s

    Homework Statement Work out the mass flow rate of Nitrogen traveling through a at 0.3m^3/s if the pressure is 1 bar and the temperature is 18°C and the ideal gas constant is 8314 J/Kg K Homework Equations m=ρ*V*A m = mass flow rate ρ= density V = velocity A = flow area PV =...
  42. K

    Max Flow Rate of HTA100H-304 Air Pump for Pipe Systems: 0.19 kg/s

    Hi all, i have to use an air pump to create a flow rate in a pipe system. My pump model is hta100h-304 which i have attach the spec below. From actual air delivery data(871.2lpm@10 kg/cm2G,762.3lpm@12kg/cm2G), i try to convert to mass flow rate unit and it is around 0.19 kg/s. Is this mean...
  43. N

    Chemistry Chemical Process Analysis - Mole Flow Rate

    Homework Statement 120 mol/min of Propane (C3H8) is burned in the presence of air (21% O2 and 79% N2) in a furnace, two reactions occur: Complete Combustion: 67%, propane is burned to CO2 and H2O Incomplete Combustion: 18%, propane is burned to CO and H2O Oxygen is supplied at 70%...
  44. D

    Evacuated Canister and Flow Rate

    Hello everyone, I am currently in a mechanical engineering program, and I am on my first co-op work term. I have been assigned to make modifications to a PVC collection device involving flow rates, but I have not yet taken any courses relative to flow. I was hoping I could get some help and some...
  45. A

    Flow rate distribution on multiple branch

    Let say I have a simple fan/duct system delivering air at standard conditions with one branch at inlet and one branch at discharge. The fan is operating in its stable region with known flow rate and system pressure. Now if I add a branch on the inlet side (not necessarily at the fan) to...
  46. J

    Measuring mass flow rate into engine

    I have a motorcycle engine on a test stand and I need a way to measure the mass flow rate into the engine. It is currently carburated. I had two ideas off the top of my head. 1) build a venturi, and measure the pressure drop to figure out the velocity and therefore the mass flow rate...
  47. C

    Water flow rate equation. HELP

    Hi, Me and 4 others are stumped on our HNC Electrical Project. We need an equation that calculates from the flow rate of water and diameter of a pipe, what amount of electrical power outage can be gotten by using a simple turbine connected to the pipe. Any sort of help would be greatly...
  48. Y

    Pressure regulator affect flow rate through pipe?

    Good day to all, was wondering how a pressure regulator doownstream will affect the flow rate of compressed air through a pipe. Anyone has any insights on this? the pressure regulator is to reduce the downstream pressure but I'm really confused how the flow will be affected. For instance, will...
  49. N

    Calculating Volumetric Flow Rate (Q) of Non-Water Liquids

    Hey, I was wondering how to calculate the volumetric flow rate (Q) of a liquid other than water through a hole at the bottom of a tank. I know that Q= V.A and 1/2.ρ.V^2 = ρ.g.h Where, V: Velocity of the liquid coming out of the hole A: Area of the hole h: Height of the...
  50. J

    How altitude effects gas flow rate or not?

    I am considering the effects on volumetric and mass flow rate for two conditions: Condition 1) 1013mBar, 21C (Air density as per) Condition 2) 700mBar (10,000ft) 21C (Air density as per) Setup: A variable flow restrictor is connected to a constant source of oxygen at 50 psig. The variable...
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