Our handy flow rate to velocity calculator is used to easily convert the rate at which a fluid moves through a system into the speed at which it travels.
- Q = 10 m³/s and A = 2 m²: V = Q / A = 10 / 2 = 5 m/s
- Q = 20 m³/s and A = 4 m²: V = Q / A = 20 / 4 = 5 m/s
- Q = 30 m³/s and A = 5 m²: V = Q / A = 30 / 5 = 6 m/s
Flow Rate to Velocity Calculator
| Volumetric Flow Rate (Q) | Cross-Sectional Area (A) | Velocity (V) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 m³/s | 1 m² | 5 m/s |
| 10 m³/s | 2 m² | 5 m/s |
| 15 m³/s | 3 m² | 5 m/s |
| 20 m³/s | 4 m² | 5 m/s |
| 25 m³/s | 5 m² | 5 m/s |
| 30 m³/s | 6 m² | 5 m/s |
| 35 m³/s | 7 m² | 5 m/s |
| 40 m³/s | 8 m² | 5 m/s |
| 50 m³/s | 10 m² | 5 m/s |
| 12.5 m³/s | 2.5 m² | 5 m/s |
| 18.75 m³/s | 3.75 m² | 5 m/s |
| 30 m³/s | 5.0 m² | 6.0 m/s |
| 45 m³/s | 9.0 m² | 5.0 m/s |
| 60 m³/s | 12.0 m² | 5.0 m/s |
Flow Rate to Velocity Conversion Formula
The equation for converting flow rate to velocity is:
V = Q / AWhere:
- V = Velocity (usually in meters per second or feet per second)
- Q = Volumetric flow rate (e.g., cubic meters per second or cubic feet per second)
- A = Cross-sectional area of the flow path (square meters or square feet)
For instance, if we have a flow rate of 0.5 m³/s through a circular pipe with a diameter of 0.2 m, we can calculate the velocity as follows:
Calculate the area: A = π * (0.2/2)² ≈ 0.0314 m²
Apply the formula: V = 0.5 / 0.0314 ≈ 15.92 m/s
How Do You Convert Flow Rate to Velocity?
Converting flow rate to velocity involves these steps:
Determine the flow rate (Q) in appropriate units.
Measure or calculate the cross-sectional area (A) of the flow path.
Divide the flow rate by the area to get the velocity.
Suppose we have an oil pipeline with a flow rate of 1000 barrels per hour and a diameter of 12 inches. To convert this to velocity:
- Convert flow rate to cubic feet per second: 1000 barrels/hour ≈ 1.31 ft³/s
- Calculate the pipe’s cross-sectional area: A = π * (1 ft / 2)² ≈ 0.785 ft²
- Apply the formula: V = 1.31 / 0.785 ≈ 1.67 ft/s
The oil flows at approximately 1.67 feet per second through the pipeline.
Are Flow Rate and Velocity the Same?
- Flow rate measures the volume of fluid passing a point in a given time (e.g., m³/s, L/min).
- Velocity measures the speed and direction of fluid movement (e.g., m/s, ft/s).
Consider two pipes with the same flow rate but different diameters:
- Pipe A: 100 L/min, 5 cm diameter
- Pipe B: 100 L/min, 10 cm diameter
Sources / References
- Engineering ToolBox – Flow Velocity
- NASA – Continuity Equation
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers – Fluid Mechanics
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