What is the difference between Nm3 and

Sm3?
Unfortunately neither Nm3 (normal cubic meter) or Sm3 (standard cubic meter) are complete
definitions in themselves. It is essential to know the standard reference conditions of temperature
and pressure to define the gas volume since there are various debates about what normal and
standard should be.

Most commonly used reference conditions are:

Normal cubic meter (Nm3) - Temperature: 0 °C, Pressure: 1.01325 barA
Standard cubic meter (Sm3) - Temperature: 15 °C, Pressure: 1.01325 barA

barA: absolute pressure

How do I calculate Nm3 and Sm3 and what is the conversion rate?

The volume of gases changes with temperature and pressure, therefore these parameters are also
part of the conversion equation.

The conversion from Sm3 to Nm3:

V1/V2 = (P2xT1) / (P1xT2)

V1/V2 = (288.16x1.013) / (273.16x1.013) = 1.05491287

Temperature is entered in K; 273.16 is absolute zero

Interpretation: 1Nm3 is 5,49% larger than Sm3, 1Nm3>1Sm3

Some of our competitors use 15°C and 981mBar as reference conditions for standard cubic
meter. The calculation is following:

V1/V2 = (288.16x1.013) / (273.16x0.981) = 1.08932389

Interpretation: 1Nm3 is 8,9% larger than Sm3. It also means the stated capacity of the generator
stated in Nm3/h is 8.9% larger than same capacity defined in Sm3/h.
Assumption: It is essential to consider these facts when projecting the gas generating system or
when actually making decision to purchase certain model because you might be actually buying
less than you actually think you are.
Gas Volume Conversion - Convert Gas volume from given condition to SCFM (Standard Cubic Feet per Minute @
14.7 PSIA, 60°F), ACFM (Actual Cubic Feet per Minute), MMSCFD (Million Standard Cubic Feet per Day @ 14.7
PSIA, 60°F), Nm3/h (Normal Cubic Meter per hour @ 1 Atm, 0°C), Sm3/h ( Standard Cubic Meter per hour @ 1 Atm,
15°C), ACMH (Actual Cubic Meter per hour) & ACMS (Actual Cubic Meter per second).

Convert

2.0
Gas Volume (V1) MMSCFD

MMSCFD
From

14.696
Pressure (P1) PSIA

60
Temperature (T1) °F

1.0
Compressibility Factor (Z1)

Sm3/h
To

1
Pressure (P2) Atm Abs

15
Temperature (T2) °C

1.0
Compressibility Factor (Z2)

Solution

Based on Gas Laws :

V2 = V1 * (P1/P2) * (T2/T1) * (Z2/Z1)

Converting to uniform units

V1 = 2359.737m3/h

P1 = 1.000Atm Abs

T1 = 288.706°K

T2 = 288.150°K

V2 = 2359.737*(1.000/1.000)*(288.150/288.706)*(1.000/1.000)

V2 = 2355.196Sm3/h
Calculation of NM3/hr and SM3/hr gas flow
Sample Problem Statement

What is the NM3/hr (normal cubic meter per hour) and SM3/hr (standard cubic meter per hour)
flowrate corresponding to 100m3/hr of nitrogen flowing through a pipe? Operating temperature
of nitrogen stream is 800C. Operating pressure at the point of flow measurement is 25 bar.

Normal temperature and pressure conditions to be used are –

T = 250C and P = Atmospheric pressure

Standard conditions defined by NIST to be used.

Solution

The calculation of normal and standard gas flowrates (NM3/hr and SM3/hr calculation), first
requires the normal and standard conditions to be fixed. Normal temperature and pressure
conditions are already defined in the problem statement and standard temperature and pressure
conditions defined by NIST are to be used.

Normal Temperature TN = 250C = 298.16 K

Normal Pressure PN = 101.3 kPa (atmospheric pressure)

From a list of standard temperature and pressure conditions defined by various organizations, the
standards conditions defined by NIST are noted as,

Standard Temperature TS = 00C = 273.16 K

Standard Pressure PS = 101.325 kPa

The operating conditions are,

Volumetric gas flow V = 100m3/hr
Gas temperature T = 800C = 353.16 K
Gas pressure P = 25 bar = 2500 kPa

Gas volume is directly proportional to temperature and inversely proportional to pressure.

Hence, gas flow at normal conditions is calculated as,

NM3/hr = V×(TN/T)×(P/ PN)
= 100×(298.16/353.16)×(2500/101.3)
Gas flow = 2083.57 NM3/hr

Gas flow at standard conditions is calculated as,

SM3/hr = V×(TS/T)×(P/ PS)
= 100×(273.16/353.16)×(2500/101.325)
Gas flow = 1908.4 SM3/hr
Can anybody explain to me how to convert 12000NM3/H to M3/H our plant gas press:16
to18 bar and temp:20c flow meter used for natural gas- methane. thanks

"Normal" meters cubed means the volume is measured at 0 °C, and 101.325 kPa (1.01325
bar). I can't tell if your pressure is absolute or gauge; I'm assuming absolute.

The Ideal gas law, PV = nRT relates pressure and volume, moles of gas, gas constant, and
absolute temperature. The simplest modification for the non-ideal case is to add a
compressibility factor, Z, essentially the departure from ideal. Z is a function of pressure
and temperature.

With that, PV = ZnRT. For the same moles of gas, at different conditions,
P1*V1/(Z1*T1) = P2*V2/(Z2*T2)

Solving for V1, V1 = V2*(Z1/Z2)*(P2/P1)*(T1/T2)

I don't know where to get good compressibility data. At normal, Z will be extremely close to
one, and not too different at 17 bar; if you have data use it. I've used 1, basically ignoring it

V1 = 12000 Nm³/h x 1.101325 bar/17 bar x 293.15 H/273.15 K = 767.6 m³/h at actual
pressure and temperature. Note that temperatures had to be converted to absolute. If you
have better compressibility at pressure/temperature, multiply by it.

In overly simplified terms, it is about 1/17 the volume because it is 17 times the pressure.
That ratio isn't quite true, and there is a small temperature effect, but that's the basics.
What is the difference between Nm3 and Sm3?

Unfortunately neither Nm3 (normal cubic meter) or Sm3 (standard cubic meter) are complete definitions in
themselves. It is essential to know the standard reference conditions of temperature and pressure to define the gas
volume since there are various debates about what normal and standard should be.

Most commonly used reference conditions are:

Normal cubic meter (Nm3) - Temperature: 0 °C, Pressure: 1.01325 barA
Standard cubic meter (Sm3) - Temperature: 15 °C, Pressure: 1.01325 barA

barA: absolute pressure

How do I calculate Nm3 and Sm3 and what is the conversion rate?

The volume of gases changes with temperature and pressure, therefore these parameters are also part of the
conversion equation.

The conversion from Sm3 to Nm3:

V1/V2 = (P2xT1) / (P1xT2)

V1/V2 = (288.16x1.013) / (273.16x1.013) = 1.05491287

Temperature is entered in K; 273.16 is absolute zero

Interpretation: 1Nm3 is 5,49% larger than Sm3, 1Nm3>1Sm3

Some of our competitors use 15°C and 981mBar as reference conditions for standard cubic meter. The calculation is
following:

V1/V2 = (288.16x1.013) / (273.16x0.981) = 1.08932389

Interpretation: 1Nm3 is 8.9% larger than Sm3. It also means the stated capacity of the generator stated in Nm3/h is
8.9% larger than same capacity defined in Sm3/h.
Assumption: It is essential to consider these facts when projecting the gas generating system or when actually
making decision to purchase certain model because you might be actually buying less than you actually think you
are.

Posted 30th August 2012 by Dr. Amar Nath Giri-NAGARJUNA-GROUP-NFCL