Pump Formulas — Imperial and SI Units

Pressure to Head
Imperial Units SI Units

H = head, ft H = head, m
P = pressure, psi P = pressure, bar
SG = specific gravity SG = specific gravity

Mass Flow to Volumetric Flow

Imperial Units SI Units

3
Q = flow, gpm Q = flow, m /h
ṁ = mass flow, lbm/h ṁ = mass flow, kg/h
3
SG = specific gravity ρ = fluid density, kg/m
3
ρ = fluid density, lbm/ft

Net Positive Suction Head

In terms of head
Imperial Units SI Units

NPSH = net positive suction head at reference point
(usually center line of the impeller), ft
Ha = absolute pressure of the suction vessel, ft
Hvpa = fluid vapor pressure at pumping temperature, ft
Hst = static head to suction reference point (usually center
line of the impeller), ft
Hfs = suction line losses, ft
NPSH = net positive suction head at reference point
(usually center line of the impeller), m
Ha = absolute pressure of the suction vessel, m
Hvpa = fluid vapor pressure at pumping temperature, m
Hst = static head to suction reference line (usually center
point of the impeller), m
Hfs = suction line losses, m

1
In terms of pressure and head
Imperial Units SI Units

NPSH = net positive suction head at reference point
(usually center line of the impeller), ft
Pa = absolute pressure of the suction vessel, psia
Pvpa = fluid vapor pressure at pumping temperature, psia
Hst = static head at reference point (usually center line of
the impeller), ft
Hfs = suction line losses, ft
SG = specific gravity
NPSH = net positive suction head at reference point
(usually center line of the impeller), m
Pa = absolute pressure of the suction vessel, kPa
Pvpa = fluid vapor pressure at pumping temperature, kPa
absolute
Hst = static head to suction reference line (usually center
point of the impeller), m
Hfs = suction line losses, m
3
ρ = fluid density, kg/m
2
g = gravitational constant, 9.81 m/s

Pump Head
Imperial Units SI Units

H = pump head, ft H = pump head, m

Hf = friction loss, ft Hf = friction loss, m
PS = suction pressure, psia PS = suction pressure, bar
Pd = discharge pressure, psia Pd = discharge pressure, bar
SG = specific gravity SG = specific gravity
Vs = suction velocity, ft/s Vs = suction velocity, m/s
Vd = discharge velocity, ft/s Vd = discharge velocity, m/s
Zs = suction height from reference, ft Zs = suction height from reference, m
Zd = discharge head from reference, ft Zd = Discharge head from reference, m
2 2
g = gravitational constant, 32.2 ft/s g = gravitational constant, 9.81 m/s

2
Pump Power
Imperial Units SI Units

P = power, horse power P = power, kW

H = head, ft H = head, m
3
Q = flow, gpm Q = flow, m /hr
SG = specific gravity SG = specific gravity
= pump efficiency, decimal = pump efficiency, decimal

Pump Torque
Imperial Units SI Units

τ = torque, ft-lbf τ = torque, N-m

P = pump power, hp P = pump power, kW
N = pump speed, rpm N = pump speed, rpm

Temperature Rise
Imperial Units SI Units

ΔT = temperature rise, °F ΔT = temperature rise, °C or °K

H = total head, ft H = total head, m
η = pump efficiency, decimal η = pump efficiency, decimal
U = fluid specific heat, BTU/(lbm-°F) U = fluid specific heat, kJ/(kg-°K) or kJ/(kg-°C)

3
Fluid Velocity
Imperial Units SI Units

V = velocity, ft/s V = velocity, m/s

3
Q = flow, gpm Q = flow, m /h
d = pipe inside diameter, in d = pipe inside diameter, mm

Velocity Head
Imperial Units SI Units

Hv = velocity head, ft of liquid Hv = velocity head, m

V = fluid velocity, ft/s V = fluid velocity, m/s
2 2
g = gravitational constant, 32.2 ft/s g = gravitational constant, 9.81 m/s
3
Q = flow, gpm Q = flow, m /h
d = pipe inside diameter, in d = pipe inside diameter, mm

Specific Speed at BEP

Imperial Units SI Units

Ns = specific speed Ns = specific speed

N = pump speed, rpm N = pump speed, rpm
3
Q = flow, gpm Q = flow, m /h
H = head, ft H = head, m
Values are taken at best efficiency point (BEP) Values are taken at best efficiency point (BEP)
Pump flow is taken at the largest impeller diameter Pump flow is taken at the largest impeller diameter
For double suction impellers pump flow is divided by two For double suction impellers pump flow is divided by two

4
Suction Specific Speed at BEP
Imperial Units SI Units

Ns = specific speed Ns = specific speed

N = pump speed, rpm
Q = flow, gpm
NPSH = net positive suction head, ft
Values are taken at best efficiency point (BEP)
Pump flow is taken at the largest impeller diameter
For double suction impellers pump flow is divided by two
N = pump speed, rpm
3
Q = flow, m /h
NPSH = net positive suction head, m
Values are taken at best efficiency point (BEP)
Pump flow is taken at the largest impeller diameter
For double suction impellers pump flow is divided by two

5
Other Pump Formulas
Affinity Laws
Changes in Diameter Changes in Speed

3
D = diameter, in or mm Q = flow, gpm or m /h
3
Q = flow, gpm or m /h H = head, ft or m
H = head, ft or m P = power, hp or kW
P = power, hp or kW N = speed, rpm

Bernoulli’s Equation
g = gravitational constant
L = energy losses
PS = suction pressure
Pd = discharge pressure
Vs = suction velocity
Vd = discharge velocity
W = work by the pump
Zs = suction height from reference
Zd = discharge head from reference
ρ = fluid density
γ = fluid specific weight = g*ρ

6
Tables
Conversion Factors
Imperial Conversions
From To Multiply By1
barrel (oil) – bbl gallon – US gal 42
barrel (oil) – bbl cubic meter – m3 0.159 0
British thermal unit – Btu Joule – J 1 055
British thermal unit per hour – Btu/h Watt – W 0.293 1
cubic feet – ft3 cubic meter – m3 0.028 32
3
cubic feet per minute – ft /min or cfm cubic meters per hour – m3/h 1.699
feet – ft meter – m 0.304 8
foot pounds force – ft-lbf Joule – J 1.356
gallon (US) – US gal cubic meter – m3 0.003 785
gallon (US) – US gal liter – l 3.785
gallon (US) – US gal gallon (Imperial) – Imp gal 0.832 7
gallon (US) per minute – gpm cubic meter per hour – m3/h 0.227 1
gallon (US) per minute – gpm barrel (oil) per day – b/d 34.28
horsepower – hp kilowatt – kW 0.745 7
horsepower hour – hp-h kilojoule – kJ 2 684
horsepower hour – hp-h British thermal unit per hour – Btu 2 545
inch – in millimeter – mm 25.4
inch of mercury at 0°F – inHg kilopascal – kPa 3.386
inch of water at 68°F – inH2O kilopascal – kPa 0.248 7
mile kilometer – km 1.609
pound force – lbf Newton – N 4.448
pound mass – lbm kilogram – kg 0.453 6
pound force per square inch – psi kilopascal – kPa 6.895
pound force per square inch – psi bar 0.068 95
ton (long) ton (short) 1.12
ton (short) kilogram – kg 907.2
yard – yd meter – m 0.914 4
Note
1. Conversions less than four significant digits are exact.

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 SI Conversions
From To Multiply By
bar kilopascal – kPa 100
bar pounds force per square inch – psi 14.50
cubic meter – m3 gallons – US gal 264.2
cubic meter – m3 cubic feet – ft3 35.31
cubic meter per hour – m3/hr gallons per minute – gpm 4.403
cubic meter per hour – m3/hr barrel per day – b/d 337.3
kilograms – kg pounds mass – lbm 2.205
kilogram per square centimeter – kg/cm2 Bar 0.980 7
kilogram per square centimeter – kg/cm2 pounds force per square inch – psi 14.22
kilometer – km mile 0.621 4
kilopascal – kPa pounds force per square inch – psi 0.145 0
kilowatt – kW horsepower – hp 1.341
kilowatt hour – kW-h British thermal units per hour – Btu 3.413
kilowatt hours – kW-h Kilojoule – kJ 3 600
meter – m feet – ft 3.281
Newton – N pound force – lbf 0.224 8

SI Prefixes
Power of Ten Name Symbol
1012 tera T
109 giga G
106 mega M
103 kilo k
10 deca da
10-1 deci d
10-2 centi c
10-3 milli m
10-6 micro μ
10-9 nano n
10-12 pico p

8
Symbols and Nomenclature
Symbol Definition Imperial Units SI Units
A Area ft2 m2
D, d Diameter inches mm
g Gravitational constant 32.2 ft/s2 9.81 m/s2
H Head ft m
h Time hour hour
ṁ Mass flow rate lbm/h kg/h
N Speed rpm rpm
Ns Specific speed Dimensionless Dimensionless
Nss Suction specific speed Dimensionless Dimensionless
P Power horsepower kW
P Pressure psi kPa or bar
Q Flow gpm m3/h
s Time seconds seconds
U Specific heat btu/lbm-°F kJ/kg-°C
V Velocity ft/s m/s
W Work ft m
Z Elevation ft m
NPSH Net positive suction head ft m
SG Specific gravity Dimensionless Dimensionless
η Efficiency Dimensionless Dimensionless
ρ Density lbm/ft3 Kg/m3
τ Torque ft-lbf N-m
ΔT Temperature change °F °C
γ Specific weight lbf/ft3 kN/m3