Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Pump Formulas - Imperial and SI Units: Pressure To Head
Pump Formulas - Imperial and SI Units: Pressure To Head
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
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
NPSH = net positive suction head at reference point NPSH = net positive suction head at reference point
(usually center line of the impeller), ft (usually center line of the impeller), m
Ha = absolute pressure of the suction vessel, ft Ha = absolute pressure of the suction vessel, m
Hvpa = fluid vapor pressure at pumping temperature, ft Hvpa = fluid vapor pressure at pumping temperature, m
Hst = static head to suction reference point (usually center Hst = static head to suction reference line (usually center
line of the impeller), ft point of the impeller), m
Hfs = suction line losses, ft Hfs = suction line losses, m
1
In terms of pressure and head
Imperial Units SI Units
NPSH = net positive suction head at reference point NPSH = net positive suction head at reference point
(usually center line of the impeller), ft (usually center line of the impeller), m
Pa = absolute pressure of the suction vessel, psia Pa = absolute pressure of the suction vessel, kPa
Pvpa = fluid vapor pressure at pumping temperature, psia Pvpa = fluid vapor pressure at pumping temperature, kPa
Hst = static head at reference point (usually center line of absolute
the impeller), ft Hst = static head to suction reference line (usually center
Hfs = suction line losses, ft point of the impeller), m
SG = specific gravity 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
2
Pump Power
Imperial Units SI Units
Pump Torque
Imperial Units SI Units
Temperature Rise
Imperial Units SI Units
3
Fluid Velocity
Imperial Units SI Units
Velocity Head
Imperial Units SI Units
4
Suction Specific Speed at BEP
Imperial Units SI Units
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.
7
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