Pipe Size Calculation

Nominal size [inches]
Outside diameter [inches]
Outside Wall thickness Wall thickness Weight [lb/ft] Weight [kg/m] diameter [mm] [inches] [mm]
1/8
0,405
10,3
0,068
1,73
0,24
0,37
1/4
0,540
13,7
0,088
2,24
0,42
0,84
1/2
0,840
21,3
0,109
2,77
0,85
1,27
3/4
1,050
26,7
0,113
2,87
1,13
1,69
1,315
33,4
0,133
3,38
1,68
2,50
1 1/4
1,660
42,2
0,140
3,56
2,27
3,39
1 1/2
1,900
48,3
0,145
3,68
2,72
4,05
2,375
60,3
0,154
3,91
3,65
5,44
2 1/2
2,875
73,0
0,203
5,16
5,79
8,63
3,500
88,9
0,216
5,49
7,58
11,29
3 1/2
4,000
101,6
0,226
5,74
9,11
13,57
4,500
114,3
0,237
6,02
10,79
16,07
5,563
141,3
0,258
6,55
14,62
21,77
6,625
168,3
0,280
7,11
18,97
28,26
8,625
219,1
0,322
8,18
28,55
42,55
10
10,750
273,0
0,365
9,27
40,48
60,31
12
12,750
323,8
0,406
10,31
53,52
79,73
14
14
355,6
0,375
11,13
54,57
94,55
16
16
406,4
0,500
12,70
82,77
123,30
18
18
457,0
0,562
14,27
104,67
155,80
20
20
508,0
0,594
15,09
123,11
183,42
24
24
610,0
0,688
17,48
171,29
255,41
32
32
813,0
0,688
17,48
230,08
34
SCH40 UPWARDS SCH20 DOWNWARDS
8,625
219,1
0,250
6,35
22,36
33,31
10
10,750
273,0
0,250
6,35
28,04
41,77
12
12,750
323,8
0,250
6,35
33,38
49,73
14
14,000
355,6
0,312
7,92
45,61
67,90
16
16,000
406,4
0,312
7,92
52,27
77,83
18
18,000
457,0
0,312
7,92
58,94
87,71
20
20,000
508,0
0,375
9,53
78,60
117,15
22
22,000
559,0
0,375
9,53
86,61
129,13
24
24,000
610,0
0,375
9,53
94,62
141,12
26
26,000
660,0
0,500
12,70
136,17
202,72
28
28,000
711,0
0,500
12,70
146,85
218,69
30
30,000
762,0
0,500
12,70
157,53
234,67
32
32,000
813,0
0,500
12,70
168,21
250,64
34
34,000
864,0
0,750
19,05
266,33
396,93
36
36,000
914,0
0,500
12,70
189,57
282,
This table is for flue gases. It gives values of some physical properties - density and viscosity in relation to the temperature of gases. It is for following chemical composition: carbon dioxide CO2 - 13% water vapour H2O - 11% nitrogen N2 - 76% Abbreviations: t - temperature - density cp - specific heat - dynamic viscosity - kinematic viscosity
cp
*106
*106
[O C]
[kg/m3]
[kJ/kgK]
[Pas]
[m2/s]
1.295
1.042
15.8
12.2
100
0.95
1.068
20.4
21.54
200
0.748
1.097
24.5
32.8
300
0.617
1.122
28.2
45.81
400
0.525
1.151
31.7
60.38
500
0.457
1.185
34.8
76.3
600
0.405
1.214
37.9
93.61
700
0.363
1.239
40.7
112.1
cp
*106
*106
[O C]
[kg/m3]
[kJ/kgK]
[Pas]
[m2/s]
800
0.33
1.264
43.4
131.8
900
0.301
1.29
45.9
152.5
1000
0.275
1.306
48.4
174.3
1100
0.257
1.323
50.7
197.1
1200
0.24
1.34
53
221
This table gives values of some dry air physical properties - density, specific heat and viscosity in relation to temperature and pressure. Abbreviations: t - temperature - density cp - specific heat - dynamic viscosity
ic viscosity
t [O C]
-50
50
100
150
200
300
400
[kg/m3]
1 bar
1.563
1.275
1.078
0.932
0.8226
0.7356
0.6072
0.517
50 bar
83.79
65.20
53.96
46.25
40.57
36.18
29.80
25.37
100 bar
175.6
131.4
107.1
91.13
79.66
70.92
58.37
49.71
200 bar
340.3
253.7
205.4
174.3
152.2
135.6
111.8
95.41
300 bar
449.3
350.8
288.6
246.7
216.4
193.4
160.3
137.4
cp [kJ/kgK]
1 bar
1.007
1.006
1.008
1.012
1.018
1.026
1.046
1.69
50 bar
1.212
1.112
1.085
1.075
1.055
1.049
1.061
1.08
t [O C]
-50
50
100
150
200
300
400
100 bar
1.43
1.216
1.133
1.096
1.078
1.072
1.075
1.09
200 bar
1.623
1.361
1.229
1.161
1.126
1.108
1.099
1.107
300 bar
1.604
1.409
1.282
1.204
1.16
1.135
1.117
1.12
*106[Pas]
1 bar
14.65
17.2
19.61
21.82
23.92
25.85
29.47
32.76
50 bar
16.7
19.42
20.57
22.59
24.4
26.4
29.9
33.1
100 bar
18.3
20.2
21.7
23.4
25.1
26.9
30.4
33.5
200 bar
22.8
23.6
24.4
25.6
26.8
28.5
31.5
34.7
t [O C]
-50
50
100
150
200
300
400
300 bar
28.7
27.8
27.5
28.1
28.8
30.1
33.1
36.1
This table gives values of water properties - density, viscosity and specific heat in relation to temperature. For temperatures higher than 100OC, values are for water at boiling conditions. t - temperature p - pressure - density cp - specific heat - dynamic viscosity - kinematic viscosity
cp
*106
*106
[O C]
[bar]
[kg/m3]
[kJ/kgK]
[Pas]
[m2/s]
1.013
999.9
4.212
1788
1.789
10
1.013
999.7
4.191
1306
1.306
20
1.013
998.2
4.183
1004
1.006
cp
*106
*106
[O C]
[bar]
[kg/m3]
[kJ/kgK]
[Pas]
[m2/s]
30
1.013
995.7
4.174
801.5
0.805
40
1.013
992.2
4.174
653.3
0.659
50
1.013
988.1
4.174
549.4
0.556
60
1.013
983.1
4.179
469.9
0.478
70
1.013
977.8
4.187
406.1
0.415
80
1.013
971.8
4.195
355.1
0.365
90
1.013
965.3
4.208
314.9
0.326
100
1.013
958.4
4.220
282.5
0.295
cp
*106
*106
[O C]
[bar]
[kg/m3]
[kJ/kgK]
[Pas]
[m2/s]
110
1.43
951.0
4.233
259.0
0.272
120
1.98
943.1
4.250
237.4
0.252
130
2.70
934.8
4.266
217.8
0.233
140
3.61
926.1
4.287
201.1
0.217
150
4.76
917.0
4.313
186.4
0.203
160
6.18
907.4
4.346
173.6
0.191
170
7.92
897.3
4.380
162.8
0.181
180
10.03
886.9
4.417
153.0
0.173
cp
*106
*106
[O C]
[bar]
[kg/m3]
[kJ/kgK]
[Pas]
[m2/s]
190
12.55
876.0
4.459
144.2
0.165
200
15.55
863.0
4.505
136.4
0.158
210
19.08
852.8
4.555
130.5
0.153
220
23.20
840.3
4.614
124.6
0.148
230
27.98
827.3
4.681
119.7
0.145
240
33.48
813.6
4.756
114.8
0.141
250
39.78
799.0
4.844
109.9
0.137
260
46.94
784.0
4.949
105.9
0.135
cp
*106
*106
[O C]
[bar]
[kg/m3]
[kJ/kgK]
[Pas]
[m2/s]
270
55.05
767.9
5.070
102.0
0.133
280
64.19
750.7
5.230
98.1
0.131
290
74.45
732.3
5.485
94.2
0.129
300
85.92
712.5
5.736
91.2
0.128
310
98.70
691.1
6.071
88.3
0.128
320
112.9
667.1
6.574
85.3
0.128
330
128.65
640.2
7.244
81.4
0.127
340
146.08
610.1
8.165
77.5
0.127
cp
*106
*106
[O C]
[bar]
[kg/m3]
[kJ/kgK]
[Pas]
[m2/s]
350
165.37
574.4
9.504
72.6
0.126
360
186.74
528.0
13.984
66.7
0.126
370
210.53
450.5
40.321
56.9
0.126
Fluid flow mean velocity and pipe diameter for known flow rate
Velocity of fluid in pipe is not uniform across section area. Therefore a mean velocity is used and it is calculated by the continuity equation for the steady flow as:
Pipe diameter calculator Calculate pipe diameter for known flow rate and velocity. Calculate flow velocity for known pipe diameter and flow rate. Convert from volumetric to mass flow rate. Calculate volumetric flow rate of ideal gas at different conditions of pressure and temperature. Pipe diameter can be calculated when volumetric flow rate and velocity is known as:
where is: D - internal pipe diameter; q - volumetric flow rate; v - velocity; A - pipe cross section area.
If mass flow rate is known than diameter can be calculated as:
where is: D - internal pipe diameter; w - mass flow rate; - fluid density; v - velocity.
Laminar and turbulent fluid flow regime in pipe, critical velocity

If the velocity of fluid inside the pipe is small, streamlines will be in straight parallel lines. As the velocity of fluid inside the pipe gradually increase, streamlines will continue to be straight and parallel with the pipe wall until velocity is reached when the streamlines will waver and suddenly break into diffused patterns. The velocity at which this occurs is called "critical velocity". At velocities higher than "critical", the streamlines are dispersed at random throughout the pipe. The regime of flow when velocity is lower than "critical" is called laminar flow (or viscous or streamline flow). At laminar regime of flow the velocity is highest on the pipe axis, and on the wall the velocity is equal to zero. When the velocity is greater than "critical", the regime of flow is turbulent. In turbulent regime of flow there is irregular random motion of fluid particles in directions transverse to the direction on main flow. Velocity change in turbulent flow is more uniform than in laminar. In the turbulent regime of flow, there is always a thin layer of fluid at pipe wall which is moving in laminar flow. That layer is known as the boundary layer or laminar sub-layer. To determine flow regime useReynolds number calculator.
Reynolds number, turbulent and laminar flow, pipe flow velocity and viscosity
The nature of flow in pipe, by the work of Osborne Reynolds, is depending on the pipe diameter, the density and viscosity of the flowing fluid and the velocity of the flow. Dimensionless Reynolds number is used, and is combination of these four variables and may be considered to be ratio of dynamic forces of mass flow to the shear stress due to viscosity. Reynolds number is:
where is: D - internal pipe diameter; v - velocity; - density; - kinematic viscosity; - dynamic viscosity; Reynolds number calculator Calculate Reynolds number with this easy to use calculator. Determine if flow is laminar or turbulent. Applicable for liquids and gases. This equation can be solved using and fluid flow regime calculator.
Flow in pipes is considered to be laminar if Reynolds number is less than 2320, and turbulent if the Reynolds number is greater than 4000. Between these two values is "critical" zone where the flow can be laminar or turbulent or in the process of change and is mainly unpredictable. When calculating Reynolds number for non-circular cross section equivalent diameter (four time hydraulic radius d=4xRh) is used and hydraulic radius can be calculated as: Rh = cross section flow area / wetted perimeter It applies to square, rectangular, oval or circular conduit when not flowing with full section. Because of great variety of fluids being handled in modern industrial processes, a single equation which can be used for the flow of any fluid in pipe offers big advantages. That equation is Darcy formula, but one factor - the friction factor has to be determined experimentally. This formula has a wide application in the field of fluid mechanics and is used extensively throughout on this web site.
Bernoulli equation - fluid flow head conservation

If friction losses are neglected and no energy is added to, or taken from a piping system, the total head, H, which is the sum of the elevation head, the pressure head and the velocity head will be constant for any point of fluid streamline. This is the expression of law of head conservation to the flow of fluid in a conduit or streamline and is known as Bernoulli equation:
where is: Z1,2 - elevation above reference level; p1,2 - absolute pressure; v1,2 - velocity; 1,2 - density; g acceleration of gravity Bernoulli equation equation is used in several calculators on this site like pressure drop and flow rate calculator, Venturi tube flow rate meter and Venturi effect calculator and orifice plate sizing and flow rate calculator.
Pipe flow and friction pressure drop, head energy loss | Darcy formula
From Bernoulli equation all other practical formulas are derived, with modifications due to energy losses and gains. As in real piping system, losses of energy are existing and energy is being added to or taken from the fluid (using pumps and turbines) these must be included in the Bernoulli equation. For two points of one streamline in a fluid flow, equation may be written as follows:
where is: Z1,2 - elevation above reference level; p1,2 - absolute pressure; v1,2 - velocity; 1,2 - density; hL head loss due to friction in the pipe; Hp - pump head; HT - turbine head; g - acceleration of gravity; Flow in pipe is always creating energy loss due to friction. Energy loss can be measured like static pressure drop in the direction of fluid flow with two gauges. General equation for pressure drop, known as Darcy's formula expressed in meters of fluid is:
where is: hL - head loss due to friction in the pipe; f - friction coefficient; L - pipe length; v - velocity; D internal pipe diameter; g - acceleration of gravity; To express this equation like pressure drop in newtons per square meter (Pascals) substitution of proper units leads to:
Pressure drop calculator Calculator based on Darcy equation. Calculate pressure drop for known flow rate or calculate flow rate for known pressure drop. Friction factor calculation included. Applicable for laminar and turbulent flow, circular or rectangle pipe. where is: p - pressure drop due to friction in the pipe; - density; f - friction coefficient; L - pipe length; vvelocity; D - internal pipe diameter; Q - volumetric flow rate; The Darcy equation can be used for both laminar and turbulent flow regime and for any liquid in a pipe. With some restrictions, Darcy equation can be used for gases and vapors. Darcy formula applies when pipe diameter and fluid density is constant and the pipe is relatively straight.
Friction factor for pipe roughness and Reynolds number in laminar and turbulent flow
Physical values in Darcy formula are very obvious and can be easily obtained when pipe properties are known like D - pipe internal diameter, L - pipe length and when flow rate is known, velocity can be easily calculated using continuity equation. The only value that needs to be determined experimentally is friction factor. For laminar flow regime Re < 2000, friction factor can be calculated, but for turbulent flow regime where is Re > 4000 experimentally obtained results are used. In the critical zone, where is Reynolds number between 2000 and 4000, both laminar and turbulent flow regime might occur, so friction factor is indeterminate and has lower limits for laminar flow, and upper limits based on turbulent flow conditions. If the flow is laminar and Reynolds number is smaller than 2000, the friction factor may be determined from the equation:
where is: f - friction factor; Re - Reynolds number; When flow is turbulent and Reynolds number is higher than 4000, the friction factor depends on pipe relative roughness as well as on the Reynolds number. Relative pipe roughness is the roughness of the pipe wall compared to pipe diameter e/D. Since the internal pipe roughness is actually independent of pipe diameter, pipes with smaller pipe diameter will have higher relative roughness than pipes with bigger diameter and therefore pipes with smaller diameters will have higher friction factors than pipes with bigger diameters of the same material. Most widely accepted and used data for friction factor in Darcy formula is the Moody diagram. On Moody diagram friction factor can be determined based on the value of Reynolds number and relative roughness. The pressure drop is the function of internal diameter with the fifth power. With time in service, the interior of the pipe becomes encrusted with dirt, scale, tubercles and it is often prudent to make allowance for expected diameter changes. Also roughness may be expected to increase with use due to corrosion or incrustation at a rate determined by the pipe material and nature of the fluid. When the thickness of laminar sub layer (laminar boundary layer ) is bigger than the pipe roughness e the flow is called flow in hydraulically smooth pipe and Blasius equation can be used:
where is: f - friction factor; Re - Reynolds number; The boundary layer thickness can be calculated based on the Prandtl equation as:
where is: - boundary layer thickness; D - internal pipe diameter; Re- Reynolds number; For turbulent flow with Re < 100 000 (Prandtl equation) can be used:
For turbulent flow with Re > 100 000 (Karman equation) can be used:
where is: f - friction factor; Re - Reynolds number; D - internal pipe diameter; kr - pipe roughness;
Above equations are used for pressure drop and flow rate calculator.
Static, dynamic and total pressure, flow velocity and Mach number
Static pressure is pressure of fluid in flow stream. Total pressure is pressure of fluid when it is brought to rest, i.e. velocity is reduced to 0. Total pressure can be calculated using Bernoulli theorem. Imagining that flow is in one point of stream line stopped without any energy loss Bernoulli theorem can be written as:
If velocity at point 2 v2=0, pressure at point 2 is than total p2=pt:
where is: p - pressure; pt - total pressure; v - velocity; - density; The difference between total and static pressure represents fluid kinetic energy and it is called dynamic pressure. Dynamic pressure for liquids and incompressible flow where the density is constant can be calculated as:
where is: p - pressure; pt - total pressure; pd - dynamic pressure; v - velocity; - density; If dynamic pressure is measured using instruments like Prandtl probe or Pitot tube velocity can be calculated in one point of stream line as:
where is: p - pressure; pt - total pressure; pd - dynamic pressure; v - velocity; - density; For gases and larger Mach numbers than 0.1 effects of compressibility are not negligible. For compressible flow calculation gas state equation can be used. For ideal gases, velocity for Mach number M < 1 is calculated using following equation:
where is: M - Mach number M=v/c - relation between local fluid and local sound velocity; - isentropic coefficient; It should be said that for M > 0.7 given equation is not totally accurate. If Mach number M > 1, than normal shock wave will occur. Equation for velocity in front of the wave is given bellow:
where is: p - pressure; pti - total pressure; v - velocity; M - Mach number; - isentropic coefficient; Above equations are used for Prandtl probe and Pitot tube flow velocity calculator. Note: You can download complete derivation of given equations
Fluid flow rate for the thermal - heat power transfer, boiler power and temperature
The flow rate of fluid required for the thermal energy - heat power transfer can be calculated as:
where is: q - flow rate [m3/h]; - density of fluid [kg/m3]; c - specific heat of fluid [kJ/kgK]; T - temperature difference [K]; P - power [kW]; Thermal energy calculator Calculate heat energy and thermal power for known flow rate. Calculate flow rate for known heat energy or thermal power. Applicable for boilers, heat exchangers, radiators, chillers, air heaters. This relation can be used to calculate required flow rate of, for example, water heated in the boiler, if the power of boiler is known. In that case temperature difference in above equation is the change of temperature of fluid in front and after the boiler. It should be said that efficiency coefficient should be included in above equation, for precise calculation.
Above expression is used and can be solved using calculator for thermal energy, heat power and flow rate calculation

Pipe Size Calculation

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Pipe Size Calculation

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Pipe Size Calculation

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Nominal size [inches]

Outside diameter [inches]

Nominal size [inches]

Outside diameter [inches]

Nominal size [inches]

Outside diameter [inches]

SCH40 UPWARDS SCH20 DOWNWARDS

Nominal size [inches]

Outside diameter [inches]

Nominal size [inches]

Outside diameter [inches]

Nominal size [inches]

Outside diameter [inches]

If mass flow rate is known than diameter can be calculated as:

Laminar and turbulent fluid flow regime in pipe, critical velocity

Bernoulli equation - fluid flow head conservation

If velocity at point 2 v2=0, pressure at point 2 is than total p2=pt:

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