GEMI Water Sustainability Tool Draft (9/21/05)

Horsepower Calculator
Inputs
100.00 ft
200.00 gpm
50.00
252.78
187.06

Head =
Flow Rate =
Specific Gravity =
HP =
KW =

Brake Horsepower Calculator

Inputs
5.00 HP
60.00%
8.33
6.17

HP =
Pump Efficiency =
Brake Horsepower =
Brake KW =

SI Calculator
Inputs
30.48 meters
L
12.60 /S
3.77
5.05

Pressure =
Flow Rate =
KW =
HP =
User Input
Calculated Result

Estimating Pump Hydraulic Horsepower

The horsepower of a pump can be determined once basic information is known about the pumping station.
Horsepower is the unit of power to define hydraulic or water horsepower. In System International System (SI) it is in
kilowatts (kw).
The hydraulic power is the next energy transferred to the water per unit time. The input power delivered by the motor
to the pump is called bare horsepower (bHp). The difference between the brake horsepower and hydraulic power is
the pump efficiency.

Hydraulic Horsepower and Kilowatt Equations

Hydraulic HP

Head (ft) x Flow Rate (gpm) x (specific gravity)

3956

Multiply HP by 0.746 to obtain kilowatts

Hydraulic Kilowatts

(9.81) x Head (meters) x Flow Rate (L/S) x (specific gravity)

1000

Multiply kilowatts by 1.341 to obtain horsepower

Brake Horsepower and Motor Efficiency

Hydraulic Power
Pump Efficiency
Once the hydraulic horsepower is known, the brake horsepower can be determined based on the pump efficiency. A
pump efficiency of 60% can be used as a conservative estimate for a basic calculation to provide a general
approximation.
Brake Horsepower

Many technical references are available that can provide guidance on the use of these equations and the user should
refer to these references.

Sample Horsepower Calculations

Question: Determine the estimated pump horsepower based on the 200 gpm flow rate and 100 ft discharge pressure
at the pump.
HP

Pump Discharge Pressure

Measured Flow Rate

=
=

Head (ft) x Flow Rate (gpm) x (specific gravity)

3956
100 ft
200 gpm

Calculate Horsepower

HP

HP

100 ft x 200 gpm x 1.0

3956
5

Calculate Brake Horsepower

Brake Horsepower

5
0.6
8.3

=
=

SI Units
Pump Discharge Pressure

Measured Flow Rate

30.48 meter
12.6 L/S

Kilowatts

9.81 x 30.48 m x 12.6 L/S x 1.0

Kilowatts

1000
3.76

Legend
/S

gpm
HP
KW
m/s
m3
m2
ft2
ft3

Liters per Second

Gallons per minute
Horespower
Kilowatt
Meters per Second
Cubic Meters
Square Meters
Square Feet
Cubic Feet

Flow Rate Calculator

Inputs
Velocity =
Cross Sectional Area =
Flow Rate =

5 ft/sec
0.196 ft2
440.02 gpm

SI Calculator
Velocity =
Cross Sectional Area =

Inputs
1.52 m/sec
0.018 m2
27.36 L/S

Flow Rate =
User Input
Calculated Result

GEMI Water Sustainability Tool Draft (9/21/05)

Fluid Flow Fundamentals

Water systems involve the movement of water from one point to another. Examples are transferring water from one process to
another or from one production facility or building to a packaging plant or final product shipping area.
Water usage is typically expressed as a volumetric flow rate (volume/time). If the water flowing though a cylindrical pipe is
represented by the shaded area shown below (perpendicular to flow direction) and the velocity of the water is known, then the
flow rate of the water can be determined through the pipe as gal/min or m 3/sec.
Cross Sectional Area

Flow Rate Equations

Flow rate (Q) = Area x velocity
The flow rates of process pipes are very important to know to complete water balances and usage and measuring volumetric
flow rates are easy using common flow meters. See "Types of Flow Meters" tab for various types of flow measurement
devices.
Sample Calculation: Determine the quantity of water flowing through a 6-inch diameter pipe that has a velocity of 5 ft/sec.
Flow rate (cfs)
=
Velocity (ft/sec) x Pipe Cross Sectional Area (ft2)
Flow rate (cfs)
=
5 ft/sec x .196 ft2
Flow rate (cfs)
Multiply
Flow (gpm)

0.98 ft3
sec
=

Multiply 0.028 m3/sec by 1000 to get L/S

By 449 to get gpm

0.98 x 449

440 gpm

=
=
=

Velocity (m/s) x Pipe Cross Sectional Area (m2)

1.52 m/s x .018 m2
.028 m3/sec

SI Units
Flow M3 / S
Flow M3 / S

0.98 ft3
sec

Flow L/S

0.028 x 1000

Flow L/S

28 L/S

Legend
/S

gpm
HP
KW
m/s
m3
m2
ft2
ft3

Liters per Second

Gallons per minute
Horespower
Kilowatt
Meters per Second
Cubic Meters
Square Meters
Square Feet
Cubic Feet

Friction Loss Calculator

Pipe Length =
Pipe Diameter =
Cross Sectional Area =
Flow Rate =
Pipe Velocity =
Friction Factor =
Friction Loss =

Inputs
1000.00
0.33
0.09
300
7.02
0.02
46.36

ft
ft
ft2
gpm
ft/sec

User Input
Calculated Result

Friction Loss/Flow Calculations

Several methods are available to determine the friction losses and estimated water flow rates in pipes. In this
section one of the most widely used formulas for friction loss, the Darcy-Weisback equation will be presented so
the user can have an understanding of the use of these formulas and the information they can provide.
The Darcy-Weisback formula is:
Friction Loss (hf)

L
d

=f
hf = Friction loss (ft)

V2
2g

f = Friction Loss Factor

L = Pipe length (ft)

v = Pipe velocity (ft/sec)
g=
32.2 lb m - ft
lb f - sec2

d = Pipe Diameter (ft)

(acceleration of gravity factor)

A simple method to estimate flowrate is the drum and stop watch method. Place a drum or container of
sufficient size (30 to 50 gallons) at the end of the pipe and estimate the time to fill the container with a stop
watch. This will provide a good method to determine the flowrate that can be used in these calculations if a
flowmeter is not available.

Sample Calculation
GEMI Water Sustainability Tool Draft (9/21/05)
Determine the friction loss of water pumped through 1,000 ft. of 4-inch diameter pipe at a 300 gpm flow rate.
Flowrate can be determined using a flowmeter or the drum and stop watch method.
The first step is to determine the velocity based on the pipes cross-sectional area.
Cross-sectional areas
=
x (pipe radius)2 Where = 3.14
Pipe diameter
=
4-inch
= .33 ft
Pipe radius
=
2-inch
Cross-sectional area
=
3.14 x (.16)
The second step is to determine the pipe velocity

= .16 ft
= .08 ft

Flow rate
Cross sectional area
Multiply the 300 gpm flow rate by .002 to convert to ft 3/sec
Pipe velocity (V)

300 gpm x .002

Calculate pipe velocity

Velocity ft/sec

Friction Loss (hf)

=f

0.60 ft3/sec
0.60

0.08
Velocity ft/sec
=
7.5 ft/sec
Using a .02 friction factor calculate the friction loss
L

V2

Friction Loss (hf)

=f

Friction loss (ft)

Velocity ft/sec

d
.02 x 1000 ft
.33 ft
52.9 ft

Legend
/S

gpm
HP
KW
m/s
m3
m2
ft2
ft3

Liters per Second

Gallons per minute
Horespower
Kilowatt
Meters per Second
Cubic Meters
Square Meters
Square Feet
Cubic Feet

x
x

2g
(7.5 ft/sec)
64.4

GEMI Water Sustainability Tool Draft (9/21/05)

Types of Flowmeters for Flow Measurement

There are many types of flowmeters available for flow measurement applications. This section provides the user with an
overview of the types of uses.
Flowmeter selection is based on location, (open pipe versus closed pipe), service (dirty water versus clean water) and
accuracy of the flow measurement. The following table summarizes the most common flowmeters on the market today.
Flowmeter Reference Guide
Flowmeter
Drum and Stop Watch
Weir

Application
Closed pipe or open channel

Service
Simple and inexpensive. Clean or dirty water

Open
channel
v-notch, Simple and inexpensive. Clean or dirty water
rectangular or cipolletti weirs

Flume

Open channel, Parshall, Palmer- Frequently used in sewers and wastewater treatment plants
Bowlus Flumes
dirty water

Orifice

Closed pipe, round flat metal disc Clean and dirty water
plate with specific hole size

Venture

Closed pipe. Section of pipe with Can be used with most liquids. Clean and dirty water. No
tampered entrance straight throat moving parts
and tampered exit

Positive Displacement

Closed pipe. Piston gear rotary or Clean water applications. Good for low flow measurement
disk type meters

Turbine

Closed pipe.
Flow passes a Clean and dirty water
shedder bar creating vortices

Magnetic

Closed pipe. Magnetic field is Difficult and corrosive liquids, slurries and sludges
created to measure conductive
liquid

Ultrasonic

Closed pipe. Doppler and time of Clean and dirty water

travel meters

Mass

Pitot Tube

Closed pipe.
meter

Coriolis principal Clean and dirty water. Mass related processes. Chemical
reactions, heat transfer applications

Closed pipe. Pressure sensing Clean water. Low cost. Susceptible to plugging
taps measure differential pressure

Selecting a Flowmeter
The first step in selecting a flow meter is to determine exactly what the meter is supposed to do. The following lists several
questions that the user should ask when selecting a meter:
How accurate of flow measurement is needed?
Is local or remote indication necessary because the flowmeter will be difficult to access?
Is the water dirty, viscous or corrosive?
Is the water conductive?
What are the operating temperatures?
Does the existing piping accommodate the flowmeter installation requirements?

It is important to understand the capabilities of the flowmeter you are selecting because each one has different advantage
and disadvantages. The flowmeter performance will vary and it may not be necessary to install an expensive flowmeter if
only a simple flow measure is needed with little concern for high accuracy. Most suppliers can assist with the right flowmeter
for a specific application.