1

Units and dimensions

C

i m

s i o

t e

concepts of measurement

e x p r e s s i n g

i t s

t h e

d i m

length
l e n g t h

m
m

ft

in

time

hr

min

mass

kg

l b

t o n

temperature

oF

e n s i o n s

Dimensionless: unit = 1 in all unit systems

Example

molecular weight

Unit systems
Length

Time

Mass

Force

Energy*

Temp.

Absolute systems
Cgs

cm

sec

gram

dyne*

erg, joule,
calorie

K, C

Fps (English
absolute)

ft

sec

lb

poundal*

ft poundal

R, F

SI (Syst me
International)

meter

sec

kilogram

newton*

joule

K, C

Gravitational systems
British Eng
(BE)

ft

sec

slug*

Pound wt

Btu, ft lb, ft
lbf

R, F

American Eng
(AE)

ft

sec, hr

pound-mass
(lbm)

pound-force
(lbf)

Btu or
(hp)(hr)

R, F

*Unit derived from basic units; all energy units are derived.

*SI unit can use the prefixes for multiples and

submultiples of 10 such as
Factor
109
106
103
10-2
10-3
10-6
10-9

Prefix
giga
mega
kilo
centi*
milli
micro
nano

avoid except for areas and volumes

Symbol
G
M
k
c
m

Unit of parameters in measurement and analysis

1. Density ( )
density ( ) =

mass ( m )
volume ( V )

specific volume =

2. specific gravity, sp gr

dimensionless ratio of densities

density of substance
sp gr =
density of reference

Ex.

sp gr = 0.73

20o
40o

For petroleum:
o

API =

141 . 5
sp gr

60

60o

131 . 5

or

sp gr

60 o
60 o

141 . 5
o

API + 131 . 5

3. Temperature (T)
- relative temperature: degree Celsius, oC or degree Fahrenheit, oF
o

C=

F 32
1. 8

- absolute temperature: Kelvin, K = oC + 273

or degree Rankine, oR = oF + 460
o

R
K=
1.8
oC

= 1.8

oF

K = 1.8

oR

Raumur temperature conversion formulae

Celsius

from Raumur

to Raumur

[C] = [R] 54

[R] = [C] 45

Fahrenheit [F] = [R] 94 + 32

[R] = ([F] 32) 49

Kelvin

[K] = [R] 54 + 273.15 [R] = ([K] 273.15) 45

Rankine

R] = [R] 94 + 491.67 [R] = ([R] 491.67) 49

For temperature intervals rather than specific temperatures,

1 R = 1.25 C = 2.25 F
Comparisons among various temperature scales

Temperature Scale Ranges related to water

Scale Factor
C Raumur F
K Rankine
Boiling point of water 100
80
212 373.15 671.67
at 1 atmosphere
Freezing point of water 0
0
32 273.15 491.67
at 1 atmosphere
C: degree Celsius (centigrade),
Re: Raumur,
F: degree Fahrenheit,
K: Kelvin,
Ra: Rankine

4. Pressure (P)
Value of standard pressure
Definition of pressure
value
Atmospheric pressure 1
Barometric pressure
33.91
Vacuum pressure
14.7
Absolute pressure
29.92
Gauge pressure

unit
atm
ft.H2O
lb/in2(psia)
in.Hg
760
mmHg
1.013 x 105 Pa (N/m2) or 101.3 kPa

Absolute Pressure = Gauge Pressure + Barometric Pressure

Conversion of units
add, subtract

same units and dimensions

multiply, divide

different or same units and dimensions

Example

a
p +
V2

(V b ) = RT

p = pressure of tank, atm

V = volume of tank, cm3

a = constant value, ???

b = constant value, ???

T = temperature, K

R = gas constant, ???

Methods of unit conversion

1. Unit conversion of constants or parameters
Use conversion factors
Example

Convert to other unit

Convert the thermal conductivity (k) = 16.2 Btu/hr.ft.oF

to cal/s.cm.oC.
k=

16.2 Btu 252 cal

hr.ft.oF 1 Btu

= ??? cal/s.cm.oC

1 hr

1 ft

3600 s 30.48 cm

1.8 oF
1 oC

Example

Convert to other dimension

Find dimensional constant, C

F = C ma
In SI unit
F:1N
m : 1 kg
a : 1 m/s2

1 N = C 1 kg 1 m
s2
C= 1 N.s2/kg.m = 1

In AE unit 1 lbf = C x 1 lbm x 32.2

F : 1 lbf
1
2/lb .ft
C
=
lb
.s
f
m
m : 1 lbm
32 .2
a : 32.2 ft/s2
1 = gc = 32.2 ft.lbm/s2.lbf
C

ft/s2

Convert
lbm to lbf
F = ma
gc

2. Unit conversion of equation

2.1 Convert unit of each parameter to required unit
and replace them to equation
2.2 Find unit of constant, then convert unit of constant
to required unit
Note: If the parameter is in form of power,
unit has to be in form power too

Dimensionless or nondimesional group

Reynold number, Re =

Dv

Unit = 1

D = pipe diameter, cm
v = fluid velocity, cm/s
= fluid density, g/cm3
= viscosity, g/cm.s (poise)

Colburn equation

DG
hD

=
.
0
023

0.. 8
0

1
3

Cp

h = heat transfer coefficient (Btu/sec.ft2.oF)

D = internal pipe diameter (ft)
k = thermal conductivity (Btu/sec.ft.oF)
G = mass velocity (lbm/sec.ft2)
= viscosity (lbm/ft.sec)
Cp = heat capacity (Btu/lbm.oF)

Unit of substance
1. mole

mass
mole =
molecular weight

unit of mole depends on unit of mass: g

lb

gmol
lbmole

2. mole and mass fraction: < 1

mole of A
mole fraction of A =
mole total
mass ( weight ) of A
mass ( weight ) fraction of A =
mass ( weight ) total

total mole or weight fraction = 1

% mole (weight) = mole (weight) fraction x 100

3. Volume fraction and percent

volume of A
x 100
% volume of A =
volume total

For gas at T, P constant: volume fraction = mole fraction

4. Concentration
- mass per unit volume : lb/ft3, g/L, kg/m3
- mole per unit volume : lb mol/ft3, g mol/L, kg mol/m3
- parts per million (ppm)
- molality = g mol/1000 g solvent
- molarity = g mol/L solution

Example 1.1 The equation of heat transfer to or from a stream of gas

flowing in turbulent motion is as follows :

h =

c p G 0.8
D

0.2

= 16.6

c p G 0.8
D 0.2

cp = heat capacity, as Btu/lb.oF

D = internal diameter of pipe, as in
G = mass velocity, as lb/sec.ft2
h = heat transfer coefficient, as Btu/hr.ft2.oF
It is desired to transform the equation into a new form in SI unit,
Find the value and unit of ?

cp G 0.8
h =
D0.2
cp = heat capacity, as J/kg.oC
D = internal diameter of pipe, as m
G = mass velocity, as kg/sec.m2
h = heat transfer coefficient, as J/sec.m2.oC

Solution

h =

c p G 0.8
D

0.2

= 16.6

c p G 0.8
D 0.2

J/kg.oC
cp = heat capacity, as Btu/lb.oF
m
D = internal diameter of pipe, as in
kg/sec.m2
G = mass velocity, as lb/sec.ft2
J/sec.m2.oC
h = heat transfer coefficient, as Btu/hr.ft2.oF

2. Unit conversion of equation

2.1 Convert unit of each parameter to required unit
and replace them to equation
2.2 Find unit of constant, then convert unit of constant
to required unit

2.1 Convert unit of each parameter to required unit and replace them to
equation Solution:
o

J
1 kg 1 C
Btu
Btu
4 ' Btu
C p o = C p'
=
2
.
39
10
x
Cp o
o
3
o
kg C 1.055 x10 J 2.2 lb 1.8 F
lb F
lb F
2
lb
2
.
2
lb
kg
1
m
' lb
'
=
0
.
204
G
=G
G
2
2
2
2
s
ft
1
kg
s
m
(3.2808 ft )
s ft
D(in ) = D ' m 39.37in = 39.37 D 'in
1m
2
o
Btu
J
3600
s
1
m
Btu
1
C
'

h
=h
2o
2o
2
3

o
hr
ft
F
s
m
C
1
hr
1
.
055
x
10
J
(
3
.
2808
ft
)
1
.
8
F

Btu
'
= 0.176h
hr ft 2 o F
4 '
' 0.8
(
2
.
39
x
10
C
)
(
16
.
6
)
'
(
0
.
204
G
)
p
0.176h =
(39.37 D ' ) 0.2
0.2
3 '
' 0.8

kg
3.03x10 C p G
'
'
3

h =

=
3
.
03
x
10

' 0.2
sm
D
0.2
' ' 0. 2
0.2
o
0.8 2 ( 0.8 )
hD
J m kg C s m
kg
Unit of
' = ' ' 0.8 =

=
2o
0.8
sm C
J
kg
C pG
sm

2.2 Find unit of constant, then convert unit of constant

to required unit
h =

c pG
D

0.8

0.2

= 16.6

c pG

cp G 0.8
h =
D0.2

0.8

D 0.2

( 0.8 )

hD 0.2
Btu in 0.2 lb oF s 0.8 ft 2
Convert unit of 16.6 ( ) =
0.8 =
C pG
hr ft 2 o F
Btu
lb 0.8
lb 0.2in 0.2 s 0.8
=
hr ft 0.4

0 .4
0.4
39.37 0.2 in 0.2 (1kg ) 0.2
lb 0.2in 0.2 s 0.8 1hr 1 ft
=
0.2
hr ft 0.4 3600 s 120.4 in 0.4 0.2 10.2 m 0.2 (2.2lb) 0.2
0.2

kg

= 1.83x10
sm
0.2
0.2
'
4 kg
3 kg
= 3.03x10
= 16.6 x1.83x10

sm
sm
4

Example 1.2 A solution of sodium chloride in water contains 230

grams of NaCl per litre at 20 C. The density of the solution at this
temperature is 1.148 grams per cubic centimeter. Calculate the
following items :
(a) Composition in weight percent and weight fraction
(b) Volumetric percent of water
(density of pure water at 20C = 0.998 g/cm3)
(c) Composition in mole percent and mole fraction
(d) Composition in atomic percent
(e) Molality
(f) Molarity (mole/L)
(g) Pounds NaCl per pound H2O

Basis: 1 l of solution

230 g of NaCl

1.148 g 1000 cm3 1 l of soln = 1,148 g

cm3 1 l of soln
wt of H2O = 1148 230 = 918 g
(a) Composition in weight percent
wt (g)
wt fraction
Component
%wt
2300.2/1148 0.2x100 = 20
230
NaCl
918
0.8
H2O
80
1148
1
total
100
(b) Volumetric percent of water (density of pure water at 20 C = 0.998 g/cm3)
Vol. of H2O = 918 g H2O 1 cm3 1 l
= 0.919 l
0.998 g 1000 cm3
%vol. of H2O = Vol. of H2O x100 = 0.919 x 100 = 91.9%
Vol. of soln
1
Total wt of solution =

(c) Composition in mole percent

Component
NaCl
H2O
total

wt (g)
230
918
1148

mw.
58.5
18

gmol
2303.93
/58.5
51
54.93

mol fraction
3.930.07
/54.93
0.93
1

%mole
7
93
100

(d) Composition in atomic percent

mol fraction %mole
Component mole
3.930.02
/160.86 2
3.93
Na
3.93
0.02
2
Cl
0.64
64
H 2x51=102
51
0.32
32
O
1.00
100
total 160.86

mw. wt (g)
23 90.39
35.5 139.52
102
1
816
16
1147.91

wt frac.
0.078
0.122
0.089
0.711
1.000

%wt.
7.8
12.2
8.9
71.1
100

(e) Molality = gmol of NaCl = 3.93 gmol 1000 g H2O = 4.28 gmol/1000g H2O
1000 g of H2O 918 g H2O
(f) Molarity (mole/l) = gmol NaCl
vol of soln

= 3.93 gmol/l

(g) Pounds NaCl per pound H2O = 230 g NaCl 2.2 lb 1000 g = 0.25
918 g H2O 1000 g 2.2 lb