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

Horsepower Calculator
Inputs
Head = 30.00 ft
Flow Rate = 35.00 gpm
Specific Gravity = 1.00
HP = 0.27
KW = 0.20
Brake Horsepower Calculator
Inputs
HP = 5.00 HP
Pump Efficiency = 60.00%
Brake Horsepower = 8.33
Brake KW = 6.17
SI Calculator
Inputs
Pressure = 30.48 meters
12.60 /S
L
Flow Rate =
KW = 3.77
HP = 5.05

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
Head (ft) x Flow Rate (gpm) x (specific gravity)
Hydraulic HP =
3956
Multiply HP by 0.746 to obtain kilowatts
(9.81) x Head (meters) x Flow Rate (L/S) x (specific gravity)
Hydraulic Kilowatts =
1000
Multiply kilowatts by 1.341 to obtain horsepower
Brake Horsepower and Motor Efficiency
Hydraulic Power
Brake Horsepower =
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.
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.
Head (ft) x Flow Rate (gpm) x (specific gravity)
HP =
3956
Pump Discharge Pressure = 100 ft
Measured Flow Rate = 200 gpm
Calculate Horsepower
 100 ft x 200 gpm x 1.0
HP =
3956
HP = 5
Calculate Brake Horsepower
5
Brake Horsepower =
0.6
= 8.3
SI Units
Pump Discharge Pressure = 30.48 meter
Measured Flow Rate = 12.6 L/S
9.81 x 30.48 m x 12.6 L/S x 1.0
Kilowatts =
1000
Kilowatts = 3.76

Legend
L
/S Liters per Second
gpm Gallons per minute
HP Horespower
KW Kilowatt
m/s Meters per Second
m3 Cubic Meters
m2 Square Meters
ft2 Square Feet
ft3 Cubic Feet
 Flow Rate Calculator
Inputs
Velocity = 5 ft/sec
Cross Sectional Area = 0.2 ft2
Flow Rate = 440.02 gpm
SI Calculator
Inputs
Velocity = 1.52 m/sec
Cross Sectional Area = 0.02 m2
27.36 /S
L
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 m3/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
0.98 ft3
Flow rate (cfs) =
sec
0.98 ft3
Multiply By 449 to get gpm
sec
Flow (gpm) = 0.98 x 449
= 440 gpm
SI Units
Flow M / S
3
= Velocity (m/s) x Pipe Cross Sectional Area (m2)
Flow M3 / S = 1.52 m/s x .018 m2
= .028 m3/sec
Multiply 0.028 m3/sec by 1000 to get L/S
Flow L/S = 0.028 x 1000
Flow /S
L
= 28 L/S

Legend
L
/S Liters per Second
gpm Gallons per minute
HP Horespower
KW Kilowatt
m/s Meters per Second
m3 Cubic Meters
m2 Square Meters
ft2 Square Feet
ft3 Cubic Feet
 Friction Loss Calculator
Inputs
Pipe Length = 1000.00 ft
Pipe Diameter = 0.33 ft
Cross Sectional Area = 0.09 ft2
Flow Rate = 300 gpm
Pipe Velocity = 7.02 ft/sec
Friction Factor = 0.02
Friction Loss = 46.36

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:
L V2
Friction Loss (hf) =f x
d 2g
hf = Friction loss (ft) f = Friction Loss Factor
L = Pipe length (ft) d = Pipe Diameter (ft)
v = Pipe velocity (ft/sec)
g= 32.2 lb m - ft (acceleration of gravity factor)
lb f - sec2
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 = π x (pipe radius)2 Where π = 3.14
Pipe diameter = 4-inch = .33 ft
Pipe radius = 2-inch = .16 ft
Cross-sectional area = 3.14 x (.16)² = .08 ft²
The second step is to determine the pipe velocity
Flow rate
Pipe velocity (V) =
Cross sectional area
Multiply the 300 gpm flow rate by .002 to convert to ft3/sec
300 gpm x .002 = 0.60 ft3/sec
Calculate pipe velocity
0.60
Velocity ft/sec =
0.08
Velocity ft/sec = 7.5 ft/sec
Using a .02 friction factor calculate the friction loss
L V2
Friction Loss (hf) =f x
Friction Loss (hf) =f x
d 2g
.02 x 1000 ft (7.5 ft/sec)²
Friction loss (ft) = x
.33 ft 64.4
Velocity ft/sec = 52.9 ft

Legend
L
/S Liters per Second
gpm Gallons per minute
HP Horespower
KW Kilowatt
m/s Meters per Second
m3 Cubic Meters
m2 Square Meters
ft2 Square Feet
ft3 Cubic Feet
 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 Application Service
Drum and Stop Watch Closed pipe or open channel Simple and inexpensive. Clean or dirty water

Weir Open channel v-notch, rectangular Simple and inexpensive. Clean or dirty water
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 Closed pipe. Coriolis principal Clean and dirty water. Mass related processes. Chemical
meter reactions, heat transfer applications

Pitot Tube 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.