What is flow rate?
Flow rate is an indication of how fast a substance move through a conduit from one place to another.
Flow rate can also be used to determine the distance a substance moves over a period of time.
Flow rate is usually expressed as Volume Flow rate and Mass Flow rate.
Volume Flow Rate
Volume flow rate represents the volume of fluid that passes a measurement point over a period of time.
The volume rate can be calculated if the average flow velocity and inside pipe diameter is known.
The calculation is based on the formula
Q= A x v
where Q = volumetric flow rate
A = Cross sectional area of the pipe
v = average flow velocity
Mass Flow Rate
Mass flow rate represents the amount of mass that passes a specific point over a period of time.
Mass flow rates are used to measure the weight or mass of a substance flowing through a process operation.If the volumetric flow rate and density are known the calculation is based on the formula
W = Q x r
Where W = mass flow rate Q = Volumetric flow rate r = density