fluid power formulas

Basis Formulas
Formula For: Word Formula: Letter Formula:

FLUID PRESSURE Force (Pounds)

Pressure = P = F/A or psi = F/A
In Pounds/Square Inch Unit Area (Square Inches)

FLUID FLOW RATE Volume (Gallons)

Flow Rate = Q = V/T
In Gallons/Minute Unit Time (Minute)

FLUID POWER Pressure (psi) x Flow (GPM)

Horsepower = hp = PQ/1714
In Horsepower 1714

Fluid Formulas
Formula For: Word Formula: Letter Formula:

VELOCITY THROUGH PIPING .3208 x Flow Rate through I.D. (GPM)

Velocity = V = .3208Q/A
In Feet/Second Velocity Internal Area (Square Inches)

COMPRESSIBILITY OF OIL
In Additional Required Oil Pressure (psi) x Volume of Oil under Pressure VA = PV/250,000 (approx.)
Additional Volume =
to Reach Pressure 250,000 (approx.)

COMPRESSIBILITY 1
Compressibility = C(ß) = 1/BM
OF A FLUID Bulk Modulus of the Fluid

SPECIFIC GRAVITY Weight of One Cubic Foot of Fluid

Specific Gravity = SG = W/62.4283
OF A FLUID Weight of One Cubic Foot of Water

Flow Rate (GPM) Specific Gravity

VALVE (Cv) FLOW FACTOR Valve Factor = Cv = (Q SG)/( ∆p)
Pressure Drop (psi)

For Viscosities of 32 to 100 Saybolt Universal Seconds:

Centistokes = .2253 x SUS - ( 194.4

SUS
) CS = .2253 SUS - (194.4/SUS)

For Viscosities of 100 to 240 Saybolt Universal Seconds:

VISCOSITY IN CENTISTOKES
Centistokes = .2193 x SUS - ( 134.6
SUS
) CS = .2193 SUS - (134.6/SUS)

For Viscosities greater than 240 Saybolt Universal Seconds:

Centistokes = ( SUS
4.635
) CS = SUS/4.635

Note: Saybolt Universal Seconds can also be abbreviated as SSU.

 fluid

Pump Formulas
Formula For: Word Formula: Letter Formula:
PUMP OUTLET FLOW rpm x Pump Displacement (Cu. In./Ref.)
Flow = Q = nd/231
In Gallons/Minute 231

PUMP INPUT POWER Flow Rate Output (GPM) x Pressure (psi) Hpin = QP/1714Eff. or
Horsepower Input =
In Horsepower Required 1714 Efficiency (Overall) (GPM x psi)/1714Eff.

PUMP EFFICIENCY Overall Efficiency = ( Output Horsepower

Input Horsepower
) x 100 EffOV = (HP / HPin) x 100
Overall in Percent
Overall Efficiency = Volumetric Eff. x Mechanical Eff. Effov vol
x Effmech

PUMP EFFICIENCY Actual Flow Rate Output (GPM)

Volumetric Efficiency = x 100 Effvol = (Q /Qtheo) x 100
Volumetric in Percent Theoretical Flow Rate Output (GPM)

PUMP EFFICIENCY Theoretical Torque to Drive

Mechanical Efficiency = x 100 Effmech = (T /Tact) x 100
Mechanical in Percent Actual Torque to Drive

PUMP LIFE Rated Speed (rpm) Rated Pressure (psi)

B10 Hrs. Bearing Life = Rated Life Hrs. x x B10 /RPMn) x (Pr/Pn)3
B10 Bearing Life New Speed (rpm) New Pressure (psi) r

Actuator Formulas
Formula For: Word Formula: Letter

Area = ∏ x Radius2 (Inches) A = ∏r2

CYLINDER AREA
In Square Inches
Area = (P/4) x Diameter2 (Inches) A = (∏D2)/4 or A = .785D2

CYLINDER FORCE
Area = Pressure (psi) x Net Area (sq in.) F = psi x A or F = PA
In Pounds, Push or Pull
CYLINDER VELOCITY or SPEED 231 x Flow Rate (GPM)
Velocity = v = 231Q/720A or v = .3208Q/A
In Feet/Second 12 x 60 x Net Area (sq in.)

∏ x Radius2 (in.) x Stroke (in.)

Volume = V = (∏r2L)/231
231
CYLINDER VOLUME CAPACITY
In Gallons of Fluid Net Area (sq. in.) x Stroke (in.)
Volume = V= (A L)/231
231

CYLINDER FLOW RATE 12 x 60 x Velocity (Ft/Sec) x Net Area (sq. in.)

Flow Rate = Q = (720vA)231 or Q = 3.117vA
In Gallons/Minute 231

Pressure (psi) x F.M. Displacement (Cu. In./Rev.)

Torque = T = psi d/2∏ or T = Pd/2∏
2∏

FLUID MOTOR TORQUE Horsepower x 63025

Torque = T = 63025 hp/n
In Inch Pounds rpm
Flow Rate (GPM) x Pressure (psi) x 36.77
Torque = T = 36.77QP/n or T = 36.77Qpsi/n
rpm

FLUID MOTOR TORQUE/100 psi Torque F.M. Displacement (Cu. In./Rev.)

= T100psi = d/.0628
In Inch Pounds 100 .0628

FLUID MOTOR SPEED 231 Flow Rate (GPM)

Speed = n = 231 Q/d
In Revolutions/Minute F.M. Displacement (Cu. In./Rev.)

FLUID MOTOR POWER Torque Output (Inch Pounds) x rpm

Horsepower = hp = Tn/63025
In Horsepower Output 63025
 fluid power formulas

Thermal Formulas
Formula For: Word Formula: Letter Formula:
RESERVOIR COOLING CAPACITY
Heat (BTU/Hr) = 2 x Temperature Difference Between
Based on Adequate Air BTU/Hr = 2.0 x DT x A
Reservoir Walls and Air (Fº) x Area of Reservoir (Sq. Ft.)
Circulation
HEAT IN HYDRAULIC OIL
Due to System Inefficiency Heat (BTU/Hr) = Flow Rate (GPM) x 210 x Temp. Difference (Fº) BTU/Hr = Q x 210 x DT
(SG=.89-.92)
HEAT IN FRESH WATER Heat (BTU/Hr) = Flow Rate (GPM) x 500 x Temp. Difference (Fº) BTU/Hr = Q x 500 x DT

Note: One British Thermal Unit (BTU) is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.
One Horsepower = 2545 BTU/Hr.

Accumulator Formulas
Formula For: Word Formula: Letter Formula:

PRESSURE OR VOLUME
Original Pressure x Original Volume = Final Pressure x Final Volume P1V1 = P2V2 Isothermic
With Constant T (Temperature)

PRESSURE OR TEMPERATURE
Original Pressure x Final Temp. = Final Pressure x Original Temp. P1T2 = P2T1 Isochoric
With Constant V (Volume)

VOLUME OR TEMPERATURE
Original Volume x Final Temp. = Final Volume x Original Temp. V1T2 = V2T1 Isobaric
With Constant P (Pressure)

PRESSURE OR VOLUME Original Press. x Original Volumen = Final Press. x Final Volumen P1V1n=P2V2n
With Temp. Change Due to
Heat of Compression Final Temp./Orig. Temp. = (Orig. Vol./Final Vol.)n-1 = (Final Press./Orig. Press.)(n-1)/n T2/T1=(V1/V2)n-1 = (P2/P1)(n-1)/n

Volume and Capacity Equivalents

Water at Max Density
Cubic Cubic Imperial Pounds of Kilograms of
Inches Cubic Feet Centimeters Liters U.S. Gallons Gallons Water Water

Cubic Inches 1 0.0005787 16.384 0.016384 0.004329 0.0036065 0.361275 0.0163872

Cubic Feet 1728 1 0.037037 28.317 7.48052 6.23210 62.4283 28.3170

Cubic
0.0610 0.0000353 1 0.001 0.000264 0.000220 0.002205 0.0001
Centimeters

Liters 61.0234 0.0353145 0.001308 1 0.264170 0.220083 2.20462 1

U.S. Gallons 231 0.133681 0.004951 3.78543 1 0.833111 8.34545 3.78543

Imperial
277.274 0.160459 0.0059429 4.54374 1.20032 1 10.0172 4.54373
Gallons

Pounds of
27.6798 0.0160184 0.0005929 0.453592 0.119825 0.0998281 1 0.453593
Water