1. What is GPM to lb/hr of Water Calculator?

Definition: This calculator converts water flow rate in gallons per minute (GPM) to weight flow rate in pounds per hour (lb/hr).

Purpose: It helps engineers, plumbers, and water treatment professionals convert volumetric flow to mass flow for system design and analysis.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( W \) — Weight flow rate (pounds per hour)
• \( Q \) — Volumetric flow rate (gallons per minute)
• 8.34 — Pounds per gallon of water
• 60 — Minutes to hours conversion

Explanation: The formula converts GPM to pounds per minute (using 8.34 lb/gal), then to pounds per hour (multiplying by 60 minutes).

3. Importance of Flow Rate Conversion

Details: Mass flow rate calculations are essential for chemical dosing, heat transfer calculations, and system balancing where mass rather than volume is the critical parameter.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Simply enter the water flow rate in gallons per minute (GPM). The value must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why 8.34 lb/gal for water?
A: This is the weight of one gallon of water at standard conditions (60°F, 1 atm pressure).

Q2: Does this work for other liquids?
A: No, this is specific to water. For other liquids, multiply by their specific weight instead of 8.34.

Q3: What's the practical use of this conversion?
A: Useful for chemical feed systems, boiler feedwater calculations, and any process where mass flow rate is more relevant than volume.

Q4: How accurate is this calculation?
A: Very accurate for pure water at standard conditions. Accuracy decreases with temperature changes or for water with significant dissolved solids.

Q5: Can I use this for very high flow rates?
A: Yes, the calculation is linear and works for any flow rate, though extremely high rates may require consideration of other factors like pressure drop.