Reference Tables -- Fluid Power Formulas

Basic Fluid Power Formulas / Hydraulics / Pneumatics

Variable
Fluid Pressure - P Fluid Flow Rate - Q Fluid Power in Horsepower - HP

Word Formula w/ Units

(PSI) = Force (Pounds) / Area ( Sq. In.) GPM= Flow (Gallons) / Unit Time (Minutes) Horsepower = Pressure (PSIG) Flow (GPM)/ 1714

Simplified Formula
P = F/A Q=V/T HP = PQ / 1714

Actuator Formulas
Variable
Cylinder Area - A

Word Formula w/ Units

( Sq. In.) = Radius (inch)2 (Sq. In.) = Diameter (inch)2 / 4

Simplified Formula
A = R2 A = D2 / 4 F = PA v = (0.3208 gpm) / A V = R2 L / 231 (L = length of stroke)

Cylinder Force - F Cylinder Speed - v

(Pounds) = Pressure (psi) Area (sq. in.) (Feet / sec.) = (231 Flow Rate (gpm)) / (12 60 Area)

Cylinder Volume Capacity - Volume = Radius2 Stroke (In.) / 231 V Cylinder Flow Rate - Q Fluid Motor Torque - T Volume = 12 60 Velocity (Ft./Sec.) Net Area(In.)2 / 231 Torque (in. lbs.) = Pressure (psi) disp. (in.3 / rev.) / 6.2822 Torque = HP 63025 / RPM Torque = Flow Rate (GPM) Pressure 36.77 / RPM Fluid Motor Speed - n Fluid Motor Horsepower HP

Q = 3.11688 v A T = P d / 6.2822 T = HP 63025 / n T = 36.77 Q P / n

Speed (RPM) = (231 GPM) / Disp. (in.)3 n = (231 GPM) / d HP = Torque (in. lbs.) rpm / 63025 HP = T n / 63025

Pump Formulas
Variable
Pump Output Flow - GPM Pump Input Horsepower HP Pump Efficiency - E

Word Formula w/ Units

HP = GPM Pressure (psi) / 1714 Efficiency Overall Efficiency = Output HP / Input HP Overall Efficiency = Volumetric Eff. Mechanical Eff.

Simplified Formula
HP = (Q P) / 1714 E EOverall = HPOut / HPIn X 100 EOverall = EffVol. EffMech. EffVol. = QAct. / QTheo. X 100

GPM = (Speed (rpm) disp. (cu. in.)) / 231 GPM = (n d) / 231

Pump Volumetric Efficiency - E Pump Mechanical Efficiency - E

Volumetric Efficiency = Actual Flow Rate Output (GPM) / Theoretical Flow Rate Output (GPM) 100 Mechanical Efficiency = Theoretical Torque to Drive / Actual Torque to Drive 100

EffMech = TTheo. / TAct. 100

Pump Displacement - CIPR Displacement (In.3 / rev.) = Flow Rate (GPM) 231 / Pump RPM Pump Torque - T Torque = Horsepower 63025 / RPM Torque = Pressure (PSIG) Pump Displacement (CIPR) / 2

CIPR = GPM 231 / RPM T = 63025 HP / RPM T = P CIPR / 6.28

General Fluid Power Guidelines:

Horsepower for driving a pump:
For every 1 hp of drive, the equivalent of 1 gpm @ 1500 psi can be produced.

Horsepower for idling a pump:

To idle a pump when it is unloaded will require about 5% of it's full rated power

Wattage for heating hydraulic oil:

Each watt will raise the temperature of 1 gallon of oil by 1 F. per hour.

Flow velocity in hydraulic lines:

Pump suction lines 2 to 4 feet per second, pressure lines up to 500 psi - 10 to 15 ft./sec., pressure lines 500 to 3000 psi - 15 to 20 ft./sec.; all oil lines in air-over-oil systems; 4 ft./sec.