Useful Formulas and Rules of Thumb By Michael (Jack) Vallo

Application Formulas TO OBTAIN

Velocity (V) Feet Per Minute

HAVING
Pitch Diameter (D) of Gear or Sprocket - inches & Rev. Per Minute (RPM) Velocity (V) Ft Per Minute & Pitch Diameter (D) of Gear or Sprocket - inches Velocity (V) Ft. Per Minute & Rev. Per Minute (RPM) Force (W) Lbs. & Radius (R) Inches Force (W) Lbs. & Velocity (V) Ft. Per Minute Torque (T) in Lbs. & Rev. Per Minute (RPM) Horsepower (HP) & Rev. Per Minute (RPM) Horsepower (HP) & Velocity (V) Ft. Per Minute Horsepower (HP) & Torque (T) in Lbs.

FORMULA
V = .2618 x D x RPM

Rev. Per Minute (RPM) Pitch Diameter (D) of Gear or Spocket - Inches Torque (T) in Lbs. Horsepower (HP) Horsepower (HP) Torque (T) Force (W) Lbs. Rev. Per Minute (RPM)

RPM =

V 2618 x D

D=

V 2618 x RPM

T=WxR HP W x V 33,000 HP = T x RPM 63025 T = 63025 x HP RPM W = 33000 x HP V RPM = 63025 x HP T

Useful Formulas and Rules of Thumb

Michael (Jack) Vallo Heating Formulas
TOTAL HEAT Ht = 4.5 x CFM x h (change in heat content) CFM = h = Ht___ 4.5 x h Ht_____ 4.5 x CFM SENSIBLE HEAT Hs = 1.08 x CFM x t (change in DB temperature) CFM = t = Hs____ 1.08 x t

By

Hs____ 1.08 x CFM LANTENT HEAT

HL = .68 x CFM x w (change in grains of water) CFM = HL______ .68 x w

w = _____HL_____ .68 x CFM MIXED AIR DB = INDOOR DB + (FREASH AIR) x (OUTDOOR DB MINUS INDOOR DB) % FREASH AIR = MIXED AIR DB INDOOR DB OUTDOOR DB INDOOR DB

Useful Formulas and Rules of Thumb By Michael (Jack) Vallo

Hydraulics Formulas: where
A = area of cylinder, in.2 Cp = pump capacity, in.3/rev Dp = inside diameter of pipe, in. Ds = inside diameter of sphere, in. eff = pump efficiency, decimal h = head, ft. (fluid) N = speed, rpm Q = fluid flow rate, gal/min S = cylinder stroke, in. T = torque, in-lb W = specific weight, lb/ft3 cylinder area: A = 0.7854dc 2 cylinder fluid capacity: piston end, C = 0.0034Sdc 2 rod end, cylinder flow rate: piston end, Q = 2.448V dc 2 rod end, Q = 2.448V (dc 2 dg 2) P = s (Dc2 dc2) / (Dc2 + dc2) cylinder stress, allowable (Lam`es formula): s = P(Dc2 + dc2) / (Dc2 dc2) C = 0.0034S(dc dg 2) C = cylinder fluid capacity, gal. dc = inside diameter of cylinder,in. dg = diameter of piston rod, in. Dc = outside diameter of cylinder,in. F = force, lb. hp = horsepower P = pressure, lb/in.2 s = stress, working (allowable), lb/in.2 t = wall thickness, in. V = velocity, ft/sec

cylinder pressure, maximum (Lam`es formula):

cylinder velocity: V = 0.3208 Q/A cylinder wall thickness, minimum: t = 0.5 dc (s + P) / [ (s P) - 0.5 dc] fluid pressure: P=F/A fluid velocity through piping: V = 0.4085 Q / dp2 force due to cylinder pressure: F = PA pipe stress due to fluid pressure: s = 0.5 dp P/t pipe wall thickness required: t = 0.5 dp P/s pressure due to fluid head: P = 0.0069 wh Pressure head: h = 144 P /w pump capacity: Q = Cp N/231 pump efficiency: eff = hp output / hp input pump efficiency, percent: eff% = 100 (eff) pump horsepower input: hp = QP / 1714 / eff pump horsepower output: hp = TN / 63,025 pump speed: N = 231 Q/Cp

pump torque: T = 36.76 QP /N = 63,025 (hp) / N sphere wall thickness, minimum: t = 0.25 Pds / s

Useful Formulas and Rules of Thumb

Michael (Jack) Vallo GPM & HEAD Formulas GPM FLOW

By

f = required water flow rate (gpm) Q = heat transport rate (Btuh) T = temperature drop between supply and return piping (F) k = 490 for water, 479 for 30% glycol, 450 for 50% glycol f= Q___ k (T)

Lets apply this formula to distribution circuit supplying 250,000 Btuh to a manifold station in a large floor heating system. Assume the supply water temperature to the floor circuits at design load is 110 F, and the design temperature drop across the manifold station is 20. The supply water temperature is created by blending hot boiler water with cooler return water at a mixing device in the mechanical room. The flow needed to transport 250,000 Btuh to the manifold station is: f= Q___ = 250,000 = 25.5 gpm k (T) 490 (20)

This flow requires 2 in. piping between the mechanical room and manifold station if the flow velocity is not to exceed 4 feet per second (fps). Now suppose that the mixing took place at the manifold station rather than the machanical room. Assume 180 water is sent to the manifold station to be mixed with the 90 return water. The temperature drop between the piping leaving and returning to the mechanical room would now be 180 90 = 90, or 4.5 times greater than in the previous calculation. Formula 1 can again be used to determine the flow rate necessary under these operating conditions. f= Q___ = 250,000 = 5.7 gpm k (T) 490 (90)

The flow rate has dropped to about 22% of what was required in the first calculation; 5.7 gpm could be handled by a pipe with the flow velocity remaining uder 4 fps. This tradeoff between temperature drop and flow rate has profound implications that can lower cost and improve control if recognized and exploited. The formulas below apply to the pressure head.

Useful Formulas and Rules of Thumb By Michael (Jack) Vallo

BASIC HEATING DATA
1 Btu (British thermal unit) = heat required to raise 1 lb. Of water 1deg. F Btu divided by 3.413 = W Specific heat of water = 1 Btu Specific heat of air = 0.24 Btu 1 cubic foot of air @ 32deg F = 0.0807 1 Btu will heat 1 cubic foot of air 55deg F 1 gal (US) of water = 8.33 lb 1 gal (US) of water = 231 cubic inches @ 39.2deg F 1 cubic foot of water = 7.48 gal 1 cubic foot of water = 62.418 lb @ 39.2deg F 1 square foot of steam radiation = 240 Btu 1 square foot of hot water radiation = 150 Btu No. 2 fuel oil = 20,571 Btu/lb or 144,000 Btu/gal Natural gas = 18,000 Btu/lb or 1,030 Btu/ cubic foot Propane = 21,564 Btu/lb or 2,572 Btu/ cubic foot Butane = 21,440 Btu/lb or 3,200 Btu/ cubic foot 1 degree day = 1deg F mean outdoor temperature, below 65deg F (24-h avg) per day 1 watt ( W ) = 1 joule (J) per second (s ) 1kWh = 1.341 hph 1 Btu = 778 ft-lb = 1055 J = 252 cal 1 hph = 2545 Btu = 0.7457 kWh 1 gal of LP gas = 36.6 cubic foot

Useful Formulas and Rules of Thumb By Michael (Jack) Vallo

BTU Content of Various Fuels Fuel Oil:
No. 2 140,000 Btu Per Gallon No. 4 155,000 Btu Per Gallon No. 6 153,000 Btu Per Gallon

Electricity 3,415 Btu/KW Coal:

Anthracite 13,000 Btu Per Pound Semi-Anthracite 13,700 Btu Per Pound Bituminous 12,500 Btu Per Pound Lignite 7,000 Btu Per Pound

Gas:
Natural 1,000 Btu Per Cubic Foot100,000 Btu Per Therm Manufactured 550 Btu Per Cubic Foot Propane 2,250 Btu Per Cubic Foot92,000 Btu Per Gallon

Wood:

Species
Ash, White Aspen Beech Birch, White Birch, Yellow Elm Hickory Ironwood

Millions of Btu Per Dried Weight Cord (20% Lbs. Per Cord Moisture)
4,400 2,160 4,000 3,400 3,800 3,400 4,400 4,400 25.9 18.3 28 23.8 26.6 23.8 30.8 30.8

Species
Maple, Red Maple, Sugar Oak, Red Oak, White Pine Larch Wood Briquettes

Millions of Btu Per Dried Weight Cord (20% Lbs. Per Cord Moisture)
3,400 4,100 3,900 4,400 2,200 2,500 3" diameter 23.8 29.7 27.3 30.8 15.8 24 8,200 Btu Per Pound

Useful Formulas and Rules of Thumb By Michael (Jack) Vallo

British Thermal Unit ( BTU ): The amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit ( specifically, from 62 to 63 degrees F. ) Equivalent Direct Radiation ( EDR ): For Steam: One Square Foot EDR will put out 240 Btuh when there is 70 degrees F. air surrounding the radiator and 215-degrees ( less than 1 psig ) steam inside the radiator. For Hot Water: One Square Foot EDR will put out 150 Btuh when the average water temperature is 170 degrees F. To Convert: EDR ( Equivalent Direct Radiation ) to Pounds of Condensate per hour Divide EDR by 4. EDR to Rate of Condensation in Gallons per Minute Multiply EDR by 0.0005. EDR to BTUH Steam ( at 1 psig ) Multiply EDR by 240. EDR to Boiler Horsepower ( BHP ) Divide EDR by 140. EDR to Grate Area in Square Feet ( coal fired boilers ) Divide EDR by 196. BTUH to EDR Divide BTUH by 240. BTUH to Boiler Horsepower ( BHP ) Divide BTUH by 33,475. BHP to EDR Multiply BHP by 140. BHP to BTUH Multiply BHP by 33,475. BHP to Pounds of Condensate per Hour Multiply BHP by 34.5. PSIG ( Pounds Per Square Inch Gauge ) to Feet of Water Multiply PSI by 2.307. PSIG to Inches of Mercury Multiply PSI by 2.307. KWH to BTUH Multiply KWH by 3,413.

Useful Formulas and Rules of Thumb By Michael (Jack) Vallo

Converting Gravity Hot Water Heating To Forced Circulation To size the new near-piping. Take the size of the largest pipe you have now, divide it in half, and then drop down one pipe size. (For instance), if you have two 2 pipes leaving your boiler, divide 2 in half. That gives you 1 . Drop down one size and pipe the new boiler according to the manufacturers instructions with one, 1 supply and one, 1 return.

Useful Formulas and Rules of

Thumb
By Michael (Jack) Vallo Average System Water Content
(add boiler,radiation and piping together)
Net System Load 1000's Btu/Hr. 50 60 70 80 90 100 125 150 175 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 600 700 800 900 1000 Radiation Boilers Large 12 14.5 17 19.5 22 25 30 36 42 48 60 70 84 95 107 120 140 160 190 210 235 Cast Iron Thin Colunm Tube 28.5 15.7 34.2 16.8 40 19.6 45.6 22.4 51.4 25.2 57 28 71 39 85.5 47.8 99 55 114 63.8 142 79.8 171 95.7 199 111 228 127 256 143 285 157 342 191 399 223 456 251 513 287 570 319 Convector 7 7.5 8.7 10 11.25 12.5 17.7 21 24.7 28.5 35.6 42.7 49.7 57 64 71 85.5 98.7 114 128 142 Baseboard 23.5 28.3 33 37.8 42.5 47.1 58.8 70.8 82.8 94.3 117.8 141.5 165 188.5 212 235.8 282.8 330 377 424.3 476.5 Convector 3.2 4 4.5 5.2 5.8 6.5 8.1 9.7 11.3 13 16.2 19.5 22.7 26 29.2 32.5 39 45.5 52 58.5 65 Copper Baseboard 1.9 2.2 2.6 3 3.3 3.7 4.6 5.5 6.5 7.4 9 11 13 15 17 19 22 26 30 33 37 Fan coil& Unit Htr 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 20 One Pipe 7.8 9 10 11.5 13 14 18 22 26 30 39 49 58 70 80 90 115 140 165 195 225 Average Piping System Two Radiant Pipe Panel 10.5 11 12.5 13.5 14.5 16 17 18.5 18 21 21 24 27 30 34 37 40 44 47 50 62 65 78 70 94 110 130 150 190 225 260 310 360

Small 5.4 6.4 7.2 8 8.6 9.4 11 13 14.5 16

Useful Formulas and Rules of Thumb By Michael (Jack) Vallo

Calculating the size of tanks:
To find the capacity in gallons of a rectangular tank: 1. 2. 3. 4. Reduce the length, width and height of the tank to inches. Multiply the three together. Divide this by 231. The answer is in gallons of water.

To find the capacity of a cylindrical tank: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Measure the diameter of the tank in inches. Take half of that and multiply it by itself. Multiply your answer by 3.146. Multiply this by the length of the tank in inches. Divide that by 231. The answer is in gallons of water.

Useful Formulas and Rules of Thumb By Michael (Jack) Vallo

Sizing The Compression Tank
Diaphragm Type Tanks (forced Circulation Systems)
(Based on System Temp. & Water Content)*
Average System Temp. F 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 System Content in Gallons Tank Size 30 60 90 308 417 980 230 311 731 177 240 564 143 193 454 118 160 376 99 134 315 84 114 269 73 99 233 Average System Temp. F 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 System Content in Gallons Tank Size 30 60 90 64 87 204 56 76 180 50 68 160 45 61 144 40 55 130 37 50 118 34 46 108

15 140 104 80 65 53 45 38 33

15 29 25 22 20 18 16 15

* All selections are based on 12 psig fill and 30 psig relief

Useful Formulas and Rules of Thumb By Michael (Jack) Vallo

To Calculate The Required Flow Rate in GPM:
1. Multiply these three things together: a. 8.3 ( the weight of a gallon of water ) b. 60 ( the amount of minutes in an hour ) c. The temperature drop across the system ( usually 20 degrees F. ). 2. Divide the Btu/Hr. Load of the system ( which is based on a heat-loss calculation ) by that. For example: 100,000 Btu/Hr = 10 gpm 8.3 x 60 x 20

Useful Formulas and Rules of Thumb By Michael (Jack) Vallo

Maximum, Trouble-Free, Design Flow Rates For Hot Water Heating:

Copper Pipe:
1 1 1 2 2 3 1 gpm 4 gpm 8 gpm 14 gpm 22 gpm 45 gpm 85 gpm 130 gpm

Steel Pipe
1 1 1 2 2 2 gpm 4 gpm 8 gpm 16 gpm 25 gpm 50 gpm 80 gpm 3 4 5 6 8 10 12 140 gpm 300 gpm 550 gpm 850 gpm 1,800 gpm 3,200 gpm 5,000 gpm

Useful Formulas and Rules of Thumb By Michael (Jack) Vallo

How to Determine The Pump Head ( Based on the maximum flow through the system ):
1. Measure the longest ( highest pressure drop ) piping circuit in feet. 2. Multiply this by .06 3. The answer is in feet of pump head

Useful Formulas and Rules of Thumb By Michael (Jack) Vallo

How to Size a Low-Pressure ( 15 psig max. ) Condensate Pump: 1. Calculate the rate at which water will leave your boiler ( all boilers steam at the rate of gpm per 240,000 net Btuh ). For instance, a 1,000,000 Btuh boiler will lose about 2 gpm while its' steaming. 2. Size the pump for three times the steaming rate. ( For instance, a 1,000,000 Btuh boiler would have a 6 gpm condensate pump. 3. Size the receiver to hold three times the boilers steaming rate. ( For example, a 1,000,000 Btuh boiler steaming at 2 gpm would have a 6 gallon receiver ).

Useful Formulas and Rules of Thumb By Michael (Jack) Vallo

DC and AC Power Circuits

Power in DC Circuits Watts = Volts x Amperes Horsepower = Volts x Amperes 746 Volts x Amperes 1000 Volts x Amperes x Hours 1000

Kilowatts

Kilowatt - Hours

Power in AC Circuits Kilovolt - Amperes (KVA) KVA (Single Phase) Volts x Amperes 1000 Volts x Amperes x 1.73 1000

KVA (Three Phase)

Kilowatt (Kw) Kw (Single Phase) Volts x Amperes x Power Factor 1000 Volts x Amperes x Power Factor x 1.42 1000 Volts x Amperes x Power Factor x 1.73 1000 Kilowatts Kilovolts x Amperes

Kw (Two Phase)

Kw (Three Phase)

Power Factor