KEVOS® MAKEOS · Hydraulics
Pipe Flow Velocity
What is the mean velocity of this flow in a pipe of this bore?
Calculate the mean velocity of an incompressible flow in a full circular pipe from the volumetric flow and the internal bore.
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How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Volumetric flow | L/min | Volumetric flow through the pipe. |
| Internal bore diameter | mm | Internal bore, not the nominal or outside diameter. |
Method and formulas
- Flow area (mm²) = π × bore² / 4.
- Velocity (m/s) = (flow / 60,000) / (area / 10⁶).
- Example: 100 L/min in a 25 mm bore gives an area of 490.873852 mm² and a mean velocity of 3.395305 m/s.
Limitations
- Full pipe, single-phase, incompressible flow only. Mean velocity is not the peak velocity on the centreline.
- Recommended velocity limits depend on the fluid, pipe material, noise, erosion and application; none is applied here.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Check a pipe or hose size against a velocity guideline
- Find the velocity for a pressure-drop calculation
- Compare bore sizes
Who it is for
- Design engineers
- Maintenance engineers
What you get
- Mean flow velocity (m/s)
- Flow area (mm²)
Interpreting the result
- For pressure drop, use this velocity in the Darcy Pipe Pressure Drop tool; the Liquid Pipe Velocity and Reynolds Number tool adds the flow regime.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 365–366. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
- US Department of Energy, DOE-HDBK-1012/3-92, Fluid Flow — https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2026-04/DOE-HDBK-1012-92_VOL3.pdf
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