Motors&Drives.

book Page 301 Monday, January 10, 2005 1:54 PM

Appendix B: Formulas and Conversions

301

Appendix B: Formulas
and Conversions

General Information
The following information is a summary of typical formulas and conversion factors used in the rotating machinery industry. This information can
be used as a basis for sizing drives and evaluating application types and
factors.
However, these formulas are to be used for estimating purposes only. They
do not include allowance for machine friction, windage, or other machine
factors. When sizing a drive, always consider all machine factors (i.e. electrical, mechanical, and environmental) and motor factors (e.g., full load
amperes and speed range).

Horsepower Formulas
General Formula
Torque Speed
HP = ----------------------------------------5252
where:
Torque = lb-ft
Speed = rpm
5252 = a proportional constant
Conveyors
Force Velocity
HP ( Vertical ) = -------------------------------------------33,000

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where:
Force = force or weight (lb)
Velocity = fpm
Force Velocity Coef of Friction
HP ( Horizontal ) = ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------33,000
where:
Force = force or weight (lb)
Velocity = fpm
Fans and Blowers
CFM Pressure
BHP = -------------------------------------------------33,000 Eff of Fan
where:
BHP =
CFM = cubic feet per minute
EffofFan = efficiency of fan (%/100)
Pressure = lb/ft2
CFM Pressure
BHP = ------------------------------------------229 Eff of Fan
where:
BHP =
CFM = cubic feet per minute
EffofFan = efficiency of fan (%/100)
Pressure = lb/in2
CFM PSI
HP = --------------------------------------------6356 Eff of Fan
where:
CFM = cubic feet per minute
EffofFan = efficiency of fan (%/100)
PSI = pressure in inches of water
Pumps
GPM Head Specific Gravity
BHP = -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------3960 Eff of Pump
where:
BHP =

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Appendix B: Formulas and Conversions

303

GPM = gallons per minute

Head = measurement of pressure in ft
EffofPump = efficiency of pump (%/100)
SpecificGravity = 1.0 (water)
Efficiency of pump (positive displacement) may vary between 50
and 80% depending on size
Efficiency of pump (centrifugal) = 500 to 100 GPM = 70 to 75%
1000 to 1500 GPM = 75 to 80%
Over 1500 GPM = 80 to 85%
GPM PSI Specific Gravity
BHP = ------------------------------------------------------------------------------1713 Eff of Pump
Affinity laws for centrifugal applications:
Flow 1
RPM 1
---------------- = ---------------Flow
RPM
2
2
Pres
( RPM ) 2
1 --------------1- = ----------------------Pres 2
( RPM 2 ) 2
BHP
( RPM ) 2
1 = ----------------------1 --------------BHP 2
( RPM 2 ) 2

Torque Formulas
General Formulas
HP 5252
T = -------------------------Speed
where:
T = torque in lb-ft
HP = horsepower
Speed = speed in rpm
Torque = Force Radius
where:
Torque = torque in lb-ft
Force = force in lb
Radius = radius in ft

WK RPM
Torque = -----------------------------------308 t

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Motors and Drives

where:
Torque = torque in lb-ft
WK2 = inertia reflected to the motor shaft (lb-ft2)
rpm = change in speed (rpm)
t = time to accelerate (seconds)

AC Motor Formulas
120 Frequency
Speed = --------------------------------------------Number of Poles
where:
Speed = synchronous speed in rpm
Frequency = applied frequency in Hz
NumberofPoles = number of poles per phase
( Sync Speed FL Speed ) 100
Slip = ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sync Speed
where:
Slip = slip in %
SyncSpeed = synchronous speed in rpm
FLSpeed = full load speed in rpm

Electrical Formulas
Power (DC Circuits)
IE
HP = ----------746
where:
I = intensity of current (amperes)
E = EMF or voltage (volts)
Power (AC Circuits)
IE
kVA = -----------1000
where:
kVA = kilovolt amperes (1 phase)
I = intensity of current (amperes)
E = EMF or voltage (volts)

Motors&Drives.book Page 305 Monday, January 10, 2005 1:54 PM

Appendix B: Formulas and Conversions

I E 1.73
kVA = ---------------------------1000
where:
kVA = kilovolt amperes (3 phase)
I = intensity of current (amperes)
E = EMF or voltage (volts)
I E PF
kW = ------------------------1000
where:
kW = kilowatts (1 phase)
I = intensity of current (amperes)
E = EMF or voltage (volts)
PF = power factor
I E PF 1.73
kW = -----------------------------------------1000
where:
kW = kilowatts (3 phase)
I = intensity of current (amperes)
E = EMF or voltage (volts)
PF = power factor
kWW = --------PF = ----------kVA
EI
Input Watts
PF = --------------------------------V A 1.732
where:
PF = power factor
W = watts
I = intensity of current (amperes)
E = EMF or voltage (volts)
kW = kilowatts
kVA = kilovolt amperes
Motor Amperes (calculating)
HP 746
MotorAmperes = ---------------------------------------------------E 1.73 EFF PF

305

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Motors and Drives

kVA 1000
MotorAmperes = ----------------------------1.73 E
kW 1000
MotorAmperes = ---------------------------------1.73 E PF
where:
HP = horsepower
E = EMF or voltage (volts)
EFF = efficiency of the motor (in %/100)
kVA = kilovolt amperes
kW = kilowatts
PF = power factor

Constants
Weight
16 oz =
2.204 lb =
2.309 ft of water at 62F =
28.35 gm =
62.35 lbs =
1 gal of water at 62F =

1 lb
1 kg
1 PSI
1 oz
Weight of 1 cu. ft of water at 62F
8.326 lb

Power
1 kW =
1 HP =
1 HP =
1 HP =

1.34 HP
2.54 BTU/hour
33,000 ft-lb per minute
746 W

Pressure
14.22 PSI =
1 PSI =
1 PSI =
1 PSI =
Atmospheric pressure =
Atmospheric pressure =

1 kg per sq. cm (1 metric atmosphere)

2.035 inches of mercury at 32F
2.041 inches of mercury at 62F
27.71 inches of water at 62F
29.92 inches of mercury at 32F
30 inches of mercury at 62F (approx.)

Length
1 inch =
1 yard =
1 yard =

2.54 centimeters (cm)

3 feet
1.094 meters

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Appendix B: Formulas and Conversions

1 meter (m) =
1 meter (m) =

307

3.28 feet
39.37 inches

Temperature
F 32 )C = (---------------------1.8
F = ( C 1.8 ) + 32

Locate known temperature in either degrees Celsius (C) or degrees Fahrenheit (F) in boldface F/C column. For conversion, read desired temperature in respective column.
Example: To convert 110C to Fahrenheit, find 110 in the F/C column.
Then look to the right for the desired conversion value, 230F. To convert
75F to Celsius, find 75 in the F/C column. Then look to the left for the
desired conversion value, 23.9F.
C
-45.6
-42.8
-40.0
-37.2
-34.4
-31.7
-28.9
-26.1
-23.3
-20.6
-17.8
-15.0
-12.2
-9.4
-6.7
-3.9
-1.1
1.7
4.4
7.2
10.0
12.8

F/C
-50
-45
-40
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55

-58
-49
-40
-31
-22
-13
-4
5
14
23
32
41
50
59
68
77
86
95
104
113
122
131

15.6
18.3
21.1
23.9
26.7
29.4
32.2
35.0
37.8
40.6
43.3
46.1
48.9
51.7
54.4
57.2
60.0
62.8
65.6
68.3
71.1
73.9

F/C
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
105
110
115
120
125
130
135
140
145
150
155
160
165

F
140
149
158
167
176
185
194
203
212
221
230
239
248
257
266
275
284
293
302
311
320
329

C
76.7
79.4
82.2
85.0
87.8
90.6
93.3
96.1
98.9
101.7
104.4
107.2
110.0
112.8
115.6
118.3
121.1
123.9
126.7
129.4
132.2
135.0

F/C
170
175
180
185
190
195
200
205
210
215
220
225
230
235
240
245
250
255
260
265
270
275

F
338
347
356
365
375
383
392
401
410
419
428
437
446
455
464
473
482
491
500
509
518
527

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Torque
1 Newton-Meters (N-m) = 0.737 lb-ft
1 lb-ft =
1.356 Newton-Meters (N-m)
1 lb-in =
0.083 lb-ft
1 lb-ft =
12.0 lb-in
Note:
A 2-pole motor (3600 rpm) develops 1.5 lb-ft of torque per HP
A 4-pole motor (1800 rpm) develops 3.0 lb-ft of torque per HP
A 6-pole motor (1200 rpm) develops 4.5 lb-ft of torque per HP
An 8-pole motor (900 rpm) develops 6.0 lb-ft of torque per HP
Volume
1 cm3 (mL)=
1 fl-oz =
1L=
1 yd3 =
1 ft3 of water at 39.2F =
1 cfm =

0.00001 m3
29.57 cm3
0.001 m3
0.765 m3
28.32 kg or liters
0.000472 m3/s

Rotation & Rates

1 rpm =
1 degree/s =
1 in/s =
1 km/hr =
1 mph =
1 FPM =
1 FPS =
1 gal/min =
1 yd3/min =

6.00 degrees/s
0.167 rpm
0.0254 m/s
0.278 m/s
0.447 m/s
0.00508 m/s
0.305 m/s
63.09 cm3/s
0.0127 m3/s

Inertia
1 oz-in2 =
1 lb-in2 =
1 oz-in-sec2 =
1 in-lb-sec2 =
1 N-m2 =

0.000434 lb-ft2
0.00694 lb-ft2
0.167 lb-ft2
2.68 lb-ft2
2.42 lb-ft2

Conversion Factors
MULTIPLY
LENGTH
Centimeters
Fathoms
Feet

BY

TO OBTAIN

0.3937
6.0
12

=
=
=

Inches
Feet
Inches

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Appendix B: Formulas and Conversions

0.3048
2.54
0.6214
3.281
39.37
1.094
5280.0
1.609
0.9144

=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=

Meters
Centimeters
Miles
Feet
Inches
Yards
Feet
Kilometers
Meters

AREA
Acres
Acres
Circular mils
Square centimeters
Square feet
Square feet
Square inches
Square meters
Square miles
Square yards

43560.0
4840.0
0.7854
0.155
144.0
0.0929
6.452
1.196
640.0
0.8361

=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=

Square feet
Square yards
Square mils
Square inches
Square inches
Square meters
Square centimeters
Square yards
Acres
Square meters

VOLUME
Cubic feet
Cubic feet
Cubic inches
Cubic meters
Cubic meters
Cubic yards
Gallons
Gallons
Liters
Liters
Ounces (fluid)
Quarts (liquid)

0.0283
7.481
0.5541
35.31
1.308
0.7646
3.785
0.1337
0.2642
1.057
1.805
0.9463

=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=

Cubic meters
Gallons
Ounces (fluid)
Cubic feet
Cubic yards
Cubic meters
Liters
Cubic feet
Gallons
Quarts (liquid)
Cubic inches
Liters

FORCE AND WEIGHT

Grams
Kilograms
Newtons
Ounces
Pounds
Pounds (force)
Tons (short)
Tons (short)

0.0353
2.205
0.2248
28.35
453.6
4.448
907.2
2000.0

=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=

Ounces
Pounds
Pounds (force)
Grams
Grams
Newtons
Kilograms
Pounds

Feet
Inches
Kilometers
Meters
Meters
Meters
Miles
Miles
Yards

309

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Motors and Drives

TORQUE
Gram-centimeters
Newton-meters
Newton-meters
Ounce-inches
Pound-feet
Pound-inches

0.0139
0.7376
8.851
72.0
1.3558
0.113

=
=
=
=
=
=

Ounce-inches
Pound-feet
Pound-inches
Gram-centimeters
Newton-meters
Newton-meters

ENERGY OR WORK
BTU

778.2

Foot-pounds

POWER
BTU per hour
Horsepower
Horsepower
Horsepower
Kilowatts

0.293
33000
550
746
1.341

=
=
=
=
=

Watts
Foot-pounds per min
Foot-pounds per sec
Watts
Horsepower

PLANE ANGLE
Degrees
Minutes
Minutes
Quadrants
Quadrants
Radians

0.0175
0.01667
2.9 10-4
90.0
1.5708
57.3

=
=
=
=
=
=

Radians
Degrees
Radians
Degrees
Radians
Degrees