1. What is Gallons of Water per Foot of Pipe?

Definition: This calculator determines how many gallons of water are contained in one linear foot of pipe based on its inner radius.

Purpose: It helps plumbers, engineers, and irrigation specialists calculate water volume in pipes for system design and capacity planning.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( V_{gal/ft} \) — Volume in gallons per foot
• \( r \) — Inner radius of pipe (inches)
• \( \pi \) — Mathematical constant (~3.14159)
• 12 — Inches per foot conversion
• 231 — Cubic inches per gallon conversion

Explanation: The formula calculates the cylindrical volume of one foot of pipe and converts it from cubic inches to gallons.

3. Importance of Pipe Volume Calculation

Details: Knowing water volume in pipes is crucial for system priming, chemical treatment dosing, flow rate calculations, and thermal expansion considerations.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Simply enter the inner radius of the pipe in inches. The radius is half of the inner diameter. All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use radius instead of diameter?
A: The formula uses radius because the area calculation is πr². If you only know diameter, divide it by 2 to get radius.

Q2: What's the 231 conversion factor?
A: There are 231 cubic inches in one US liquid gallon, which is the standard conversion for these calculations.

Q3: Does this work for any pipe material?
A: Yes, as long as you use the correct inner radius. Pipe material only affects the outer dimensions and wall thickness.

Q4: How accurate is this calculation?
A: Extremely accurate for straight pipe sections. For curved pipes or those with interior obstructions, additional factors must be considered.

Q5: Can I calculate for multiple feet of pipe?
A: Yes, simply multiply the result by the total length in feet to get the total volume.