How to Convert Gallons Per Hour to Grams Per Second

Each gallon of water in a pipe weighs close to 4,000 grams.

When a fluid flows through a pipe, engineers can either consider the mass flow rate or the volumetric flow rate. The mass flow rate suits descriptions involving a system's level of production. The volumetric flow rate is more useful when describing the flow itself, such as then engineers monitor a pipe for blockages. To convert from volumetric to mass flow, take the fluid's density into account.

Instructions

1. Convert the flow volume to a unit that suits the fluid's density. For example, if your fluid has a density of 1,000 grams per liter, which is the density of fresh water, multiply the flow by 3.785, which is the number of liters in a gallon. If 1,300 gallons flow each hour, then 1,300 x 3.785 = 4,920.5. This is the flow rate in liters per hour.

2. Multiply this rate by the fluid's density -- 4,920.5 x 1,000 = 4,920,500. This is the mass flow rate, measured in grams per hour.

3. Divide this answer by 3,600, which is the number of seconds in an hour -- 4,920,500 / 3,600 = 1,366.8. This is the mass flow rate, measured in grams per second.

References

• "A Dictionary of Units of Measurement"; Russ Rowlett; University of North Carolina; 2008
• Colorado State University: Commonly Used Metric System Units, Symbols and Prefixes
• Elmhurst College: Density