Flow vs Pressure Drop
FLOW VS PRESSURE DROP
Petroleum Fluids
3/4"/1" Reverse Flow
0.2-2.0
0.5-5.0
1-10
2-20
3-30
4-40
1/4"
.20-2.0
.10-1.0
.05-.50
.02-.20
FLOW, GPM
PRESSURE DR
OP
, PSI
FLOW, GPM
PRESSURE DR
OP
, PSI
1-1/4"/1-1/2" Reverse Flow
3-30
5-50
10-75
10-100
10-150
FLOW, GPM
PRESSURE DR
OP
, PSI
3.0"
20-300
10-200
FLOW, GPM
PRESSURE DR
OP
, PSI
1-1/4"/1-1/2"
10-150
10-100
10-75
5-50
3-30
FLOW, GPM
PRESSURE DR
OP
, PSI
1/2"
1-15
1-10
0.5-5.0
0.2-2.0
0.1-1.0
FLOW, GPM
PRESSURE DR
OP
, PSI
FLOW, GPM
PRESSURE DR
OP
, PSI
3/4"/ 1"
5-50
4-40
3-30
2-20
1/2" Reverse Flow
0.1-1.0
0.5-5.0
0.2-2.0
1-10
1-15
FLOW, GPM
PRESSURE DR
OP
, PSI
0.2-2.0
0
5
10
0
10
1-10
0.5-5.0
Figure 16: Petroleum fluids pressure drop charts
The pressure drop curves are valid for fluids with density and viscosity similar to factory
test fluids Fluids, especially with higher viscosity than these test fluids, will yield a higher
pressure drop through the flow meter and piping system per a given flow volume
A system needs adequate fluidic horsepower to move the system fluid at a prescribed rate
at a pressure adequate to overcome all pressure reducing devices, including the flow meter
Page 27
September 2017
XMT-UM-00498-EN-03