Pounds per Minute Calculator
Calculate mass flow rate in pounds per minute from weight, time, density, and volume
Calculate Mass Flow Rate
Total weight of substance that flowed
Time taken for the substance to flow
Mass Flow Rate Results
Mass Flow Rates
Formula: Mass Flow Rate = Weight ÷ Time
Calculation method: Mass and Time
Flow Rate Analysis
Example Calculation
Water Flow Example
Scenario: Water flowing through a pipe
Weight of water: 50 pounds
Time period: 5 minutes
Water density: 62.4 lb/ft³
Calculation
Mass Flow Rate = Weight ÷ Time
Mass Flow Rate = 50 lb ÷ 5 min
Mass Flow Rate = 10 lb/min
Volumetric Flow Rate = 10 lb/min ÷ 62.4 lb/ft³ = 0.16 CFM
Common Material Densities
Quick Conversions
1 lb/min = 0.00756 kg/s
1 lb/min = 0.4536 kg/min
1 lb/min = 60 lb/h
CFM = lb/min ÷ density (lb/ft³)
GPM = lb/min ÷ (density × 0.134)
Understanding Mass Flow Rate
What is Mass Flow Rate?
Mass flow rate is a measurement of the mass of a substance that passes through a given cross-sectional area per unit time. It's commonly expressed in pounds per minute (lb/min) or kilograms per second (kg/s) and is fundamental in fluid mechanics and engineering applications.
Key Applications
- •Industrial process control and monitoring
- •HVAC system design and analysis
- •Chemical and petroleum processing
- •Water treatment and distribution systems
Calculation Methods
ṁ = W / t
ṁ = (ρ × V) / t
- ṁ: Mass flow rate (lb/min)
- W: Total weight/mass (lb)
- t: Time duration (min)
- ρ: Density (lb/ft³)
- V: Volume (ft³)
Note: When density is known, you can convert between mass flow rate and volumetric flow rate using the relationship: Volumetric Flow = Mass Flow ÷ Density