THE IDEAL WAY

Flow Calculations for Liquids

The coefficient of flow (Cv) is a formula which is used to determine a valve’s flows
under various conditions and is thus useful for selecting the correct valve for a flow application. For liquids, Cv expresses the flow in
gallons per minute of 60º F water with a pressure drop across the valve of 1 psi. Because gases are compressible fluids, the formula is
altered to accomodate changes in density. Please refer to the following page for a Cv formula for gases. Valve specifications list a
single Cv value for each valve model which represents the Cv value at full open. Ideal Aerosmith also created flow charts which
display the Cv value at 15 different turns allowing for calculating flows for varying conditions at any of these points. The following is
the Cv formula for liquids.

Where:
∆P Q = Liquid flow in Gallons per Minute
Cv = Q ∆P = Pressure Drop. P1 - P2 in psi
S . G. P1 = Upstream (inlet) pressure in psia
P2 = Downstream (outlet) pressure in psia
∆P psia = Absolute pressure. This is psig (gage pressure) plus 14.7 (atmospheric pressure)
Q = Cv × S.G. = Specific Gravity of medium where water at 60º F = 1.0
S .G.
Example:
Determine which orifice size should be used for the following application. Upstream pressure is 100 psia, downstream is 60 psia. The
medium is acetone (S.G.=.79) and the desired flow range is between .1 and .5 gpm.

40 40
Cv Low = .1 Cv High = .5
. 79 . 79
Cv Low = . 0141 Cv High = . 0703
The required Cv range for this application than is .0141 to .0703. If you’ll examine the Cv flow charts, you will see that the Ideal
Aerosmith -2- (.0625) orifice best fits this application. The Cv value of .0141 is reached at approximately turn 2.3, while the Cv value
of .0703 is reached at approximately turn 14.6. The Ideal -2- orifice will meter the desired flows between turns 2.3 and 14.6, thus
offering 12.3 turns of metering precision. The optional vernier micrometer handle displays the number of turns open accurate to 1/10
turn, thus giving the user in this application 123 visual reference points.
Flow Characteristics of orifice sizes
-1- (.031); -2- (.062); -3- (.094); -4- (.125)
No. Turns Cv
Open -1- -2- -3- -4- Specific Gravities of various liquids
1 - 0.0053 0.0176 0.0236 Liquid S.G. Liquid S.G.
2 0.0007 0.0120 0.0353 0.0443 Acetic Acid 1.050 Glycerine 1.260
3 0.0017 0.0184 0.0509 0.0635 Acetone 0.790 Glycol 1.125
4 0.0027 0.0245 0.0644 0.0814 Acetaldehyde 0.782 Isopropyl Alcohol 0.780
5 0.0037 0.0303 0.0762 0.0980 Alcohol, Ethyl 0.790 Kersosene 0.820
6 0.0047 0.0358 0.0863 0.1133 Alcohol, Methyl 0.800 Mercury 13.620
7 0.0057 0.0410 0.0948 0.1273 Aniline 1.020 Nitric Acid 1.502
8 0.0067 0.0458 0.1021 0.1402 Benzol 0.878 Oil, Crude .81 to .97
9 0.0077 0.0504 0.1081 0.1520 Carbolic Acid 1.081 Oil, Vegetable 0.925
10 0.0087 0.0546 0.1130 0.1628 Ether 0.741 Sulfuric Acid 1.831
12 0.0107 0.0623 0.1204 0.1812 Formic Acid 1.229 Turpentine 0.870
14 0.0127 0.0688 0.1254 0.1960 Gasoline 0.750 Water 1.000
16 0.0148 0.0742 0.1292 0.2075
18 0.0169 0.0786 0.1331 0.2162
20 0.0190 0.0818 0.1383 0.2224 The Cv table is shown in a graph form on the following page.
 Flow Calculation for Gases
The coefficient of flow (Cv) is a formula which is used to determine a valve’s flows under various conditions and to
select the correct valve for a flow application. The Cv was designed for use with liquid flows, it expresses the flow in
gallons per minute of 60º F water with a pressure drop across the valve of 1 psi. However, this same Cv value can be
used to determine gas flows through a valve. The formula becomes more intricate for gases, as gases are a compressible
fluids and are thus affected by temperature. Furthermore, two formulas are required to accurately estimate flow. When
the upstream pressure equals or exceeds two times the downstream pressure, it is known as a “choked flow” situation.
This calls for use of the Critical flow formula. If the upstream pressure is less than two times the downstream pressure,
the Sub-Critical flow formula should be used.

Critical Flow Sub - Critical Flow

When: P1 ≥ 2 x P2 When: P1 < 2 x P2
S.G. x T QG (S.G. x T)
Cv = QG Cv =
816 x P1 962 (P12 - P 2 2 )
816 x P1 (P12 - P 2 2 )
QG = Cv QG = 962 x Cv
S.G. x T (S.G. x T)
where:
QG = Gas Flow in Standard Cubic Feet per Hour P1 = Upstream (inlet) pressure in psia
T = Absolute temperature in ºR. (ºF + 460) P2 = Downstream (outlet) pressure in psia
psia = Absolute pressure. This is psig (gage pressure) plus 14.7 (atmospheric pressure)
S.G. = Specific Gravity of medium where air at 70º F and 14.7 psia = 1.0
Example:
Determine which orifice size should be used for the following application. Upstream pressure is 100 psig, downstream to
atmosphere. The medium is 70º F methane gas (S.G.=.554) and the desired flow range is up to 600 SCFH.

.554 x 530 The Cv value at which 600 SCFH of methane will flow under the above
Cv = 600 x = .1098 conditions is .1098. Upon examination of our Cv table (on previous page),
816 x 114.7
you can see that this value is reached at approximately turn 9.3 with our -3-
(.094) orifice and at turn 5.8 with our -4- (.125) orifice. The end user can choose between approximately 5.8 or 9.3 turns
of metering precision for this application.

Specific Gravities of gases

Gas S.G.
Flow Data, Cv vs. No. of Turns Open
Acetylene 0.907
Air 1.000
0.25
Ammonia 0.588
Argon 1.379 0.2
Carbon Dioxide 1.529 -1-
Carbon Monoxide 0.965 0.15
-2-
Cv

Helium 0.138 -3-

0.1
Hydrogen 0.070 -4-
Hydrogen Chloride 1.268 0.05
Methane 0.554
0
Methyl Chloride 1.736
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Nitrogen 0.967
Nitrous Oxide 1.517 No. of Turns Open

Oxygen 1.105
Sulfur Dioxide 2.264

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