Cubic inches per minute (in³/min) to Litres per day (l/d) conversion

What is cubic inches per minute?

What is Cubic Inches per Minute?

Cubic inches per minute (in$^3$/min or CFM) is a unit of measure for volume flow rate. It represents the volume of a substance (typically a gas or liquid) that flows through a given area per minute, with the volume measured in cubic inches. It's a common unit in engineering and manufacturing, especially in the United States.

Understanding Cubic Inches and Volume Flow Rate

Cubic Inches

A cubic inch is a unit of volume equal to the volume of a cube with sides one inch long. It's part of the imperial system of measurement.

Volume Flow Rate

Volume flow rate, generally denoted as $Q$, is the volume of fluid which passes per unit time. The SI unit for volume flow rate is cubic meters per second ($m^3/s$).

Formation of Cubic Inches per Minute

Cubic inches per minute is formed by combining a unit of volume (cubic inches) with a unit of time (minutes). This describes how many cubic inches of a substance pass a specific point or through a specific area in one minute.

$$Q = \frac{V}{t}$$

Where:

• $Q$ = Volume flow rate (in$^3$/min)
• $V$ = Volume (in$^3$)
• $t$ = Time (min)

Applications and Examples

Cubic inches per minute is used across various industries. Here are some real-world examples:

• Automotive: Measuring the air intake of an engine or the flow rate of fuel injectors. For instance, a fuel injector might have a flow rate of 100 in$^3$/min.
• HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning): Specifying the airflow capacity of fans and blowers. A small bathroom fan might move air at a rate of 50 in$^3$/min.
• Pneumatics: Determining the flow rate of compressed air in pneumatic systems. An air compressor might deliver 500 in$^3$/min of air.
• Manufacturing: Measuring the flow of liquids in industrial processes, such as coolant flow in machining operations. A coolant pump might have a flow rate of 200 in$^3$/min.
• 3D Printing: When using liquid resins.

Conversions and Related Units

It's important to understand how cubic inches per minute relates to other units of flow rate:

• Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM): 1 CFM = 1728 in$^3$/min
• Liters per Minute (LPM): 1 in$^3$/min ≈ 0.01639 LPM
• Gallons per Minute (GPM): 1 GPM ≈ 231 in$^3$/min

Interesting Facts

While there's no specific law directly associated with cubic inches per minute itself, the underlying principles of fluid dynamics that govern volume flow rate are described by fundamental laws such as the Navier-Stokes equations. These equations, developed in the 19th century, describe the motion of viscous fluids and are essential for understanding fluid flow in a wide range of applications. For more information you can read about it in the following Navier-Stokes Equations page from NASA.

What is Litres per day?

Litres per day (L/day) is a unit of volumetric flow rate. It represents the volume of a liquid or gas that passes through a specific point or area in one day. It's commonly used to express relatively small flow rates over an extended period.

Understanding Litres and Flow Rate

• Litre (L): The litre is a metric unit of volume, equivalent to 1 cubic decimetre ($dm^3$) or 1000 cubic centimetres ($cm^3$).
• Flow Rate: Flow rate is the measure of the volume of fluid that moves through a specific area per unit of time. Litres per day expresses this flow rate using litres as the volume unit and a day as the time unit.

How Litres per Day is Formed

Litres per day is a derived unit. It's formed by combining the unit of volume (litre) with the unit of time (day).

To get litres per day, you measure the total volume in litres that has passed a point over a 24-hour period.

Mathematically, this is represented as:

$Flow Rate (L/day) = \frac{Volume (L)}{Time (day)}$

Conversions

It's helpful to know some conversions for Litres per day to other common units of flow rate:

• 1 L/day ≈ 0.0000115741 m³/s (cubic meters per second)
• 1 L/day ≈ 0.0264172 US gallons per day
• 1 L/day ≈ 0.211338 US pints per day

Applications of Litres per Day

Litres per day are commonly used in scenarios where tracking small, continuous flows over extended periods is essential.

• Water Usage: Daily water consumption for households or small businesses. For example, average household might use 500 L/day.
• Drip Irrigation: Measuring the water supplied to plants in a drip irrigation system. A single emitter might provide 2-4 L/day.
• Medical Infusion: Infusion pumps deliver medication at a slow, controlled rate measured in mL/hour, which can be converted to L/day (24 L/day = 1000mL/hour).
• Wastewater Treatment: Monitoring the flow of wastewater through a treatment plant.

Interesting Facts and Related Concepts

While no specific law or person is directly associated with "litres per day," the concept of flow rate is fundamental in fluid mechanics and thermodynamics. Important related concepts include:

• Fluid Dynamics: The study of fluids in motion. Understanding flow rates is crucial in fluid dynamics. You can read more at Fluid Dynamics.
• Volumetric Flow Rate: Volumetric flow rate is directly related to mass flow rate, especially when the density of the fluid is known.

The information can be used to educate users about what is liters per day and how it can be used.