Gallons per second to Cubic yards per hour conversion

How to convert gallons per second to cubic yards per hour?

To convert gallons per second (gal/s) to cubic yards per hour (yd³/hr), we need to use conversion factors for gallons to cubic yards and seconds to hours. Let's go through the process step-by-step.

Step-by-Step Conversion

1. Conversion Factors:

   • Volume: 1 gallon = 0.133681 cubic feet (ft³)
   • Time: 1 hour = 3600 seconds
   • Volume: 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet (ft³)

2. Convert Gallons to Cubic Feet: Since 1 gallon = 0.133681 ft³, for 1 gal/s: $1 \, \text{gal/s} \times 0.133681 \, \text{ft}³/\text{gal} = 0.133681 \, \text{ft}³/\text{s}$

3. Convert Cubic Feet per Second to Cubic Feet per Hour: There are 3600 seconds in an hour, so: $0.133681 \, \text{ft}³/\text{s} \times 3600 \, \text{s/hr} = 481.2516 \, \text{ft}³/\text{hr}$

4. Convert Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards: Since 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet, for 481.2516 ft³/hr: $481.2516 \, \text{ft}³/\text{hr} \div 27 \, \text{ft}³/\text{yd}³ = 17.82043 \, \text{yd}³/\text{hr}$

So, 1 gallon per second is approximately 17.82043 cubic yards per hour.

Real-World Examples for Gallons per Second

1. Fire Hydrants: Many fire hydrants have a flow rate around 1 to 2.5 gallons per second (gal/s). A fire hydrant at 2 gal/s would equate to: $2 \, \text{gal/s} = 2 \times 17.82043 \, \text{yd}³/\text{hr} = 35.64086 \, \text{yd}³/\text{hr}$

2. Waterfalls: A small waterfall may have a flow rate of about 5 gal/s. This translates to: $5 \, \text{gal/s} = 5 \times 17.82043 \, \text{yd}³/\text{hr} = 89.10215 \, \text{yd}³/\text{hr}$

3. Industrial Pumps: Industrial water pumps may have flow rates that range from 10 to 50 gallons per second. For a pump at 10 gal/s: $10 \, \text{gal/s} = 10 \times 17.82043 \, \text{yd}³/\text{hr} = 178.2043 \, \text{yd}³/\text{hr}$

These conversions highlight how substantial flow rates in gallons per second can translate to large volumes per hour when expressed in cubic yards.