Brake Horsepower Calculator

Formula

The formula to calculate Brake Horsepower (BHP) is:

\[ BHP = \frac{Q \times DH \times SG}{3960 \times \frac{E}{100}} \]

Where:

\( BHP \) is the Brake Horsepower (HP)
\( Q \) is the Flow Rate (gallons/min)
\( DH \) is the Total Dynamic Head (ft)
\( SG \) is the Specific Gravity of the Fluid
\( E \) is the Efficiency (%)

What is Brake Horsepower?

Brake horsepower (BHP) is the total amount of horsepower or energy required to overcome the resistance or force of braking in a centrifugal pump. This measurement is crucial for determining the power needed to operate the pump efficiently, considering factors such as flow rate, head, specific gravity, and the efficiency of the pump. It is an important metric in engineering and industrial applications to ensure the pump is appropriately sized for the task.

Example Calculation

Let's consider an example:

Flow Rate (Q): 500 gallons/min
Total Dynamic Head (DH): 100 ft
Specific Gravity of Fluid (SG): 1.2
Efficiency (E): 70%

Using the formula to calculate Brake Horsepower:

\[ BHP = \frac{500 \times 100 \times 1.2}{3960 \times \frac{70}{100}} = \frac{60000}{2772} \approx 21.64 \, \text{HP} \]

This means that the brake horsepower required for this pump is approximately 21.64 HP.