1. What is Frequency and K-Factor Calculator?
Definition: This calculator computes the frequency (Hz) of a flow meter based on the K-Factor and flow rate, or the K-Factor based on frequency and flow rate, used in flow measurement systems.
Purpose: It is used in industrial and HVAC applications to determine flow meter performance and calibrate flow measurements accurately.
2. How Does the Calculator Work?
The calculator supports two calculation modes:
Calculate Frequency (Hz):
\( F = \frac{K \cdot GPM}{60} \)
Where:
- \( F \): Frequency (Hz)
- \( K \): K-Factor (pulses/(gal/min))
- \( GPM \): Flow Rate (Gallons per Minute)
Calculate K-Factor:
\( K = \frac{F \cdot 60}{GPM} \)
Where:
- \( K \): K-Factor (pulses/(gal/min))
- \( F \): Frequency (Hz)
- \( GPM \): Flow Rate (Gallons per Minute)
Steps:
- Select the calculation mode (Frequency or K-Factor).
- Enter the K-Factor (for Frequency mode) or Frequency (for K-Factor mode).
- Enter the flow rate with its unit (GPM or L/min).
- Convert the flow rate to GPM.
- Calculate the result using the appropriate formula.
- Display the result with 2 decimal places.
3. Importance of Frequency and K-Factor Calculation
Calculating Frequency and K-Factor is crucial for:
- Flow Measurement: Ensuring accurate flow rate readings in water or fluid systems.
- Calibration: Verifying and adjusting flow meters for precise operation.
- System Monitoring: Monitoring flow performance in industrial and HVAC applications.
4. Using the Calculator
Example 1 (Frequency): K-Factor = 389.616 pulses/(gal/min), GPM = 40:
- K-Factor (\( K \)): 389.616 pulses/(gal/min)
- Flow Rate (\( GPM \)): 40 GPM
- Frequency (\( F \)): \( \frac{389.616 \times 40}{60} \approx 259.74 \) Hz
- Result: \( F = 259.74 \) Hz
Example 2 (K-Factor): Frequency = 259.74 Hz, GPM = 40:
- Frequency (\( F \)): 259.74 Hz
- Flow Rate (\( GPM \)): 40 GPM
- K-Factor (\( K \)): \( \frac{259.74 \times 60}{40} \approx 389.61 \) pulses/(gal/min)
- Result: \( K = 389.61 \) pulses/(gal/min)
Example 3 (Frequency with L/min): K-Factor = 389.616 pulses/(gal/min), Flow Rate = 151.416 L/min (40 GPM):
- K-Factor (\( K \)): 389.616 pulses/(gal/min)
- Flow Rate (\( GPM \)): 151.416 L/min = 40 GPM
- Frequency (\( F \)): \( \frac{389.616 \times 40}{60} \approx 259.74 \) Hz
- Result: \( F = 259.74 \) Hz
5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the K-Factor?
A: The K-Factor is the number of pulses generated by a flow meter per unit of flow rate (pulses/(gal/min)), used to calibrate the meter.
Q: Why is 60 used in the formulas?
A: The 60 represents the number of seconds in a minute, converting pulses per minute to frequency in Hz or deriving total pulses.
Q: What is GPM?
A: GPM (Gallons per Minute) measures the flow rate of water or fluid, essential for flow meter calculations.
Reference:https://traskinstrumentation.com/pdf/K-Factor_Calculation.pdf
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