Gas
Timed gas volume rate
- where
- gas volume rate (m³/s; the calculator shows m³/h)
- measured gas volume (m³)
- elapsed time (s)
Explain this equation
Works out the gas volume rate passing through the meter from a timed reading. You use it when test-dialling an appliance: run it at full rate, time a known volume on the test dial, and convert that to a flow.
V is the volume of gas that actually passed the meter during the timing, in cubic metres. It must be a real volume, not a count of index digits: on an old imperial meter one index unit can be 100 ft³. t is how long that volume took, in seconds.
A rate is simply amount divided by time. The calculator works in m³/s internally and multiplies by 3600 to show m³/h, the unit appliance data normally quotes.
Sense check: 0.05 m³ in 120 s gives 1.5 m³/h. On natural gas each m³/h is roughly 10–11 kW of heat input, so that is a boiler burning around 16 kW.
Watch out: this is arithmetic only. Other appliances must be off, and the result is not an appliance acceptance check.
Enter your values to see the result.
Good to know
Use the correct meter scale; a traditional imperial index unit can be 100 ft³. This is arithmetic, not a gas test or appliance acceptance result.
Sources
Results are arithmetic only. Worked examples are not recommended design settings. This library does not provide automatic gas pipe selection, live gas tightness tests, purging procedures, combustion acceptance limits, installation approval or commissioning certification. Manufacturer data and the applicable current method remain essential.