Sizing Steam Pipes (lb/h)

Calculate steam pipe capacity based on gauge pressure, pipe size, and steam velocity. This tool is used for sizing steam pipes (Schedule 80) in imperial units (lb/h). The recommended steam velocity is 80 ft/sec. Reference: A 4 inch sch. 80 steel pipe with 100 psi steam pressure has a capacity of 5923 lb/h at 80 ft/s velocity.

Sizing Steam Pipes (lb/h)

Steam is a compressible gas where the capacity of a pipe line depends on the size of the pipe and the steam pressure.

Recommended steam velocity: 80 ft/sec

This calculator uses a lookup table for Schedule 80 steel pipes to determine steam capacity based on:

Gauge Pressure (psi): 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 200
Pipe Size (inches): 1/2", 3/4", 1", 1 1/4", 1 1/2", 2", 2 1/2", 3", 4", 5", 6", 8", 10", 12"
Steam Velocity (ft/s): 50, 80, 120

Select your steam pressure and pipe size to find the corresponding capacity at different velocities.

Calculator

Inputs

Gauge Pressure (psi)

Pipe Size (in)

Steam Velocity (ft/s)

Results

Pipe Capacity-- lb/h

Gauge Pressure (psi)	1/2"	3/4"	1"	1 1/4"	1 1/2"	2"	2 1/2"	3"	4"	5"	6"	8"	10"	12"
5 @ 50 ft/s	15	27	45	80	110	184	263	411	716	1130	1620	2843	4464	6325
5 @ 80 ft/s	24	43	72	128	176	294	421	657	1146	1808	2593	4550	7142	10121
5 @ 120 ft/s	35	64	108	192	264	441	631	986	1720	2712	3889	6824	10713	15181
10 @ 50 ft/s	18	33	55	97	134	224	320	500	873	1377	1974	3464	5438	7705
10 @ 80 ft/s	29	52	88	156	214	358	512	801	1396	2203	3159	5542	8701	12329
10 @ 120 ft/s	43	78	132	234	321	537	769	1201	2095	3304	4738	8313	13051	18493
20 @ 50 ft/s	25	45	76	135	186	310	444	694	1210	1909	2737	4803	7540	10684
20 @ 80 ft/s	40	72	122	216	297	497	710	1110	1936	3054	4379	7685	12064	17095
20 @ 120 ft/s	60	108	182	324	445	745	1066	1665	2904	4581	6569	11527	18096	25642
30 @ 50 ft/s	31	57	96	170	234	391	559	873	1522	2401	3443	6042	9485	13440
30 @ 80 ft/s	50	91	153	272	374	625	894	1396	2436	3842	5509	9667	15176	21504
30 @ 120 ft/s	75	136	230	408	560	937	1341	2095	3654	5762	8264	14500	22763	32256
40 @ 50 ft/s	38	69	116	206	282	472	676	1056	1842	2905	4165	7309	11474	16258
40 @ 80 ft/s	61	110	185	329	452	756	1081	1689	2947	4647	6664	11694	18358	26013
40 @ 120 ft/s	91	165	278	494	678	1134	1622	2534	4420	6971	9997	17541	27537	39020
60 @ 50 ft/s	51	92	155	275	378	633	905	1414	2466	3889	5577	9787	15364	21771
60 @ 80 ft/s	81	147	248	441	605	1012	1448	2262	3946	6223	8924	15659	24582	34833
60 @ 120 ft/s	122	221	372	661	908	1518	2172	3393	5918	9334	13386	23488	36873	52250
80 @ 50 ft/s	64	115	194	344	473	791	1132	1768	3084	4864	6975	12239	19213	27225
80 @ 80 ft/s	102	184	310	551	757	1266	1810	2829	4934	7782	11160	19582	30741	43560
80 @ 120 ft/s	153	276	465	827	1135	1899	2716	4243	7401	11673	16739	29373	46112	65340
100 @ 50 ft/s	76	138	233	413	568	950	1358	2122	3702	5839	8373	14693	23066	32684
100 @ 80 ft/s	122	221	372	662	909	1520	2173	3396	5923	9342	13397	23508	36905	52294
100 @ 120 ft/s	183	332	558	992	1363	2280	3260	5094	8885	14014	20096	35262	55358	78442
120 @ 50 ft/s	89	161	271	482	661	1106	1582	2472	4312	6801	9752	17112	26864	38066
120 @ 80 ft/s	142	258	433	771	1058	1770	2531	3955	6899	10881	15603	27379	42982	60906
120 @ 120 ft/s	213	386	650	1156	1587	2655	3797	5933	10348	16321	23405	41069	64473	91359
150 @ 50 ft/s	108	196	330	587	806	1349	1929	3013	5256	8290	11888	20859	32747	46402
150 @ 80 ft/s	173	314	528	939	1290	2158	3086	4821	8409	13264	19020	33375	52394	74243
150 @ 120 ft/s	260	471	793	1409	1935	3236	4628	7232	12614	19895	28530	50062	78592	111364
200 @ 50 ft/s	139	251	423	752	1032	1727	2469	3858	6730	10614	15221	26708	41928	59412
200 @ 80 ft/s	222	402	676	1203	1652	2763	3951	6173	10767	16982	24353	42732	67084	95058
200 @ 120 ft/s	333	603	1015	1804	2477	4144	5926	9260	16151	25473	36529	64098	100627	142588