Head to Pressure Calculator

| Added in Physics

What is Pressure From Head and Why Should You Care?

Pressure from head is the concept of translating the height (or head) of a fluid column into pressure. This is essential for pump selection, hydraulic system design, and plumbing work. Understanding this relationship helps you design efficient fluid systems.

How to Calculate Pressure From Head

Here's the formula for imperial units:

[\text{Pressure (psi)} = 0.433 \times \text{Total Head (ft)} \times \text{Specific Gravity}]

For metric units:

[\text{Pressure (kPa)} = 9.81 \times \text{Total Head (m)} \times \text{Specific Gravity}]

Where:

  • Pressure From Head is the pressure due to the height of the fluid column
  • Total Head is the height of the fluid column (in feet or meters)
  • Specific Gravity is the density of the fluid relative to water

Calculation Example

Example 1 (Imperial):

  • Total Head: 150 feet
  • Specific Gravity: 1.0 (water)

[\text{Pressure (psi)} = 0.433 \times 150 \times 1.0 = 64.95 \text{ psi}]

Example 2 (Metric):

  • Total Head: 45 meters
  • Specific Gravity: 0.85

[\text{Pressure (kPa)} = 9.81 \times 45 \times 0.85 = 375.11 \text{ kPa}]

Frequently Asked Questions

Pressure from head is the pressure exerted by a column of fluid due to its height. It depends on the fluid height and its specific gravity.

In imperial units, multiply head (ft) by 0.433 and specific gravity. In metric units, multiply head (m) by 9.81 and specific gravity.

Specific gravity is the ratio of a fluid density to water density. Water has a specific gravity of 1.0, while oil might be around 0.85.

Understanding head to pressure conversion is essential for pump selection, hydraulic system design, and plumbing applications.