Formula solver index — formula.expert

Cylinder Volume

V = \pi r^{2} h

GeometryWater TreatmentVolume of a right circular cylinder from its radius and height, using π ≈ 3.14159265.

Density

\rho = \tfrac{m}{V}

PhysicsChemistryWater TreatmentMass per unit volume.

Hydrostatic Pressure (P = ρgh)

P = \rho g h

MechanicsPhysicsWater TreatmentGauge pressure at depth h in a fluid of density ρ, using g = 9.80665 m/s².

Volumetric Flow Rate (Q = Av)

Q = A v

Fluid MechanicsWater TreatmentPhysicsFlow through a duct or pipe: cross-sectional area times average flow velocity.

Continuity Equation (A₁v₁ = A₂v₂)

A_1 v_1 = A_2 v_2

Fluid MechanicsWater TreatmentPhysicsFor incompressible flow, the same volume per second passes every cross-section of the pipe.

Torricelli's Law (v = √(2gh))

v = \sqrt{2 g h}

Fluid MechanicsWater TreatmentPhysicsSpeed of fluid jetting from an opening a depth h below the free surface, with g = 9.80665 m/s².

Pressure Head (h = P/ρg)

h = \frac{P}{\rho g}

Fluid MechanicsWater TreatmentPhysicsConverts a pressure into the equivalent height of a fluid column, with g = 9.80665 m/s².

Velocity Head (h = v²/2g)

h_v = \frac{v^{2}}{2g}

Fluid MechanicsWater TreatmentPhysicsThe kinetic energy of a flow expressed as an equivalent column height, with g = 9.80665 m/s².

Specific Gravity

SG = \frac{\rho}{\rho_{water}}

Fluid MechanicsWater TreatmentChemistryDensity expressed as a multiple of water's 1000 kg/m³.

Hydraulic Power (P = ρgQh)

P = \rho g Q h

Fluid MechanicsWater TreatmentPhysicsPower needed to lift a flow Q through a head h, with g = 9.80665 m/s².

pH from Hydrogen Ion Concentration

\mathrm{pH} = -\log_{10}\,[\mathrm{H^+}]

ChemistryWater TreatmentExpresses acidity as the negative base-10 logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration in mol/L.

Dilution Equation (C1V1 = C2V2)

C_1 V_1 = C_2 V_2

ChemistryWater TreatmentStates that concentration times volume is conserved when a solution is diluted, since the moles of solute do not change.

Glycol Loop Heat Transfer (Capacity Derate)

\dot{Q} = \rho c \dot{V} \, \Delta T

HVAC & HydronicsThermodynamicsWater TreatmentHeat carried by a glycol loop using the actual mix density and specific heat, which is how the 500 constant derates for antifreeze.

Condenser Water Flow Rate

\dot{V} = \frac{\dot{Q} \cdot \mathrm{HRF}}{\rho_w c_w \, \Delta T}

HVAC & HydronicsFluid MechanicsWater TreatmentTower water flow needed to reject a chiller's load plus compressor heat, the physics behind the 3 gpm per ton at 10 °F rule of thumb.

Pump Affinity Law — Flow vs Speed

\frac{Q_2}{Q_1} = \frac{N_2}{N_1}

HVAC & HydronicsFluid MechanicsWater TreatmentFirst affinity law: a centrifugal pump's capacity changes in direct proportion to shaft speed when the impeller diameter is unchanged.

Pump Affinity Law — Head vs Speed

\frac{H_2}{H_1} = \left(\frac{N_2}{N_1}\right)^{2}

HVAC & HydronicsFluid MechanicsWater TreatmentSecond affinity law: pump head varies with the square of shaft speed, so a 20% speed cut costs 36% of the developed head.

Pump Affinity Law — Power vs Speed

\frac{P_2}{P_1} = \left(\frac{N_2}{N_1}\right)^{3}

HVAC & HydronicsFluid MechanicsWater TreatmentThird affinity law: absorbed power varies with the cube of shaft speed — the single relation that pays for every variable-frequency drive.

Pump Affinity Law — Flow vs Impeller Diameter

\frac{Q_2}{Q_1} = \frac{D_2}{D_1}

HVAC & HydronicsFluid MechanicsWater TreatmentCapacity scales directly with trimmed impeller diameter at constant speed, the classic way to de-rate an oversized centrifugal pump permanently.

Pump Affinity Law — Head vs Impeller Diameter

\frac{H_2}{H_1} = \left(\frac{D_2}{D_1}\right)^{2}

HVAC & HydronicsFluid MechanicsWater TreatmentDeveloped head falls with the square of the trimmed impeller diameter, so a 10% trim sheds about 19% of the head at constant speed.

Pump Water Horsepower

WHP = \frac{Q \, H \, SG}{3960}

HVAC & HydronicsFluid MechanicsWater TreatmentUseful power delivered to the liquid; the 3960 divisor assumes US gallons per minute, feet of head and horsepower output.

Pump Brake Horsepower

BHP = \frac{Q \, H \, SG}{3960 \, \eta}

HVAC & HydronicsFluid MechanicsWater TreatmentShaft power the motor must actually supply; the 3960 constant assumes gpm, feet of head and horsepower, with efficiency as a fraction.

Pump Efficiency from Hydraulic and Shaft Power

\eta = \frac{P_{hyd}}{P_{shaft}}

HVAC & HydronicsFluid MechanicsWater TreatmentPump efficiency is the ratio of hydraulic power delivered to the liquid over the mechanical power absorbed at the shaft.

Total Dynamic Head

TDH = h_s + h_f + h_v

HVAC & HydronicsFluid MechanicsWater TreatmentThe head a pump must develop: static lift plus friction losses plus velocity head, all expressed in feet or metres of the pumped liquid.

Net Positive Suction Head Available (NPSHa)

NPSH_a = h_{atm} + h_s - h_f - h_{vp}

HVAC & HydronicsFluid MechanicsWater TreatmentAbsolute head available at the pump suction above the liquid's vapour pressure — the margin that keeps a pump from cavitating.

Hazen–Williams Head Loss

h_f = \frac{10.67 \, L \, Q^{1.852}}{C^{1.852} D^{4.8704}}

HVAC & HydronicsFluid MechanicsWater TreatmentThe waterworks head-loss equation in SI form, with Q in m³/s and D in m; the 10.67 constant is 4.727 when working in feet and cubic feet per second.

Hazen–Williams Velocity

v = 0.849 \, C \, R^{0.63} S^{0.54}

HVAC & HydronicsFluid MechanicsWater TreatmentMean water velocity from hydraulic radius and hydraulic gradient; the 0.849 SI constant becomes 1.318 when R is in feet and v in feet per second.

Minor Loss from K Factor

h_L = K \, \frac{v^{2}}{2g}

HVAC & HydronicsFluid MechanicsWater TreatmentHead lost through a valve or fitting as a multiple of velocity head, with g = 9.80665 m/s² and K taken from a fitting table.

Equivalent Length of a Fitting

L_{eq} = \frac{K D}{f}

HVAC & HydronicsFluid MechanicsWater TreatmentConverts a fitting's K factor into the length of straight pipe that would cause the same friction loss at the same friction factor.

Valve Flow Coefficient (Cv)

Q = C_v \sqrt{\frac{\Delta P}{SG}}

HVAC & HydronicsFluid MechanicsWater TreatmentThe US valve-sizing relation: Cv is the gpm of 60 °F water a valve passes at 1 psi drop, so Q is in gpm and ΔP in psi.

Valve Flow Coefficient (Kv, metric)

Q = K_v \sqrt{\frac{\Delta p}{SG}}

HVAC & HydronicsFluid MechanicsWater TreatmentThe metric valve-sizing relation: Kv is the m³/h of water a valve passes at 1 bar drop, related to Cv by Cv ≈ 1.156 Kv.

Pipe Internal Volume

V = \frac{\pi D^{2}}{4} L

HVAC & HydronicsFluid MechanicsWater TreatmentThe liquid a run of pipe holds, from inside diameter and developed length — the starting point for every flush, fill or chemical dose.

Pipe Velocity from Flow and Diameter

v = \frac{4Q}{\pi D^{2}}

HVAC & HydronicsFluid MechanicsWater TreatmentAverage velocity in a full round pipe from volumetric flow and inside diameter — the first check on any piping design.

Pump Specific Speed (Ns)

N_s = \frac{N \sqrt{Q}}{H^{0.75}}

HVAC & HydronicsFluid MechanicsWater TreatmentThe dimensional index that classifies impeller type, evaluated in US units with N in rpm, Q in gpm and H in feet at the best efficiency point.

Glycol Dilution

C_1 V_1 = C_2 V_2

Water TreatmentChemistryDilution equation for mixing glycol (or any concentrate) to a target strength.

Cycles of Concentration (COC = M/B)

\text{COC} = \frac{M}{B}

Water TreatmentFluid MechanicsCycles of concentration for a cooling tower from the makeup and blowdown flows — the master number every treatment program is built around.

Cycles of Concentration from Conductivity

\text{COC} = \frac{\sigma_t}{\sigma_m}

Water TreatmentChemistryCycles of concentration read straight off a conductivity meter: tower water conductivity divided by makeup water conductivity.

Cycles of Concentration from Chloride

\text{COC} = \frac{\mathrm{Cl}_t}{\mathrm{Cl}_m}

Water TreatmentChemistryCycles of concentration from a chloride titration — the conservative tracer that neither precipitates nor gets dosed into the system.

Cooling Tower Evaporation Rate

E = 0.001 \, R \, \Delta T

Water TreatmentFluid MechanicsThermodynamicsEvaporation loss from a cooling tower using the industry rule of 0.1% of recirculation per degree Fahrenheit of range.

Blowdown Rate from Cycles

B = \frac{E}{\text{COC} - 1}

Water TreatmentFluid MechanicsBlowdown a cooling tower must bleed to hold a target cycles of concentration, given its evaporation rate.

Cooling Tower Makeup Water Rate

M = E + B + D

Water TreatmentFluid MechanicsTotal makeup water a cooling tower needs: the sum of evaporation, blowdown to drain, and drift carried out in the air stream.

Cooling Tower Drift Loss

D = \frac{d}{100} \, R

Water TreatmentFluid MechanicsDrift (windage) loss from a cooling tower as a percentage of the recirculation rate, the fraction of basin water blown out as droplets.

Percent Blowdown

\%B = \frac{B}{M} \times 100

Water TreatmentFluid MechanicsBlowdown expressed as a percentage of makeup water — the share of purchased water that goes straight to the sewer.

Cooling Tower Range

\Delta T = T_h - T_c

Water TreatmentThermodynamicsCooling tower range: the temperature drop the tower achieves between the hot water returning from the plant and the cold basin water.

Cooling Tower Approach

A = T_c - T_{wb}

Water TreatmentThermodynamicsCooling tower approach: how many degrees the cold basin water sits above the ambient wet-bulb temperature, the true measure of tower performance.

Cooling Tower Heat Rejection

Q = 500 \, R \, \Delta T

Water TreatmentThermodynamicsFluid MechanicsHeat a cooling tower rejects from flow and range using the trade constant 500 = 8.34 lb/gal × 60 min/h × 1 BTU/(lb·°F).

Chemical Feed Rate from Dose

W = C \, Q \, \rho_w

Water TreatmentChemistryChemical feed rate in pounds per day from a ppm dose and a water flow, using the trade density of 8.34 lb per US gallon.

Dose Achieved from Chemical Added

C = \frac{m}{V \, \rho_w}

Water TreatmentChemistryConcentration reached in a system of known volume after adding a measured mass of chemical, at 8.34 lb of water per US gallon.

Closed Loop Slug Dose Volume

V_p = \frac{C \, V_s \, \rho_w}{\rho_p}

Water TreatmentChemistryVolume of liquid product needed for a one-shot slug dose to hit a target ppm in a closed loop of known volume and product density.

Product Dose from Active Strength

D_p = \frac{100 \, D_a}{A}

Water TreatmentChemistryConverts a required active-ingredient dose into the as-supplied product dose when the drum is only a given percent active.

Holding Time Index

\text{HTI} = \frac{\ln 2 \; V}{B}

Water TreatmentChemistryHolding time index: the half-life of a chemical in a bled system, the time for half the treatment to wash out at a given blowdown rate.

System Volume from Turnover Time

V = R \, t

Water TreatmentFluid MechanicsSystem water volume estimated from the recirculation rate and the measured turnover time — the field method when no drawings exist.

Boiler Cycles of Concentration

\text{COC} = \frac{\text{TDS}_b}{\text{TDS}_{fw}}

Water TreatmentChemistryCycles of concentration in a steam boiler: boiler water TDS divided by feedwater TDS, since steam leaves the dissolved solids behind.

Boiler Blowdown Percent

\%B = \frac{\text{TDS}_{fw}}{\text{TDS}_b} \times 100

Water TreatmentChemistryBoiler blowdown as a percentage of feedwater, set by the ratio of feedwater TDS to the maximum TDS allowed in the drum.

Boiler Blowdown Rate from Steam Rate

B = \frac{S}{\text{COC} - 1}

Water TreatmentThermodynamicsContinuous blowdown a steam boiler must carry, in pounds per hour, from its steam production rate and target cycles of concentration.

Condensate Return Percentage

\%CR = \frac{S_c}{S} \times 100

Water TreatmentThermodynamicsPercentage of generated steam that comes back to the boiler house as condensate — the headline efficiency number for any steam plant.

Boiler Makeup from Condensate Return

M = S\left(1 - \frac{\%CR}{100}\right)

Water TreatmentThermodynamicsFresh makeup water a steam plant must treat, from the steam production rate and the fraction of condensate that comes back.

Boiler Horsepower to Heat Output

Q = 33{,}475 \; \text{BHP}

Water TreatmentThermodynamicsConverts boiler horsepower to heat output using the ASME definition of 33,475 BTU per hour per boiler horsepower.

Boiler Horsepower to Steam Rate

S = 34.5 \; \text{BHP}

Water TreatmentThermodynamicsSteam output of a boiler from its horsepower rating, at the ASME definition of 34.5 lb/h of steam from and at 212 °F per BHP.

Flash Steam Percentage

\%F = \frac{h_{f1} - h_{f2}}{h_{fg2}} \times 100

Water TreatmentThermodynamicsPercentage of hot condensate that flashes to steam when let down to a lower pressure, from the saturated liquid and latent enthalpies.

Corrosion Rate from Coupon Weight Loss

P = \frac{m \, Y}{\rho \, A \, t}

Water TreatmentChemistryUniform corrosion rate as metal thickness lost per year, from a coupon's weight loss, density, exposed area and exposure time.

Volume of Water Over a Period

V = Q \, t

Water TreatmentFluid MechanicsWater a flow delivers over a period — the step that turns a makeup or blowdown rate into the daily or annual volume a customer is billed for.

Chemical Mass Consumed Over a Period

m = W \, t

Water TreatmentChemistryTreatment chemical a feed rate consumes over a period — the step that turns pounds per day into the annual tonnage a contract is priced on.

Chiller Heat Rejection

Q_r = Q_e \, \mathrm{HRF}

Water TreatmentThermodynamicsHVAC & HydronicsHeat a chiller's tower has to reject: the evaporator load times the heat rejection factor that adds the compressor's own work to the load.

Chemical-Consuming Loss Rate

L = B + D

Water TreatmentChemistryFluid MechanicsFlow that actually carries treatment out of a cooling tower — blowdown plus drift, because evaporation leaves every molecule of inhibitor behind.

Cost of Water Over a Period

C_w = V \, p_w

Water TreatmentFluid MechanicsWater & WastewaterCost of the water a system buys over a period: the metered volume times the utility's rate, in whatever currency that rate was in.

Sewer Credit for Evaporated Water

C_c = V_e \, p_s

Water TreatmentFluid MechanicsWater & WastewaterSewer credit for water a tower evaporates: the volume that never reaches the drain, valued at the municipal sewer rate.

Chemical Treatment Cost

C_p = m \, p_c

Water TreatmentChemistryInvoice for a treatment chemical: the mass of product consumed over a period times its unit price, the second line of a water budget.

Energy Cost from a Utility Rate

C_e = E \, p_e

Water TreatmentThermodynamicsHVAC & HydronicsCost of the energy a system consumes: kilowatt-hours or fuel BTUs times the utility rate, for tower fans, pumps and boiler gas.

Net Water and Sewer Cost of a Cooling Tower

C = V_m \, p_w + (V_m - V_e) \, p_s

Water TreatmentFluid MechanicsWater & WastewaterFull water and sewer bill for a cooling tower: makeup charged at the water rate, plus only the volume actually discharged at the sewer rate.

Total Water Treatment Program Cost

C = C_w + C_p + C_e

Water TreatmentChemistryFluid MechanicsTotal operating cost of a treated cooling system: the water and sewer bill, the chemical invoice and the energy bill added together.

Langelier Saturation Index (LSI)

\mathrm{LSI} = \mathrm{pH} - \mathrm{pH_s}

Water TreatmentChemistryThe classic calcium-carbonate scaling index: measured pH minus the saturation pH, positive for scaling and negative for corrosive water.

Saturation pH (pHs) for Langelier's Index

\mathrm{pH_s} = (9.3 + A + B) - (C + D)

Water TreatmentChemistryComputes the pH at which water is saturated with calcium carbonate from its TDS, temperature, calcium hardness and total alkalinity as CaCO₃.

Ryznar Stability Index (RSI)

\mathrm{RSI} = 2\,\mathrm{pH_s} - \mathrm{pH}

Water TreatmentChemistryAn empirical scaling index scaled so that values below about 6 predict scale and values above about 7 predict corrosion in the same water.

Puckorius (Practical) Scaling Index

\mathrm{PSI} = 2\,\mathrm{pH_s} - \mathrm{pH_{eq}}, \quad \mathrm{pH_{eq}} = 1.465\,\log_{10}\mathrm{Alk} + 4.54

Water TreatmentChemistryA Ryznar variant that replaces measured pH with an equilibrium pH derived from alkalinity, giving a truer scaling call in poorly buffered cooling water.

Larson–Skold Index

\mathrm{LS} = \dfrac{\frac{\mathrm{Cl}}{35.45} + \frac{\mathrm{SO_4}}{48.03}}{\frac{\mathrm{Alk}}{50.04}}

Water TreatmentChemistryRatio of aggressive chloride and sulphate equivalents to protective bicarbonate alkalinity, predicting pitting of mild steel in distribution water.

Total Hardness as CaCO₃

\mathrm{TH} = 2.497\,\mathrm{Ca} + 4.118\,\mathrm{Mg}

Water TreatmentChemistryConverts a lab report's calcium and magnesium ion results into a single total hardness expressed as milligrams per litre of CaCO₃.

Grains per Gallon ↔ ppm Hardness

H = 17.118\,G

Water TreatmentChemistryConverts water hardness between grains per US gallon and mg/L as CaCO₃ using the exact 17.118 mg/L per grain trade factor.

Ion Concentration as CaCO₃ Equivalent

C_{\mathrm{CaCO_3}} = C_{\mathrm{ion}} \times \frac{50.04}{\mathrm{EW}}

Water TreatmentChemistryRestates any ion's concentration in the trade's common currency of CaCO₃ by scaling with the ratio of equivalent weights, 50.04 over the ion's own.

Equivalent Weight from Molar Mass and Valence

\mathrm{EW} = \frac{M}{z}

Water TreatmentChemistryGives the gram-equivalent weight of an ion or compound as its molar mass divided by the number of charges or replaceable hydrogens it carries.

Total Alkalinity as CaCO₃ from Species

\mathrm{TA} = 0.8202\,\mathrm{HCO_3} + 1.6679\,\mathrm{CO_3} + 2.9425\,\mathrm{OH}

Water TreatmentChemistrySums bicarbonate, carbonate and hydroxide reported as their own ions into one total alkalinity expressed as milligrams per litre of CaCO₃.

TDS Estimated from Conductivity (TDS = k × EC)

\mathrm{TDS} = k \times \mathrm{EC}

Water TreatmentChemistryEstimates total dissolved solids in mg/L from a conductivity reading in µS/cm using an empirical factor k, typically 0.55 to 0.70 for natural waters.

Water Resistivity and Conductivity

\rho = \frac{1}{\sigma}

Water TreatmentChemistryRelates the resistivity and conductivity of ultrapure and deionized water as exact reciprocals, the pair of scales used on DI and RO polishing loops.

Hardness Load Removed per Regeneration

m = C \, V

Water TreatmentChemistryGives the mass of hardness as CaCO₃ a softener must remove between regenerations from the raw hardness and the volume of water treated.

Days Between Softener Regenerations

t = \frac{m_{\text{cap}}}{C \, Q}

Water TreatmentChemistryGives the run time a softener achieves between regenerations from its rated hardness capacity, the raw water hardness and the average water usage rate.

Softener Resin Volume Required

V = \frac{m_{\text{cap}}}{q}

Water TreatmentChemistrySizes the ion-exchange resin bed from the hardness capacity required per regeneration and the resin's rated capacity per unit volume.

Salt Dose per Regeneration

m_{\text{salt}} = D \, V

Water TreatmentChemistryGives the mass of sodium chloride a softener draws each regeneration from the resin volume and the programmed salt dosage per unit volume.

Hardness Removal Efficiency and Leakage

R = \frac{C_{\text{in}} - C_{\text{out}}}{C_{\text{in}}}

Water TreatmentChemistryGives the fraction of hardness a softener or membrane removes from the inlet and outlet concentrations, with the remainder being leakage to service.

Chlorine Dose, Demand and Residual

D = C_{\text{demand}} + C_{\text{res}}

Water TreatmentChemistryThe fundamental chlorination balance: the dose applied equals the chlorine consumed by the water's demand plus the residual left for disinfection.

Chemical Feed Rate (lb/day = mg/L × MGD × 8.34)

\dot m = C \, Q

Water TreatmentChemistryConverts a target chemical dose and a plant flow into a mass feed rate, the classic pounds-per-day formula built on water weighing 8.34 lb per gallon.

Hypochlorite Product Mass from Available Chlorine

m_{\text{prod}} = \frac{m_{\mathrm{Cl}} \times 100\%}{p}

Water TreatmentChemistryConverts a required mass of available chlorine into the mass of hypochlorite product to weigh out, given the product's percent available chlorine.

Chlorine Dose from a Weight of Product

C = \frac{m \, p}{V}

Water TreatmentChemistryGives the free chlorine concentration produced by dissolving a known weight of hypochlorite product of known strength in a known volume of water.

Breakpoint Chlorine-to-Ammonia Ratio

R = \frac{\mathrm{Cl_2}}{\mathrm{NH_3\text{-}N}}

Water TreatmentChemistryThe weight ratio of chlorine dose to ammonia nitrogen, which must reach about 7.6 to 1 to pass breakpoint and produce a free chlorine residual.

Pounds of Active Chemical in a Tank

m = V \times \mathrm{SG} \times \rho_w \times p

Water TreatmentChemistryGives the mass of active chemical held in a storage tank from its volume, the solution's specific gravity and the percent active ingredient.

Acid Feed to Reduce Alkalinity

\dot m = \frac{\Delta \mathrm{Alk} \, Q \times \frac{\mathrm{EW}}{50.04}}{p/100\%}

Water TreatmentChemistrySizes the acid feed needed to knock a target amount of alkalinity out of a stream, correcting for the acid's equivalent weight and its commercial strength.

Hydraulic Detention Time

t = \frac{V}{Q}

Water & WastewaterWater TreatmentFluid MechanicsTheoretical detention time of a tank, clarifier or contact basin: the working volume divided by the flow passing through it.

Surface Overflow Rate

v_o = \frac{Q}{A}

Water & WastewaterWater TreatmentFluid MechanicsSurface overflow (surface loading) rate of a settling basin — flow divided by plan area, reported here in metres per day.

Filtration Rate (Filter Loading Rate)

v_f = \frac{Q}{A}

Water & WastewaterWater TreatmentFluid MechanicsFiltration rate through a granular media filter: flow divided by filter bed area, the approach velocity reported in metres per day.

Backwash Water Volume

V_{bw} = v_b \, A \, t

Water & WastewaterWater TreatmentFluid MechanicsWater consumed by one filter backwash, from the backwash rise rate, the filter bed area and the duration of the wash.

Percent Backwash Water

\%BW = \frac{V_{bw}}{V_f} \times 100

Water & WastewaterWater TreatmentShare of a filter's production consumed by its own backwash, the housekeeping ratio that flags short runs and poor coagulation.

CT Value for Disinfection Credit

\text{CT} = C \, t

Water & WastewaterWater TreatmentChemistryDisinfection CT: residual concentration multiplied by contact time, returned in the regulatory unit of mg·min/L.

BOD Mass Loading

W = Q \, C

Water & WastewaterWater TreatmentChemistryMass of BOD, COD or solids arriving per unit time from a flow and its concentration, on the sanitary basis of 1 mg/L = 1 g/m³.

BOD Removal Efficiency

E = \frac{C_i - C_e}{C_i} \times 100

Water & WastewaterWater TreatmentPercent removal across a treatment unit or a whole plant, from the influent and effluent concentrations of BOD, TSS or any pollutant.

Volumetric Organic Loading Rate

L_v = \frac{Q \, S_0}{V}

Water & WastewaterWater TreatmentOrganic load applied per unit of reactor volume, returned in kg BOD per cubic metre per day — the sizing number for basins and digesters.

Food-to-Microorganism (F/M) Ratio

\frac{F}{M} = \frac{Q \, S_0}{V \, X}

Water & WastewaterWater TreatmentFood-to-microorganism ratio: BOD applied per day divided by the mass of mixed liquor solids holding it, in kg BOD per kg MLVSS per day.

Mean Cell Residence Time (Sludge Age)

\text{SRT} = \frac{V \, X}{Q_w \, X_w}

Water & WastewaterWater TreatmentSolids retention time of an activated sludge plant: the mass of solids under aeration divided by the mass wasted each day.

Sludge Volume Index (SVI)

\text{SVI} = \frac{SV_{30}}{X}

Water & WastewaterWater TreatmentSludge volume index in mL/g: the volume a gram of mixed liquor solids occupies after settling thirty minutes in a litre cylinder.

Return Activated Sludge Rate

Q_r = \frac{Q \, X}{X_r - X}

Water & WastewaterWater TreatmentReturn sludge flow needed to hold a target mixed liquor concentration, from a solids balance around the aeration basin.

Clarifier Solids Loading Rate

\text{SLR} = \frac{(Q + Q_r) \, X}{A}

Water & WastewaterWater TreatmentSolids applied to a secondary clarifier per unit of surface area, in kg of MLSS per square metre per day, including the return flow.

Sludge Volume from Dry Solids

V = \frac{m}{S \, \rho_w \, (P/100)}

Water & WastewaterWater TreatmentVolume of wet sludge holding a given mass of dry solids, from the solids percentage and the sludge specific gravity, at 1000 kg/m³ water.

Specific Gravity of Sludge

\frac{1}{S_{sl}} = \frac{P/100}{S_s} + \left(1 - \frac{P}{100}\right)

Water & WastewaterWater TreatmentSpecific gravity of a wet sludge from its percent solids and the specific gravity of the dry solids, by a reciprocal mass balance.

Solids Capture in Dewatering

R = \frac{C_c (C_f - C_{fil})}{C_f (C_c - C_{fil})} \times 100

Water & WastewaterWater TreatmentPercent solids capture of a belt press, centrifuge or filter from the feed, cake and filtrate solids concentrations by mass balance.

Van Kleeck Volatile Solids Reduction

R = \frac{V_{in} - V_{out}}{V_{in} - V_{in} V_{out}} \times 100

Water & WastewaterWater TreatmentPercent volatile solids destroyed in a digester by the Van Kleeck equation, using only the volatile fractions in and out.

Trickling Filter Hydraulic Loading

L_h = \frac{Q + Q_r}{A}

Water & WastewaterWater TreatmentFluid MechanicsHydraulic loading on a trickling filter including recirculation — total flow per unit of media surface area, in metres per day.

Trickling Filter Recirculation Factor

F = \frac{1 + R}{(1 + 0.1R)^2}

Water & WastewaterWater TreatmentNRC recirculation factor for trickling filter design, converting a recirculation ratio into the effective number of passes through the media.

Population Equivalent

PE = \frac{W}{w}

Water & WastewaterWater TreatmentPopulation equivalent of a waste stream: its pollutant load divided by the load one person contributes, typically 60 g BOD per day.

Per-Capita Wastewater Flow

q = \frac{Q}{P}

Water & WastewaterWater TreatmentFluid MechanicsAverage wastewater contributed per person per day, from the plant flow and the population served, reported in gallons per capita per day.

Harmon Peaking Factor

PF = 1 + \frac{14}{4 + \sqrt{P/1000}}

Water & WastewaterWater TreatmentFluid MechanicsHarmon peaking factor for sanitary sewer design: the ratio of peak hourly to average daily flow for a served population.

Jar Test Dose Scale-Up

D = \frac{V_{st} \, C_{st}}{V_{s}}

Water & WastewaterWater TreatmentChemistryConverts millilitres of stock solution added to a jar test beaker into the equivalent plant dose in mg/L of raw water.

Alkalinity Remaining After Alum

A_f = A_0 - 0.45 \, D

Water & WastewaterWater TreatmentChemistryAlkalinity left after coagulation, since each mg/L of alum destroys 0.45 mg/L of alkalinity as CaCO₃ in forming aluminium hydroxide floc.