Burner Pressure Drop Calculator
Why Doubling Flow Roughly Quadruples Pressure Drop
For a fixed orifice, nozzle, or fuel train component, pressure drop doesn't scale linearly with flow — it scales with the square of flow, a relationship that lets you estimate pressure drop at a new operating point from one known reference measurement.
The Formula
New Pressure Drop = Reference Pressure Drop × (New Flow / Reference Flow)²
Worked Example
A reference pressure drop of 2 kPa at 10 kg/hr flow, checked at 15 kg/hr:
New ΔP = 2 × (15/10)² = 4.5 kPa
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the New Flow Rate you want to check.
- Enter a Reference Flow Rate and its measured Reference Pressure Drop.
- Select Calculate to get pressure drop at the new flow.
Related Calculations
Need to size an orifice directly instead? See the Burner Orifice Size Calculator, or check required fuel pressure in the Burner Fuel Pressure Calculator.