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Conveying speed / air velocity

Calculations of air velocity in pipes : step by step guide

Recommended values of air velocity in pneumatic conveying pipes

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Section summary
1. Definition of air velocity in pipe
2. Calculation of air velocity through piping
3. Usual values for dilute phase and lean phase pneumatic transport
4. Air velocity in pipe Excel calculator

1. Definition of air velocity in pipe

What is the velocity of air in pipes ?

The conveying air velocity is the speed at which air circulates in the conveying pipe of a pneumatic conveying line. Air velocity is changing all along the conveying line following the pressure / temperature evolution, thus one must always refer to a reference position (beginning or end of the line) when calculating the air velocity. The air velocity is sometimes called conveying air speed.

2. Calculation of air velocity through piping

How do you calculate air velocity in pipes ?

The air velocity in the pipes is calculated by dividing the air volumetric flowrate (m3/s) by the passing section of the pipe (m2).

Conveying air velocity calculation formula: u_air = Q_air / (pi * D^2 / 4)

Equation 1 : calculation of the air velocity in a conveying pipe of diameter D

With :

- uair = air velocity in conveying pipe of diameter D (m/s)
- Qair = air volumetric flow rate (m3/s)
- D = pipe diameter (m)

Note the following : the air volumetric flowrate is changing with the pressure and temperature, along the conveying line pressure is decreasing thus air expands, which makes the volumetric flowrate higher and thus the conveying air velocity higher (at constant D). To counter this phenomena, it is possible to change the diameter of the pipe, thus D may not be constant all along a same pipe.

Calculator 1: Standard Air Velocity Sizer

CALCULATES PIPING VELOCITY FROM LOCAL/ACTUAL VOLUMETRIC FLOWRATE

1. Inputs

2. Sizing Outputs

Pipe Cross-Sectional Area: - m²
Calculated Air Velocity (uair): - m/s

Calculator 2: Air Density & Line Expansion Sizer (Nm³/h)

CALCULATES PIPING VELOCITIES AT INLET/OUTLET BOUNDARIES CORRECTED FROM NORMAL CONDITIONS

1. Reference / Normal Conditions

2. Line Boundaries Geometries

3. Beginning of Pipe (Inlet / Pick-up Point)

Pipe Cross-Section Area: - m²
Actual Air Flow (Qactual): - m³/h
Inlet Air Velocity (uinlet): - m/s

4. End of Pipe (Outlet / Terminal Point)

Pipe Cross-Section Area: - m²
Actual Air Flow (Qactual): - m³/h
Outlet Air Velocity (uoutlet): - m/s

How to calculate air velocity in pipe ? Step by step calculation example

A dilute phase conveying system, working by vacuum, is transporting a product from a tipping station to a receiver. The conveying line is powered by a Roots blower sucking 400 Nm3/h of air. Temperature is 20c. The pressure in the receiver is -0.3 bar g. The pipe internal diameter is 80 mm. What is the air velocity at the beginning and the end of the pipe ?

Beginning of pipe

At the beginning of the pipe, the pressure is atmospheric, the temperature is 20c.

STEP 1 : calculate the volumetric air flow at the conditions of the beginning of pipe.

The calculation formula is available here.

Qair = QVN.T/273*1.013/P = 400*293/273*1.013*1.013=429 m3/h=0.119 m3/s

STEP 2 : calculate the air conveying velocity

uair = Qair / (π.D2/4) = 0.119/(π*0.082/4) = 23.7 m/s

End of pipe

At the end of the pipe, the pressure is -0.3 bar g, the temperature is 20c.

STEP 1 : calculate the volumetric air flow at the conditions of the end of pipe.

The calculation formula is available here.

Qair = QVN.T/273*1.013/P = 400*293/273*1.013*(1.013-0.3) = 609 m3/h=0.169 m3/s

STEP 2 : calculate the air conveying velocity

uair = Qair / (π.D2/4) = 0.169/(π*0.082/4) = 33.7 m/s

How to calculate flow rate from air velocity and pipe diameter ?

Equation 1 can also be used when knowing the velocity of air and the pipe diameter. It is then possible to calculate the air flow rate :

Qair = uair * π.D2/4

Again, as air is compressible the air flow will change according to the pressure, and thus according to the position in the pipe.

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3. Usual values of air velocity for dilute and dense phase conveying

What is the typical air velocity in pneumatic conveying ?

Every conveying line is unique and will have its specific air velocity, however, some orders of magnitudes can be given for both dilute and dense phase.

Table 1 : Reference end of line air velocity for dilute and dense phase conveying

Type of conveying Pressure Vacuum
Dilute phase
 20-25 m/s 20-30 m/s
Dense phase
 4-8 m/s
 5-10 m/s

Note that the actual velocity of the product conveyed is lower than the conveying air velocity.

4. Air velocity in pipe Excel calculator

Please access here the Free Excel calculator for air velocity calculation here : calculator download (click here)

Download Air Velocity & Line Expansion Sizing Spreadsheet

Get the professional Air Velocity and Gas Density calculation template offline. Verify line diameters, calculate gas densities, and evaluate system fan volume parameters across different pressure boundaries.

Download Excel Tool Requires Excel 2010 or newer (No Macros)

Excel calculation tool for Air velocity in pipes calculation




Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do you calculate conveying air velocity in pipes?

Conveying air velocity is calculated by dividing the actual volumetric air flowrate (m³/s) by the pipe's internal cross-sectional area (m²). Because air is compressible, actual volumetric flow rate changes significantly with local pressure and temperature conditions. It must be computed at specific points along the line using: $u_{air} = Q_{air} / (\pi \cdot D^2 / 4)$.

Why does conveying air velocity change along a pneumatic line?

As air flows through a pneumatic transport line, friction losses cause pressure to drop, making the air expand and volumetric flow rate increase dynamically. Under stable mass flow, this expansion forces air velocity to rise continuously from the beginning (pick-up point) to the end (receiver discharge) of the pipe, often requiring stepped pipe diameter designs to prevent high wear rates or line blockages.

What are the recommended air velocities for dilute phase and dense phase conveying?

Dilute phase conveying systems typically require high air velocities of 20 to 30 m/s to keep particles suspended, while dense phase systems run slowly at 4 to 10 m/s in plug flow. Maintaining velocities above these saltation thresholds prevents horizontal blockages while avoiding excessive product degradation, pipe abrasion, and system pressure drops.