Propane Gas Piping - Low Pressure Capacity vs. Size
Sizing of low pressure propane gas pipe lines - Imperial units.
The tables and diagrams below can be used for sizing propane gas pipes.
Steel Pipe - Schedule 40
| Pipe Size (in) | Capacity of Pipe (MBH) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pipe Length (ft) | ||||||
| 10 | 20 | 40 | 80 | 150 | 300 | |
| 1/2 | 235 | 160 | 110 | 75 | 55 | 35 |
| 3/4 | 490 | 340 | 230 | 160 | 115 | 80 |
| 1 | 925 | 640 | 440 | 300 | 215 | 145 |
| 1 1/4 | 1900 | 1305 | 900 | 620 | 440 | 300 |
| 1 1/2 | 2850 | 1960 | 1345 | 925 | 660 | 450 |
| 2 | 5490 | 3770 | 2590 | 1780 | 1270 | 870 |
| 2 1/2 | 8740 | 6010 | 4130 | 2840 | 2020 | 1390 |
| 3 | 15455 | 10620 | 7300 | 5020 | 3570 | 2450 |
| 4 | 31525 | 21670 | 14890 | 10230 | 7280 | 5010 |
| 5 | 57030 | 39200 | 26940 | 18520 | 13180 | 9060 |
| 6 | 92350 | 63470 | 43620 | 29980 | 21340 | 14665 |
| 8 | 189750 | 130410 | 89630 | 61600 | 43840 | 30135 |
- pressure less than 1 1/2 psig
- fittings factor 1.5 - equivalent pipe length = pipe length + 50%
- pressure drop 0.5 inches water column
- energy content in propane gas 2520 Btu/cu ft
- One MBH is equivalent to 1000 BTU's per hour
- 1 CFH ≈ 2.54 MBH
- steel pipes schedule 40
Copper Tubing - type K
| Capacity of Pipe (MBH) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominal Pipe Size (O.D) (in) | Pipe Length (ft) | |||
| 10 | 20 | 40 | 80 | |
| 1/4 (3/8) | 35 | 25 | 17 | 12 |
| 3/8 (1/2) | 75 | 50 | 35 | 25 |
| 1/2 (5/8) | 150 | 105 | 70 | 50 |
| 5/8 (3/4) | 265 | 180 | 125 | 85 |
| 3/4 (7/8) | 380 | 260 | 180 | 120 |
| 1 (1 1/8) | 805 | 555 | 380 | 260 |
| 1 1/4 (1 3/8) | 1450 | 995 | 685 | 470 |
- pressure less than 1 1/2 psig
- fittings factor 1.5 - equivalent pipe length = pipe length + 50%
- pressure drop 0.5 inches water column
- energy content in propane gas 2500 Btu/cu ft
- One MBH is equivalent to 1000 BTU's per hour
- 1 CFH ≈ 2.54 MBH
- copper tubing type K
Copper Tubing - type L
| Capacity of Pipe (MBH) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominal Pipe Size (O.D) (in) | Pipe Length (ft) | |||
| 10 | 20 | 40 | 80 | |
| 1/4 (3/8) | 40 | 25 | 20 | 13 |
| 3/8 (1/2) | 90 | 60 | 40 | 30 |
| 1/2 (5/8) | 165 | 115 | 80 | 55 |
| 5/8 (3/4) | 280 | 190 | 135 | 90 |
| 3/4 (7/8) | 430 | 295 | 205 | 140 |
| 1 (1 1/8) | 870 | 600 | 410 | 280 |
| 1 1/4 (1 3/8) | 1510 | 1040 | 710 | 490 |
- pressure less than 1 1/2 psig
- fittings factor 1.5 - equivalent pipe length = pipe length + 50%
- pressure drop 0.5 inches water column
- energy content in propane gas 2500 Btu/cu ft
- One MBH is equivalent to 1000 BTU's per hour
- 1 CFH ≈ 2.54 MBH
- copper tubing type L
- 1 Btu/h = 0.293 W
- 1 lb = 0.4536 kg
- 1 ft (foot) = 0.3048 m
- 1 in water = 248.8 N/m2 (Pa) = 0.0361 lb/in2 (psi) = 25.4 kg/m2 = 0.0739 in mercury
- 1 psi (lb/in2) = 6,894.8 Pa (N/m2)
