Filter System Flow Rate Calculator
Filter Flow Rate Calculation
Metric
All filter media has optimum flow rates where that media will perform the best and provide the best water filtration performance. This flow rate can be measured in the amount of gallons per minute that can flow through one square foot of filter media square area.
Step 1 – Enter the Tank Diameter. Common tank diameters for residential and small commercial applications are 9″, 10″, 12″, 13″, 14″, 16″, 18″, 21″, 24″ and 30″.
Step 2 – Enter the “Service Flow Rate”. The service flow rate is the flow rate the filter media can filter at maximum filtration efficiency. This also can be thought of as the ‘continuous flow rate’, if the filter were to be used for more than intermittent usage, such as filling a storage tank, or in irrigation applications where the water might run for an hour or more.
Step 3 – Enter the “Maximum Flow Rate”. This is the maximum flow rate, (gallons per minute) that can flow through the media, per square foot of filter area. Enter the flow rate from the chart below based on the type of filter media used.
Step 4 – Enter the “Backwash Flow Rate”. Use the chart below to enter in recommended values for common filter media. Backwash flow rate is important, as the filter media must be able to backwash at the correct flow rate to assure it is properly cleaned and restored. Inadequate backwash flow can result in the filter media becoming fouled.
