Hydraulic Hose Sizing

Hydraulic Hose Sizing

The size of the suction hose for the power cube, it is calculated from the fluid velocity in the hose. The general values used are:

Pressure: 20 ft/sec

Return: 15 ft/sec

Suction: 5 ft/sec

The formula for calculating the hose size is as follows:

V = Q / (3.117 * pi/4 * D ^ 2)

or

D = (Q / (3.117 * pi/4 * V) ) ^ 1/2

Where:

V is fluid velocity in ft/sec

Q is fluid volume in gallons/min

D is hose inside diameter in inches

In the case of the Power Cube suction hose, V = 5 ft / sec and the Q is approximately 13 GPM, so:

D = (13 GPM / (3.117 * pi/4 * 5 ft/sec) ) ^ 1/2 = 1.03 in

The sizing guidelines say to always round up - meaning take the next size larger than 1.03 inches (probably 1 1/4").

While I thought the sizing for the pressure lines was OK, I double-checked and found the formula indicates that the supply and return hoses should be larger as well:

D = (13 GPM / (3.117 * pi/4 * 20 ft/sec) ) ^ 1/2 = 0.515 in

Also, the return lines appear to be undersized as well:

D = (13 / (3.117 * pi/4 * 15 ft/sec) ) ^ 1/2 = 0.595 in

Both Pressure and Return hose sizes should be increased to 3/4", as well as all couplers and fittings.