Understanding Cubic feet per hour to Cubic inches per hour Conversion
Cubic feet per hour () and cubic inches per hour () are both units of volume flow rate, meaning they describe how much volume moves through a system in one hour. These units are commonly used when comparing airflow, gas flow, or liquid movement in systems that may be designed or documented using different measurement scales.
Converting from cubic feet per hour to cubic inches per hour is useful when a large-scale flow value needs to be expressed in a smaller unit for detailed engineering, component sizing, or technical reporting. Since a cubic foot contains many cubic inches, the numerical value becomes much larger when expressed in .
Conversion Formula
The verified conversion relationship is:
To convert from cubic feet per hour to cubic inches per hour, use:
For the reverse conversion:
So:
Step-by-Step Example
Suppose a ventilation line carries of air.
Write the formula:
Substitute the value:
Calculate:
So:
Real-World Examples
- A small lab ventilation device rated at corresponds to , which can be useful when comparing flow through compact tubing or chamber volumes.
- A gas sampling system moving equals , a scale sometimes used when evaluating small internal passage volumes.
- A low-flow industrial feeder delivering converts to , which may help when matching the flow to equipment specifications written in cubic inches.
- An enclosure purge system operating at is
Correct value from the verified factor:
Using the verified conversion relationship directly, the result is:
This kind of small hourly flow can appear in electronics enclosures, instrument cabinets, or precision air-feed setups.
Interesting Facts
- The cubic foot is a customary unit derived from the foot, while the cubic inch is derived from the inch; both are part of the U.S. customary and imperial measurement families. Background on these units is available from NIST: https://www.nist.gov/pml/owm/metric-si/unit-conversion
- Volume flow rate is widely used in engineering fields such as HVAC, fluid handling, and gas distribution. A general overview of volumetric flow rate is available on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volumetric_flow_rate
Summary
Cubic feet per hour and cubic inches per hour measure the same physical quantity: volume passing per hour. The conversion uses the verified factor:
That means any value in can be converted to by multiplying by .
For reverse conversions, the verified relationship is:
This conversion is especially helpful when moving between larger system-level flow descriptions and smaller component-level specifications.
How to Convert Cubic feet per hour to Cubic inches per hour
To convert Cubic feet per hour to Cubic inches per hour, multiply the flow rate by the conversion factor between and . Here, the given factor is exact for this conversion setup.
-
Write the conversion factor:
Use the provided relationship between the two units: -
Set up the multiplication:
Multiply the input value by the conversion factor: -
Cancel the original unit:
The units cancel, leaving the result in : -
Result:
A quick way to check your work is to make sure the result is much larger, since cubic inches are much smaller than cubic feet. Keep the full conversion factor during calculation to match the exact final value.
Cubic feet per hour to Cubic inches per hour conversion table
| Cubic feet per hour (ft3/h) | Cubic inches per hour (in3/h) |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 1728.0070744076 |
| 2 | 3456.0141488152 |
| 3 | 5184.0212232228 |
| 4 | 6912.0282976304 |
| 5 | 8640.035372038 |
| 6 | 10368.042446446 |
| 7 | 12096.049520853 |
| 8 | 13824.056595261 |
| 9 | 15552.063669668 |
| 10 | 17280.070744076 |
| 15 | 25920.106116114 |
| 20 | 34560.141488152 |
| 25 | 43200.17686019 |
| 30 | 51840.212232228 |
| 40 | 69120.282976304 |
| 50 | 86400.35372038 |
| 60 | 103680.42446446 |
| 70 | 120960.49520853 |
| 80 | 138240.56595261 |
| 90 | 155520.63669668 |
| 100 | 172800.70744076 |
| 150 | 259201.06116114 |
| 200 | 345601.41488152 |
| 250 | 432001.7686019 |
| 300 | 518402.12232228 |
| 400 | 691202.82976304 |
| 500 | 864003.5372038 |
| 600 | 1036804.2446446 |
| 700 | 1209604.9520853 |
| 800 | 1382405.6595261 |
| 900 | 1555206.3669668 |
| 1000 | 1728007.0744076 |
| 2000 | 3456014.1488152 |
| 3000 | 5184021.2232228 |
| 4000 | 6912028.2976304 |
| 5000 | 8640035.372038 |
| 10000 | 17280070.744076 |
| 25000 | 43200176.86019 |
| 50000 | 86400353.72038 |
| 100000 | 172800707.44076 |
| 250000 | 432001768.6019 |
| 500000 | 864003537.2038 |
| 1000000 | 1728007074.4076 |
What is Cubic feet per hour?
Cubic feet per hour (CFH) is a unit used to measure the volumetric flow rate. It represents the volume of a substance (gas or liquid) that passes through a specific area per hour, measured in cubic feet. It's a common unit in various fields, especially when dealing with gas and air flow.
Definition of Cubic Feet per Hour
Cubic feet per hour (CFH) is defined as the volume of a substance, measured in cubic feet, that flows past a point in one hour.
How CFH is Formed
CFH is derived from the basic units of volume (cubic feet) and time (hour). It directly expresses how many cubic feet of a substance move within one hour. No special law or constant is specifically tied to the definition of CFH itself. It is a direct measure of flow rate, useful in practical applications.
Calculating Volume Flow Rate
The volume flow rate (Q) in cubic feet per hour can be determined using the following formula:
Where:
- = Volume flow rate (ft³/hour)
- = Cross-sectional area of the flow (ft²)
- = Average velocity of the flow (ft/hour)
Another way to calculate it is:
Where:
- = Volume flow rate (ft³/hour)
- = Volume (ft³)
- = Time (hours)
Real-World Examples of CFH
- Natural Gas Consumption: Home appliances like furnaces, water heaters, and stoves are rated in terms of CFH to indicate their natural gas consumption. A typical furnace might consume 80-120 CFH of natural gas.
- HVAC Systems: Air conditioning and ventilation systems use CFH to measure the airflow rate in ductwork. A residential HVAC system might require airflow rates between 400 and 1600 CFH, depending on the size of the home.
- Compressed Air Systems: Pneumatic tools and equipment in factories use compressed air. The compressor output is often rated in CFH or cubic feet per minute (CFM, which can easily be converted to CFH by multiplying by 60) to indicate the volume of air it can supply.
- Industrial Processes: Many industrial processes, such as chemical manufacturing or food processing, involve controlling the flow rate of liquids or gases. CFH can be used to specify the desired flow rate of a particular fluid. For example, a chemical reactor might require a flow of 50 CFH of nitrogen gas.
- Ventilation Systems: Exhaust fans in bathrooms or kitchens are often rated in CFM (cubic feet per minute), which can be converted to CFH. A typical bathroom exhaust fan might be rated at 50-100 CFM, which equals 3000-6000 CFH.
What is cubic inches per hour?
Cubic inches per hour is a unit of volume flow rate. The following sections describe cubic inches per hour in more detail.
Understanding Cubic Inches per Hour
Cubic inches per hour (in$^3$/hr) is a unit used to measure the volume of a substance (liquid or gas) that flows past a certain point in a specific amount of time. It indicates how many cubic inches of a substance move within one hour.
Formation of Cubic Inches per Hour
This unit is derived from two base units:
- Cubic inch (in$^3$): A unit of volume. It represents the volume of a cube with sides of 1 inch each.
- Hour (hr): A unit of time.
The unit is formed by dividing a volume expressed in cubic inches by a time expressed in hours, resulting in a rate of flow:
Applications of Cubic Inches per Hour
Cubic inches per hour is practically used in real-world applications where the measurement of slow, very small volume flow rate is important. The SI unit for Volume flow rate is . Some examples are:
- Small Engine Fuel Consumption: Measuring the fuel consumption of small engines, such as those in lawnmowers or model airplanes.
- Medical Devices: Infusion pumps may use this unit to measure how slowly medicine flows into the patient.
- Hydraulics: Very small scale of hydraulic flow, where precision is needed.
- 3D Printing: Material extrusion volume in 3D printing, particularly for small-scale or intricate designs.
Conversion to Other Units
Cubic inches per hour can be converted to other units of volume flow rate, such as:
- Cubic feet per hour (ft$^3$/hr)
- Gallons per hour (gal/hr)
- Liters per hour (L/hr)
- Cubic meters per second (m$^3$/s)
Flow Rate
Flow rate, generally speaking, plays an important role in many different areas of science and engineering. For example, cardiovascular system uses the concept of flow rate to determine blood flow.
For more information check out this wikipedia page
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the formula to convert Cubic feet per hour to Cubic inches per hour?
Use the verified factor: .
The formula is .
How many Cubic inches per hour are in 1 Cubic foot per hour?
There are in .
This is the verified conversion factor used for all calculations on this page.
How do I convert a specific value from ft3/h to in3/h?
Multiply the value in cubic feet per hour by .
For example, if you have , the result is .
When would I use Cubic feet per hour to Cubic inches per hour in real life?
This conversion is useful when comparing airflow or gas flow data between systems that use different volume units.
It can appear in HVAC work, laboratory equipment specifications, small-engine testing, or industrial process measurements where a smaller unit like cubic inches is preferred.
Why would I convert ft3/h to in3/h instead of using the original unit?
Converting to cubic inches per hour can make small flow rates easier to express without decimals in some applications.
It is also helpful when working with equipment, drawings, or technical documents that list volume in cubic inches.
Does this conversion factor stay the same for every value?
Yes, the factor is constant for converting from to .
No matter the flow rate, you always multiply by the same verified number.