process · tool
Gas Flow Unit Conversion Helper
Normalize common volumetric gas-flow expressions used in cement process discussions by purely dimensional unit conversion — without making any process-control or basis decision.
Executive summary
Convert a volumetric gas-flow value between clearly labeled units (m³/h, m³/min, m³/s, L/s, L/min, ft³/s, ft³/min (CFM), ft³/h (CFH)) when both expressions are on the SAME basis. The conversion is purely dimensional — it applies no temperature, pressure, wet/dry, or oxygen correction and infers no basis. If the from-basis and to-basis differ (actual / normal / standard), the tool refuses and routes the condition-dependent conversion to plant procedure and the appropriate authority. It never calculates emissions compliance, permit limits, fan/damper setpoints, equipment capacity, or operational acceptability.
Calculator
State the basis on both sides — the tool converts only when they match and never infers temperature, pressure, wet/dry, or oxygen correction.
Result: 2118.880003 ft³/min (CFM)
- Basis not stated — this is a pure dimensional conversion and is only valid if BOTH expressions already share the same temperature, pressure, and wet/dry basis. State the basis to be sure.
- Dimensional unit helper only — it makes no process, fan/damper, emissions, permit, equipment-capacity, or acceptability decision. Route those to plant procedure, process engineering, the OEM, and environmental authority.
Method
Pure dimensional conversion between labeled volumetric flow units via a common base (m³/s), using exact unit factors (1 ft = 0.3048 m, so 1 ft³ = 0.028316846592 m³). The conversion is performed only when the stated basis matches on both sides. Cross-basis conversions (actual ↔ normal ↔ standard) are refused — they depend on temperature, pressure, wet/dry basis, and any oxygen correction, which this tool will not assume.
How the conversion works (so an agent can compute without the UI)
Every supported unit is volume-per-time, so the conversion is purely dimensional: convert the input to a common base (cubic metres per second), then to the target unit. No temperature, pressure, wet/dry, or oxygen basis is applied — the basis is carried, not changed.
value_target = value_from × (toBaseM3s[from] / toBaseM3s[to])
Per-second factors (exact, from 1 ft = 0.3048 m):
m³/s = 1
m³/min = 1/60
m³/h = 1/3600
L/s = 0.001
L/min = 0.001/60
ft³/s = 0.028316846592
ft³/min = 0.028316846592/60 (CFM)
ft³/h = 0.028316846592/3600 (CFH)
Basis is required and never inferred
A flow expression only has a single meaning once its basis is stated — actual (as-measured), or a normal / standard reference defined by your own standard. This helper converts only when the from-basis and to-basis match, and then changes only the volume/time dimensions. A cross-basis request (for example normal → actual) depends on temperature, pressure, wet/dry basis, and any oxygen correction; the tool will not assume those and instead returns a guardrail message pointing to plant procedure, process engineering, the OEM, and — for emissions bases — environmental authority. Leaving the basis unspecified is allowed only as a pure dimensional convenience and is flagged as valid only if both sides already share the same conditions.
Worked example (dimensional, same basis)
A flow quoted as m³/h lined up against ft³/min (CFM) on the same basis: divide by 3600 to reach m³/s, then divide by the ft³ factor to reach ft³/s, then multiply by 60. So a value of 3600 m³/h corresponds to about 2118.88 ft³/min on the same basis — a dimensional restatement, not a process conclusion.
Copyable JSON input/output contract
{
"value": 3600,
"fromUnit": "m3/h",
"toUnit": "ft3/min",
"fromBasis": "unspecified",
"toBasis": "unspecified"
}{
"ok": true,
"value": 2118.88,
"fromUnit": "m3/h",
"toUnit": "ft3/min",
"basis": "unspecified",
"warnings": [
"Basis not stated — pure dimensional conversion only...",
"Dimensional unit helper only — makes no process, fan/damper, emissions, permit, or acceptability decision..."
]
}{
"value": 1000,
"fromUnit": "m3/h",
"toUnit": "m3/h",
"fromBasis": "normal",
"toBasis": "actual"
}{
"ok": false,
"value": null,
"basis": null,
"guardrail": "Cross-basis conversion (normal -> actual) is not purely dimensional: it depends on temperature, pressure, wet/dry basis, and any oxygen correction...",
"warnings": [
"Dimensional unit helper only..."
]
}Output values illustrate the contract shape; run the calculator for exact figures. The blocked case returns no number — cross-basis conversion belongs to stated-condition handling under the appropriate authority.
Inputs needed
| Input | Unit | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| value | — | Yes | volumetric flow value (finite number) |
| fromUnit | — | Yes | one of the labeled volumetric units |
| toUnit | — | Yes | one of the labeled volumetric units |
| fromBasis | — | Yes | actual / normal / standard / unspecified — must be stated, never inferred |
| toBasis | — | Yes | must match fromBasis for a conversion to be performed |
Outputs expected
| Output | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| value | — | converted flow on the same basis, or null when a guardrail blocks it |
| ok | — | true if a dimensional conversion was performed; false if a cross-basis guardrail blocked it |
| basis | — | the shared basis when ok; null when blocked |
| warnings | — | advisory notes, always including the not-a-decision reminder |
| guardrail | — | present when ok is false — why the conversion was not performed and where it belongs |
Limitations & cautions
- Dimensional volumetric conversion only — it applies no temperature, pressure, wet/dry, or oxygen correction and infers no basis.
- Cross-basis conversions (actual ↔ normal ↔ standard) are not performed; state a single consistent basis, or convert with stated conditions under process engineering / OEM / environmental authority.
- Does not calculate emissions compliance, permit limits, fan or damper setpoints, equipment capacity, or operational acceptability.
- Reference-basis (Nm³ / Sm³ / SCF) definitions vary by standard and site — the tool uses the basis you state and does not define it for you.
- When the basis is left unspecified, the result is valid only if both expressions already share the same temperature, pressure, and wet/dry basis. Confirm the basis before any use.
- Verify the basis and the result against plant procedure and the appropriate authority before any process or environmental use.
⚠️ Safety & compliance
- This is a dimensional unit helper only. It does not recommend fan or damper changes, process setpoints, environmental conclusions, permit compliance, or equipment acceptability.
- It never infers a temperature, pressure, wet/dry, or oxygen basis, and it refuses cross-basis conversions — state the basis and route condition-dependent conversions to the appropriate authority.
Authority: Basis definitions, condition-dependent conversions, emissions/permit interpretation, and any process or equipment decision require the appropriate human authority — plant procedure, process engineering, the OEM, and environmental authority. This tool is advisory and dimensional only.
AI agent use cases
- Normalize a volumetric flow value between units when both sides share the same stated basis.
- Replicate the dimensional conversion from the stated factors when the UI cannot be run.
- Detect a cross-basis request (actual/normal/standard mismatch) and route it to stated-condition handling instead of guessing.
Human use cases
- Quickly line up a flow quoted in m³/h against one quoted in CFM during a process discussion.
- A reminder that normal/standard/actual bases are not interchangeable without stated conditions.
Related
Prompts:dust collector trend review, finish mill ventilation trend review
Pages:id fan and draft basics, process fans and dampers overview, false air and heat balance basics, dust collector differential pressure trend, finish mill high differential pressure, safety guardrails
Sources & assumptions
Assumption: Both flow expressions are on the same basis when a conversion is requested; the tool does not infer or reconcile bases.
Assumption: Reference-basis definitions (Nm³/Sm³/SCF) are whatever your standard specifies; the tool only echoes the basis you state.
SI / international unit definitions (1 ft = 0.3048 m exactly) — method/context only — dimensional conversion constants, not plant criteria, limits, or setpoints
Plant operating procedure, OEM fan/process documentation, and process engineering / environmental authority — placeholder — all basis definitions (temperature/pressure/wet-dry/oxygen reference), setpoints, and acceptability live in plant procedure and the appropriate authority, not this tool