Hydraulic, Pneumatic & Fluid Power Systems worked example

Pressure Drop with baseline line pressure at pump outlet of 50 psi: a worked example in hydraulic, pneumatic & fluid power systems

This worked example runs the pressure drop numbers for a tougher week than the baseline: baseline line pressure at pump outlet of 50 psi instead of the typical 100 psi. Calculate pressure drop for hydraulic, pneumatic & fluid power systems planning, quoting, troubleshooting, capacity review, or process improvement.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Baseline line pressure at pump outlet: 50 psi (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 100)
  • Fitting and valve restriction factor: 1.2 x (held at the documented default)
  • Duty hours per shift: 8 hr (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Pressure Drop load = input load × load factor.
  • Total load works out to 60 psi at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Hourly equivalent works out to 7.5 psi / hr at these inputs.
  • Input load works out to 50 psi at these inputs.
  • Load factor works out to 1.2 x at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where baseline line pressure at pump outlet sits at 100 psi and the headline result is 120 psi, this scenario comes in 50% below the baseline at 60 psi.
  • Use it when commissioning a circuit or trending a filter/hose as it ages, to quantify how much a restriction is costing you in pressure. A result at this level usually justifies acting on the stressed input before touching anything else, because every other figure in the table is downstream of it.

Results at a glance

  • Total load: 60 psi (headline result)
  • Hourly equivalent: 7.5 psi / hr
  • Input load: 50 psi
  • Load factor: 1.2 x

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Pressure Drop calculator, set baseline line pressure at pump outlet to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.