Standard litre per minute

The standard liter per minute (SLM or SLPM) is a unit of volumetric flow rate of a gas at standard conditions for temperature and pressure (STP), which is most commonly practiced in the United States whereas European practice revolves around the normal litre per minute (NLPM).[1] Until 1982, STP was defined as a temperature of 273.15 K (0 °C, 32 °F) and an absolute pressure of 101.325 kPa (1 atm). Since 1982, STP is defined as a temperature of 273.15 K (0 °C, 32 °F) and an absolute pressure of 100 kPa (1 bar).

Conversions between each volume flow metric are calculated using the following formulas:

Prior to 1982,

${\displaystyle 1\,\mathrm {LPM} =(.001/60){\frac {\mathrm {m^{3}} }{s}}=1\,\mathrm {NLPM} \cdot {\frac {T_{gas}}{293.15\,K}}\cdot {\frac {14.696\,psi}{P_{gas}}}=1\,\mathrm {SLPM} \cdot {\frac {T_{gas}}{273.15\,K}}\cdot {\frac {14.696\,psi}{P_{gas}}}}$

Post 1982,

${\displaystyle 1\,\mathrm {LPM} =(.001/60){\frac {\mathrm {m^{3}} }{s}}=1\,\mathrm {NLPM} \cdot {\frac {T_{gas}}{293.15\,K}}\cdot {\frac {14.696\,psi}{P_{gas}}}=1\,\mathrm {SLPM} \cdot {\frac {T_{gas}}{273.15\,K}}\cdot {\frac {14.504\,psi}{P_{gas}}}}$

${\displaystyle 1\,\mathrm {SLPM} =1\,\mathrm {NLPM} \cdot {\frac {273.15\,K}{293.15\,K}}\cdot {\frac {14.696\,psi}{14.504\,psi}}}$[2]

assuming zero degree Celsius reference point for the standard conditions for temperature and pressure when using SLPM, which differs from the "room" temperature reference for the NLPM standard. These methods are used due to differences in environmental temperatures and pressures during data collection.

In the SI system of units, the preferred unit for volumetric flow rate is cubic meter per second, equivalent to 60,000 liters per minute.