Air Receiver Volume:

V = t*(q
out
-q
in
)*P
a
/ (P
1
-P
2
)
where
V = Volume of the receiver tank, ft
3
t = time for the receiver to charge or discharge, min
q
out
= air flow out of the recieiver (surge flow to consumer), cfm
q
in
= air flow into the receiver from compressor, cfm
P
a
= Atmospheric Pressure (14.7 psia)
P
1
= Upper or Maximum operating pressure, psia or psig (P
1
and P
2
should both be either in absolute or gauge units)
P
2
= Lower or Minimum operating pressure, psia or psig (P1 and P2 should both be either in absolute or gauge units)
Example:
Inputs:
t = 5 min
q
out
= 350 cfm
q
in
= 250 cfm
P
a
= 14.7 psia
P
1
= 100 psig
P
2
= 60 psig
Calculation:
V = 183.75 ft
3
1374.546 U.S. gallons
5.20 m
3
Prepared by: Ankur Srivastava
Chemical Engineer
e-mail: ankur_2061@hotmail.com
The output from a compressor is 250 cfm. There is a surge flow requirement of 350 cfm for a period of 5 minutes. The upper
or maximum operating pressure is 100 psig and the lower or minimum operating pressure is 60 psig. What size of receiver
is required to cater to the surge volume rate demand and surge time?
Disclaimer : The information and methods included within this spreadsheet are presented for air receiver sizing. It
is intended to be used by technically skilled persons at their own discretion. I do not warrant the suitability or
accuracy of these methods.
Compressed Air Receiver Volume:
Rule of Thumb for compressed air receiver sizing is 1 U.S. gallon capacity for every ACFM compressor flow
Example Problem:
Calculations:
Volume at actual pressure and temperature is calculated by ideal gas law
Now by ideal gas law
P
1
*V
1
/ T
1
= P
2
*V
2
/ T
2
Where the subscript 1 describes the standard conditions of pressure and temperature and subscript 2 describes the actual conditions of temperature and pressure
Standard Pressure = 14.7 psia
Standard Temperature = 68 F
Flow Rate @std pr.& temp. = 300 scfm
Discharge Pressure = 100 psig
Discharge Temperature = 40 C
Calculate value of V
2
P
1
= 14.7 psia
V
1
= 300 scfm
T
1
= 528 R (68+460)
P
2
= 114.7 psia (100+14.7)
T
2
= 564 R (1.8*(40+273.15))
V
2
= (T
2
/T
1
)*(P
1
/P
2
)*V
1
41.05 acfm
Calculate Compressed Air Receiver Volume
Receiver Vol. per ACFM = 1 gallon
Receiver Vol. for example = 41.05 gallon
5.49 ft
3
0.16 m
3
Prepared by: Ankur Srivastava
Chemical Engineer
e-mail: ankur_2061@hotmail.com
If the compressor volume flow is described at standard conditions (14.7 psia, 68F), it will be needed to convert it to actual volume flow (e.g. compressor
discharge) at actual conditions of pressure and temperature. As an example this means converting volume flow in SCFM (Sm
3
/h) to ACFM (m
3
/h)
The volume flow of a compressor is described in standard conditions as 300 scfm. The compressor discharge conditions are
given as follows: a) Discharge pressure: 100 psig, b) discharge temperature: 40C. Calculate the compressed air receiver
volume for the given discharge conditions.
Disclaimer : The information and methods included within this spreadsheet are presented for air receiver sizing. It is
intended to be used by technically skilled persons at their own discretion. I do not warrant the suitability or
accuracy of these methods.
Rule of Thumb for compressed air receiver sizing is 1 U.S. gallon capacity for every ACFM compressor flow
Where the subscript 1 describes the standard conditions of pressure and temperature and subscript 2 describes the actual conditions of temperature and pressure
If the compressor volume flow is described at standard conditions (14.7 psia, 68F), it will be needed to convert it to actual volume flow (e.g. compressor
discharge) at actual conditions of pressure and temperature. As an example this means converting volume flow in SCFM (Sm
3
/h) to ACFM (m
3
/h)
The volume flow of a compressor is described in standard conditions as 300 scfm. The compressor discharge conditions are
given as follows: a) Discharge pressure: 100 psig, b) discharge temperature: 40C. Calculate the compressed air receiver
volume for the given discharge conditions.
Disclaimer : The information and methods included within this spreadsheet are presented for air receiver sizing. It is
intended to be used by technically skilled persons at their own discretion. I do not warrant the suitability or
accuracy of these methods.