Air Receiver Volume:

V = t*(qout -qin)*Pa / ((P1-P2)*60)

where
V = Volume of the receiver tank, m3
t = time for the receiver to charge or discharge, min
qout = air flow out of the recieiver (surge flow to consumer), Nm 3/h
qin = air flow into the receiver from compressor, Nm 3/h
Pa = Atmospheric Pressure (1.013 bar (abs))
P1 = Upper or Maximum operating pressure, bar (abs) or barg (P1 and P2 should both be either in absolute or gauge units)
P2 = Lower or Minimum operating pressure, bar (abs) or barg (P1 and P2 should both be either in absolute or gauge units)
Example:
The output from a compressor is 300 Nm 3/h. Due to compressor trip no air flow (0 Nm 3/h) is available for 5 minutes.
The upper or maximum operating pressure is 7 barg and the lower or minimum operating pressure is 4 barg. What size
of receiver is required to cater to the loss of of air for the period of 10 minutes?
Inputs:
t=
qout =
qin =
Pa =

15 min
15 Nm3/h
0 Nm3/h
1.01325 bar (abs)

P1 =

7 barg

P2 =

3 barg

Calculation:
V=

0.95 m3
250.9431 U.S. gallons
33.55 ft3
Dia
2.2
Height
6.5
24.71
Prepared by:
Ankur Srivastava
Chemical Engineer
e-mail: ankur_2061@hotmail.com
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.

absolute or gauge units)

n absolute or gauge units)

lable for 5 minutes.

re is 4 barg. What size

for air receiver sizing.

rrant the suitability or

T
7

rho
50

8.35176

Vol

Mass
13.7107278 114.508707793

2.3

3.3

2.3

3.3

4.0895967069
91.6069662343

50

4.181093

13.7107278 57.3258324905
2.0473511604
45.8606659924
45.7463002418

Compressed Air Receiver Volume:

Rule of Thumb for compressed air receiver sizing is 1 U.S. gallon capacity for every ACFM compressor flow

If the compressor volume flow is described at standard conditions (14.7 psia, 68F), it will be needed to convert it
compressor discharge) at actual conditions of pressure and temperature. As an example this means converting vo
(m3/h)
Example Problem:
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.

Calculations:
Volume at actual pressure and temperature is calculated by ideal gas law
Now by ideal gas law
P1*V1 / T1 = P2*V2 / T2

Where the subscript 1 describes the standard conditions of pressure and temperature and subscript 2 describes the actua
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 V2
P1 =

14.7 psia

V1 =

300 scfm

T1 =

528 R

P2 =

114.7 psia

T2 =

564 R

(68+460)
(100+14.7)
(1.8*(40+273.15))

V2 = (T2/T1)*(P1/P2)*V1
41.05 acfm
Calculate Compressed Air Receiver Volume
Receiver Vol. per ACFM =
1 gallon
Receiver Vol. for example =
41.05 gallon
5.49 ft3
0.16 m3

Prepared by:

Ankur Srivastava
Chemical Engineer
e-mail: ankur_2061@hotmail.com

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.

compressor flow

be needed to convert it to actual volume flow (e.g.

his means converting volume flow in SCFM (Sm 3/h) to ACFM

sor discharge
. Calculate the

ript 2 describes the actual conditions of temperature and pressure

for air receiver sizing.

rrant the suitability or