Calculate Compressed Air Receivers
Air receivers are used to store compressed air and provide a buffer between the compressor and compressed air used. A properly sized receiver will provide extra volume during high demand times and prevent the compressor from short cycling (load/unload) during moderate demand times.
Air Receiver Sizing
The air receiver is sized according to three factors:
- How compressed air consumption will vary during operation
- The compressor's size
- The compressor's modulation strategy
The receiver volume may be calculated with the formula:
t = V (p1 - p2) / C pa
or
Time for receiver to go from upper pressure limits (min) =
Volume of Receiver Tank (cuft) (Maximum Tank Pressure (psia) x minimum tank pressure (psia)) / Free Air Needed (scfm) x 14.7 psia
It is also common to size receivers by either:
- 1 gallon for each ACFM (Actual Cubic Feet per Minute)
- 4 gallons per compressor hp (horse power)
| Air Flow Capacity |
Recommended Receiver Volume |
Gallons |
(cfm) |
(m3/h) |
(m3) |
(cu ft) |
|
100 |
170 |
0.3 |
11 |
83 |
200 |
340 |
0.5 |
18 |
135 |
350 |
595 |
1.0 |
35 |
265 |
600 |
1020 |
1.5 |
53 |
400 |
700 |
1190 |
2.0 |
71 |
540 |
1500 |
2550 |
3.0 |
106 |
800 |
2000 |
3400 |
4.0 |
141 |
1060 |
2600 |
4420 |
5.0 |
177 |
1350 |
3000 |
5100 |
6.0 |
212 |
1590 |
4000 |
6800 |
8.0 |
282 |
2150 |
5000 |
8500 |
10.0 |
353 |
2650 |
6000 |
10200 |
12.0 |
424 |
3200 |
7000 |
11900 |
14.0 |
494 |
3700 |
8000 |
13600 |
16.0 |
565 |
4250 |
9000 |
15300 |
18.0 |
636 |
4775 |
10000 |
17000 |
20.0 |
706 |
5300 |
|
