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Compressed Air Receivers

Calculating air receivers
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An air receiver is essential to every compressed air system to act as a buffer and a storage medium between the compressor and the consumption
system. There are in principal two different air receivers in a compressed air system:

PRIMARY receiver - located near the compressor, after the after-cooler but before filtration and drying equipment
SECONDARY receivers - located close to points of larger intermittent air consumption

The maximum capacity of the compressor in a well designed systems always exceed the maximum mean air consumption of the system
(maximum mean air consumption is the mean air consumption over some reasonable time).

Since the maximum capacity of an air compressor also always exceed the minimum air consumption in the system - the compressor must
modulate its capacity during normal work, often by using primitive strategies as on/off modulating or more advanced strategies as frequency
drives and inverters. Primitive modulating strategies cause more pressure variations in compressed air systems than more advanced strategies.
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In addition, the air consumption vary due to the process supported. In shorter periods the demand for compressed air may even exceed the
maximum capacity of the compressor. In fact, it is common in well designed systems not to design the compressor for the maximum peek loads. ≡
Air receivers in compressed air systems serves the important purposes of

equalizing the pressure variation from the start/stop and modulating sequence of the compressor
storage of air volume equalizing the variation in consumption and demand from the system

In addition the receiver serve the purpose of

collecting condensate and water in the air after the compressor

Sizing the Air Receiver

The air receiver must in general be sized according

the variation in the consumption demand

the compressor size and the modulation strategy

In general it is possible to calculate the maximum consumption in the system by summarizing the demand of each consumer. The summarized
consumption must be multiplied with a

usage factor ranging 0.1 - 1

depending on the system. In practice it is common that the manufacturer use standardized receivers for specific compressor models based on
their know-how.

For calculating the receiver, note that it is necessary with a pressure band for the receiver to be effective. If the consumption process requires 100
psig (6.9 bar) and the compressor is set to 100 psig, there is no storage and no buffer. Any increased demand will make a pressure drop below 100
psig until the compressor responds by increasing the air volume compressed.

If the compressors operates at 110 psig the difference between 110 psig and 100 psig accounts for the air stored in the receiver. If the demand
increases, the pressure can drop 10 psig before the minimum requirement is met. Pressure and flow controllers can be used after the receiver for
stabilizing downstream pressure to 100 psig and flattening demand peaks. Note that in a compressed air system the pipe work also makes the
purpose of a buffered volume.

There is no generally accepted method of sizing air receivers but a commonly used formula is based on the mass balance

C pa t = V (p1 - p2)                                                      (1)

that can be transformed to

t = V (p1 - p2) / C pa                                                        (1b)

where

V = volume of the receiver tank (cu ft)

t = time for the receiver to go from upper to lower pressure limits (min)

C = free air needed (scfm)

pa= atmosphere pressure (14.7 psia)

p1 = maximum tank pressure (psia)

p2 = minimum tank pressure (psia)

Example - Sizing an Air Receiver

For an air compressor system with mean air consumption 1000 cfm, maximum tank pressure 110 psi, minimum tank pressure 100 psi and 5 sec
time for the receiver to go from upper to lower pressure - the volume of the receiver tank can be calculated by modifying (1) to

V = t C pa / (p1 - p2)

   = (5 sec) (1/60 min/sec) (1000 cfm) (14.7 psi) / ((110 psi) - (100 psi))

   = 122 ft3  

It is also common to size receivers

to 1 gallon for each ACFM (Actual Cubic Feet per Minute), or

4 gallons per compressor hp (horse power)

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Note! Receivers of unsound or questionable constructions may be very dangerous.

Air Receivers Capacities

Air Receiver Capacities (cubic feet)

Tank Size Tank Size Gauge Pressure on Tank (psig)
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(inches) (gallons) 0 100 150 200
 ≡
Air Receiver Capacities (cubic feet)
Tank Size Tank Size Gauge Pressure on Tank (psig)
(inches) (gallons) 0 100 150 200
12 x 24 10 1.3 11 15 19
14 x 36 20 2.7 21 30 39
16 x 36 30 4.0 31 45 59
20 x 48 60 8.0 62 90 117
20 x 63 80 11 83 120 156
24 x 68 120 16 125 180 234
30 x 84 240 32 250 360 467

1 ft3 = 0.02832 m3
1 inch = 25.4 mm
1 psig = 6.9 kPa = 0.069 bar
1 Gallon (U.S.) = 3.785x10-3 m3 = 3.785 dm3 (liter) = 231 in3
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Related Topics
Gases and Compressed Air - Air, LNG, LPG and other common gas properties, pipeline capacities, sizing of relief valves

Related Documents
Compression Ratio - Compressed vs Free Air - The compression ratio is the ratio pressure of compressed air to pressure of free air
Air Compressors - Maximum Air Flow at Inlet Pipes - Inlet pipe size and maximum air flow
Compressed Air - Air Flow and Recommended Pipe Size - Pipe line sizing compressed air
Compressed Air Piping and Pressure Drop Diagrams - Imperial Units - Pressure drop in compressed air pipelines - applied pressure 50, 100
and 150 psi
Compressed Air Quality - Compressed air is used for power tools, instrumentation, processing and for breathing
Compressed Gas or Air - Storage Volume - Calculate the storage volume of compressed gas or air
Types of Air Compressors - Reciprocating, rotary screw and rotary centrifugal air compressors
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