UTILITY AIR RECEIVER SIZING

1. Terminologies:
Qn
t: Air receiver retention time in [minutes) Qn
It is defined as the time required, after compressor shut down,
for pressure to decrease from max, to min, while plant is consuming
its normal capacity,
M: Air mass in [kg) Pmax
r: Density in [kg/m3)
V: Receiver volume in [m3)
Qn: Compressor normal capacity in [Nm3/hr.) including 10% design margin Pmin

normal conditions are 273 OK and 1,013 kg/cm2a

Pmax: Max, pressure @ skid limit in [Bara]
Pmin: Min. pressure @ skid limit in [Bara]
Tamb: Max, ambient temperature in [oK]
Z: compressibility for air = 1

2. Calculation Formula:
𝑡 𝑃𝑁 𝑇𝑎𝑡𝑚
Receiver Size in [m3] V = 𝑄𝑛 × 60 × (𝑃𝑚𝑎𝑥−𝑃𝑚𝑖𝑛) × 𝑇𝑁

3. Sizing Example:
Qn: Receiver Outlet Flow Rate in [Nm3/hr.] :1880 -------→[1169] SCFM

Pmax: Receiver max pressure [bara.] :10,5--------→[152] Psia

Pmin : Receiver min, pressure [bara] :6,5---------→[94,3] Psia

Ts: Ambient temperature in [oK] :50OC------→[323]OK------→[122]OF

Air receiver retention time in [min,] t 3

Receiver size in [m3] V 29
Accordingly, Receiver size = 29 m3[1014 ft3] For receiver retention time of 3 minutes

Assuming “T.T.”: “I.D.” ratio as following: T.T.= 2 x “I.D.”

T.T. 5.3m [17.3] ft

I.D. 2.6m [8.6] ft

Thank you
Prepared By/Eng. Ahmed Abdelmonem Gamaleldin