Calculations For FAD

Calculations for FAD
The air delivery of a compressor (known also as the free air delivery or FAD) is
the expanded volume of air it forces into the air main (network) over a given
period of time. The correct method of measuring this volume is given in the
following standards: ISO 1217, annex C and DIN 1945, Part 1, Appendix F. ...
Proceed as follows to measure FAD: the temperature, atmospheric pressure and
humidity must first be measured at the air inlet of the compressor package. Then,
the maximum working pressure, temperature and volume of compressed air
discharged from the compressor are measured. Finally, the volume V2 measured at
the compressor outlet is referred back to the inlet conditions using the following
equation ... The result is the free air delivery (FAD) of the compressor package.
This figure is not to be confused with the air end delivery.
V1=V2⋅P2⋅T1/T2⋅F1
Note that F1 is a factor where
F1 = p1-( pp * Frel )
where
p1 = inlet pressure
pp = vapor pressure
Frel = inlet humidity
Example No. 1
Consider the data is,
Relative humidity = 80%

V2 = 1.2m3 min-1
T2 = 30°C = 303.15°K
P2 = 6 Bar
T1 = 15°C = 288.15°K
P1 = 2 Bar
V1=V2⋅P2⋅T1/T2⋅F1
F1 = p1-( pp * Frel )
Vapor pressure at 15 C = 12.8 torr = 0.017 bar
F1 = 2 – (0.017*80) = 0.64
V1 = 1.2 * 6 * 288.15/ 303.15*0.64
V1 =7.2* 288.15 / 194.01 = = 2074.68/ 194.016 =10.69 m3 min-1
Example 2
Consider the data is,

V2 = 1.5m3 min-1
T2 = 35°C = 308.15°K
P2 = 6.5 Bar
T1 = 20°C = 293.15°K
P1 = 2.5 Bar
Vapor pressure at 20 C = 17.5torr = 0.023 bar
V1=V2⋅P2⋅T1/T2⋅F1
F1 = p1-( pp * Frel )
F1 = 2.5 – (0.023*85) = 0.54
V1=V2⋅P2⋅T1/T2⋅F1
V1 = 1.5*6.5*293.15/308.15*0.54
V1 = 9.75*293.15 /166.40
V1 = 2858.21/238.86 = 11.96 m3 min-1

Example No. 3
Consider that,

V2 = 2.0 m3 min-1
T2 = 25°C = 298.15°K
P2 = 5.5 Bar
T1 = 10°C = 283.15°K
P1 = 1.8 Bar
Vapor pressure at 10 C = 9.2 torr = 0.012 bar
V1=V2⋅P2⋅T1/T2⋅F1
F1 = p1-( pp * Frel )
F1 = 1.8 – (0.012*75) = 1.8 – 0.9 = 0.9
V1 = 2*5.5*283.15/298.15*0.9 =3114.65 /254.86 = 12.22 m3 min-1
Explanation:
V1=V2⋅P2⋅T1/T2⋅F1
F1 = p1-( pp * Frel )
The concept that affects the math is the difference between the actual volume of inlet air (acf)
and the standard volume of inlet air (scf). The most valid efficiency measure is scfm delivered at
full-load input power. The actual cubic feet per minute, also called free air delivered (FAD), is
based on air at the inlet conditions. There are no corrections made for temperature, pressure or
relative humidity. The standard cubic feet per minute metric, on the other hand, is a function of
those variables. Remember:
 A fixed volume of cold air weighs more the same volume of warm air.
 A fixed volume of air at a higher ambient pressure weighs more than the same volume at lower
ambient pressure.
 Water vapor in the inlet air is compressed, discharged and removed by the compressed air drying
system, and represents a reduction in the weight of air compressed and delivered to the systems.
In short, inlet temperature, pressure and relative humidity affect both the density and weight of
the air ultimately delivered to the users in the plant. Measuring in scfm requires that the inlet air
conditions be corrected to 60°F, 14.5 psia and 0% relative humidity, the standard conditions
established by the Compressed Air and Gas Institute (CAGI) and Pneurop, its European
counterpart. Most, if not all, manufacturers of air compressors and dryers use these standard
conditions. Unfortunately, production machinery manufacturers and flowmeter manufacturers
don’t always use this standard. FAD (free air delivered) indicates delivered air at inlet
conditions. FAD is read before the inlet filter and inlet piping thus not taking into account this
pressure drop which is normally anywhere from .2 to .5 psia with a relatively clean filter. This
can be misleading because performance is calculated on an inlet pressure that is higher than the
actual air volume entering the unit. Calculated discharge pressure and power will also be lower
than actual. Like icfm and acfm, FAD is also used interchangeably to reference delivered air.
However, if using published data to run operating performance compressors it is important to
know if the FAD rating is used instead of icfm or acfm and identify where the inlet pressure
number is being acquired or estimated. Understanding the rate of free air flow with respect to
your compressor is vitally important when you are purchasing or deciding where to install air
compressors. The SCFM is probably your most useful measure for this information. Knowledge
of your air compressor’s SCFM will tell you if you have the right air compressor for the size of
the job your air compressor has to do. An air compressor that does not push enough air will mean
your applications will not work optimally, while one that pushes more air than you need will
waste your company’s money and energy. By calculating how much pressure you need for your
application, you can verify you are working with the right air compressor by finding out its
SCFM. An air compressor with 10 horsepower or more should generate around 3 or 4 cubic feet
of air per minute at 90 PSI.
In a compressed-air system, free air delivery (FAD) is the enlarged volume of air that the
compressor releases into the network within a given measure of time. To determine FAD,
measurements must be made of the ambient pressure, humidity and temperature present at the air
inlet of the machine. The setting of an air compressor will impact the results of this
measurement, as factors like ambient heat and moisture will impact the quality of air that travels
through the inlet and, consequently, the pressurized air that travels to the system’s end-point
applications.
Once the incoming air pressure, temperature and humidity are measured, the second round of
measurements are made, this time of the maximum pressure, volume and temperature at the
discharge. The results of this measurement could be affected by the quality of pressurization that
occurs within the compressor and whether the machine is sound or flawed. For example, a
compressor with condensation and air leaks will yield different measurements at the discharge
than a compressor with no such issues.
After the measurements have been taken of the pressure, temperature and volume of the
pressurized air that comes out of the compressor, the resulting figure must be calculated with the
inlet measurement using the Free Air Delivery mathematical structure. The result is the free air
delivery of the compressor in question. FAD is not the same thing as the air end delivery of an
air compressor.
Refrence
https://engineering.stackexchange.com/questions/22720/define-free-air-delivery-for-an-air-compressor
http://www.wiredchemist.com/chemistry/data/vapor-pressure
https://www.plantservices.com/articles/2009/011/

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Calculations for FAD

Note that F1 is a factor where

Frel = inlet humidity

Relative humidity = 80%

V1 = 1.2 * 6 * 288.15/ 303.15*0.64

V1 =7.2* 288.15 / 194.01 = = 2074.68/ 194.016 =10.69 m3 min-1

Relative humidity = 85%

Vapor pressure at 20 C = 17.5torr = 0.023 bar

V1 = 2858.21/238.86 = 11.96 m3 min-1

Relative humidity = 75%

Vapor pressure at 10 C = 9.2 torr = 0.012 bar

V1 = 25.5283.15/298.15*0.9 =3114.65 /254.86 = 12.22 m3 min-1

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