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Air Tank Computation

The storage tank should be sized to smooth out intermittent peak loads on the air supply system. Three factors are required to size a storage tank: the system's air requirements in SCFM, the desired differential pressure, and the number of starts per hour. The formula used takes these factors as well as the compressor's run time percentage and number of starts per hour to determine the minimum tank size in gallons needed. For example, a system with a 50% run time, 10 starts per hour, and other specifications would require a 36.2 gallon tank, while one with a 33% run time and 6 starts per hour would require a 120.87 gallon tank.

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John Malones
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21 views1 page

Air Tank Computation

The storage tank should be sized to smooth out intermittent peak loads on the air supply system. Three factors are required to size a storage tank: the system's air requirements in SCFM, the desired differential pressure, and the number of starts per hour. The formula used takes these factors as well as the compressor's run time percentage and number of starts per hour to determine the minimum tank size in gallons needed. For example, a system with a 50% run time, 10 starts per hour, and other specifications would require a 36.2 gallon tank, while one with a 33% run time and 6 starts per hour would require a 120.87 gallon tank.

Uploaded by

John Malones
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Another part of the air supply system is a storage tank.

The storage tank capacity, expressed in gallons, should be large


enough to smooth out intermittent peak loads.
Three Things Required to Size a Storage Tank:

1. System air requirements in SCFM


2. Desired differential (this is usually 20 psig. It is the cut in point subtracted from the cutout point of the
pressure switch)
3. The number of starts per hour

The formula used for tank sizing is:

“Off-Time” is determined as follows:

The number of starts per hour is usually selected as six or ten. Six results in longer off time. The longer off time means a
larger tank, which will be more expensive than a smaller tank. If initial cost is the most important criteria for selection, then 50%
run time and ten starts per hour should be used. If long life, less maintenance, and consequently lower cost over the life of the
system is the criteria for selection, then 33% run time and six or ten starts per hour should be used.

Using our example system requiring 1.096 SCFM, we can complete both possible selections (altitude compensation not
included).

Given: 50% run time

10 Starts per hour


2.192 SCFM
20-psig differential

= 6 x 0.5
= 3 minutes

= 36.2 gallons
Given: 33% run time
6 Starts per hour
3.28 SCFM
20-psig differential

= 10 x 0.67

= 6.7 minutes

= 120.87 gallons

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