Compressor Station Utility Air Design
| Parameter | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Air Start per Engine | 150-300 scfm per start |
| Instrument Air per Valve | 2-5 scfm per control valve |
| Pneumatic Actuator | 1-3 scfm per actuator |
| Receiver Tank | ~1 gal per CFM capacity |
| Pipe Velocity | 20-30 ft/s maximum |
Understand compressed air system design for compressor stations
Sum all air demands (starting, instruments, tools, actuators), apply altitude and temperature corrections, then size the air compressor, receiver tank, and distribution piping to meet peak and average requirements.
Receiver tank volume depends on the air demand rate, compressor capacity, and the allowable pressure drop between maximum and minimum system pressures. A common rule of thumb is 1 gallon per CFM of compressor capacity.
Higher altitudes reduce atmospheric pressure, which decreases the effective output of air compressors. A correction factor of (14.696 / local atmospheric pressure) must be applied to account for reduced air density.