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Engineering ToolBox > Compressed Gas and Air - Storage Volume

Calculate the storage volume of a compressed gas

The storage volume for a compressed gas can be calculated using Boyle's Law:

p_a V_a = p_c V_c (1)

where

p_a = atmospheric pressure (14.7 psi, 101.325 kPa)

V_a = volume of the gas at atmospheric pressure (cubic feet, cubic meter)

p_c = compressed pressure (psi, kPa)

V_c = volume of the gas at compressed pressure (cubic feet, cubic meter)

Volume of free gas in a Storage Volume

The amount of free gas at atmospheric pressure in a given volume as a cylinder storage can be calculated my modifying (1) as:

V_a = p_c V_c / p_a (1)

Gas can be stored in high-pressure cylinders ranging to 6000 psig (410 bar), normal-pressure cylinders ranging between 2000 and 2500 psig (140 and 175 bar) and low-pressure cylinders ranging up to 480 psig (34 bar).

Example - Volume of Air in a Cylinder Storage

The standard atmospheric air in a 250 cubic feet cylinder at 2000 psig (2014.7 psia) can be calculated as:

V_a = 2,014.7 (psia) 250 (cubic feet) / 14.7 (psig)

= 34,264 (cubic feet)