Pneumatic Cylinder Air Consumption Calculator
Estimate reference-condition free-air use for a double-acting cylinder from swept volumes and absolute pressure/temperature ratios.
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Result
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Calculation steps
Work through one step at a time or reveal the complete calculation. The steps use your current inputs.
How to calculate
Add full-bore extension and rod-side retraction charging volumes, then use ideal-gas amount equivalence at explicitly entered reference conditions.
Swept volume per cycle=(bore area+annular area)×stroke; reference volume=charged volume×Pc/Pr×Tr/Tc
Worked example
A 50 mm bore, 20 mm rod and 100 mm stroke use about 0.361283155 L swept volume per cycle; at 700/100 kPa and equal temperatures, about 2.52898208 reference L/cycle.
Assumptions and input details
Rod must be smaller than bore. Simplified full-charge estimate for one complete double-acting cycle; gauge pressure must first be converted to absolute. Exhaust recovery, initial residual pressure, leakage, valve flow limits and cushioning are excluded. Reference liters are not automatically standard liters unless the entered reference conditions match a stated standard.
Unit definitions
Unit selection is independent of language. Each selector contains only units for its physical quantity. Calculations use defined base units internally.
Choose from 23 length definitions, including explicitly labelled regional measures. Area conversions square the length factor; geometric volumes cube it.
Regional measures are not interchangeable merely because their names look similar. This is a documented selection, not a claim to include every historical unit.
NIST measurement tables · Japanese traditional units · Mainland China and Hong Kong unit distinctions
Using this calculator
Can I enter my own problem?
Yes. Replace the example values with your own inputs. The result, calculation steps, tables and applicable diagrams update from those inputs. Blank or invalid values clear the result; example values are never silently substituted for missing inputs.
Are the results exact?
Results use floating-point arithmetic and displayed rounding. Read the formula, assumptions and any stated data precision before interpreting the result.
Is my input uploaded?
The calculation runs in your browser. No account, file upload or external AI service is required. Inputs are not saved between page reloads.
Estimate double-acting cylinder extension and retraction force, speed and stroke time from bore, rod, pressure and flow.
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Calculate ideal storage volume to deliver an entered reference-condition air flow over a pressure drop without replenishment.
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