Gas Compression Calculator
Calculate compressor horsepower from pressure and flow requirements.
Inputs
psi
psi
Mcf/day
°F
%
Results
Required Horsepower
58,651 HP
Compression Ratio
20:1
Number of Stages3
Ratio per Stage2.71:1
Discharge Temperature212 °F
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter inlet pressure (psia), outlet pressure (psia), inlet temperature (°F), and gas flow rate (MMscfd).
- Enter gas specific gravity and polytropic efficiency (%).
- Read required horsepower (HP) and compression ratio.
- Review horsepower per MMscfd to compare with vendor sizing sheets.
- Check discharge temperature (°F) — excessive discharge temperatures require intercooling.
How the result changes with Compressor Efficiency
| Compressor Efficiency | Required Horsepower | Compression Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | 90,643 HP | 20:1 |
| 66 | 75,536 HP | 20:1 |
| 79 | 63,106 HP | 20:1 |
| 91 | 54,784 HP | 20:1 |
What each input means
- Suction Pressure
- Inlet gas pressure to the compressor.
- Discharge Pressure
- Required outlet pressure.
- Gas Flow Rate
- Gas volume flow rate.
- Gas Specific Gravity
- Specific gravity of the gas relative to air.
- Suction Temperature
- Gas temperature at compressor inlet.
- Compressor Efficiency
- Adiabatic compressor efficiency.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersSuction Pressure = 50, Discharge Pressure = 1000, Gas Flow Rate = 5000, Gas Specific Gravity = 0.65 = 6 input(s) provided
- Calculate Required HorsepowerRequired Horsepower58651 = 58651
- Calculate Compression RatioCompression Ratio20 = 20
- Calculate Number of StagesNumber of Stages3 = 3
- Calculate Ratio per StageRatio per Stage2.71 = 2.71
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