Version 1.

This spreadsheet was created based upon Taylor paper:

http://www.taylor-engineering.com/Websites/taylorengineering/articles/ASHRAE_Journal_-_Understanding_Expansion_Tank

Use at your own risk!

nderstanding_Expansion_Tanks_-_Taylor.pdf
 LEGEND
INPUT
RESULT

PART 1: PIPING VOLUME PART 2: COIL VOLUME

Use Steel
above: 2 1/2
PIPE INNER DIAMETERS
I.D. "
Unit Total Coil
Length Size Type L STD WT Volume Volume AHU/FC Volume
(ft.) COPPER STEEL (gals/ft) (gals) Tag (gal)
1/2 0.55 0.622 0.0121 0.0
3/4 0.79 0.824 0.0252 0.0
1 1.03 1.049 0.0429 0.0
1 1/4 1.27 1.38 0.0653 0.0
1 1/2 1.51 1.61 0.0925 0.0
2 1.99 2.067 0.1609 0.0
2 1/2 2.47 2.469 0.2489 0.0
3 2.945 3.068 0.3843 0.0
4 3.905 4.026 0.6617 0.0
5 4.875 5.047 1.0399 0.0
6 5.845 6.065 1.5017 0.0
8 7.725 7.981 2.6004 0.0
10 9.625 10.02 4.0988 0.0
12 11.565 12 5.8787 0.0
14 13.25 7.1673 0.0
16 15.25 9.4942 0.0
18 17.25 12.1478 0.0
20 19.25 15.1280 0.0
24 23.25 22.0682 0.0
26 25.25 26.0282 0.0
30 29.25 34.9279 0.0
SubTotal 0.0

Overwrite piping volume from Revit/CAD model here if ava

PART 2: COIL VOLUME PART 3: EQUIPMENT VOLUME

Total Water Total

Volume Equip- Volume Volume
Quantity (gals) ment Tag (gal) Quantity (gals)
0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0 Total 0.0

Revit/CAD model here if available

Insert rows for each potentially critical piece of equipment.

Elevation below
the top of the
system (ft).
Should be
Pressure rating (PSI) positive number Difference (PSI)
Boiler 90 90
Air Separator 150 150
Control valve 300 300
Pump 250 250
Other 300 300
Other 300 300
Other 300 300

MINIMUM 90

The CPP is the location on discharge side of the pump of the highlighted equipment above
 LEGEND
INPUT
RESULT

NOTES
System Type HW Sets default values for minimum and maximum water tem

Determine Initial Pressure (aka Precharge Pressure) UNITS

Find pressure required to prevent boiling
1. Pmin = 4.0 PSIG Pink dashed line of Pmin on chart --> is curve fitted here
2. ΔPs, LPP -> Tank = 13.0 ft Elevation difference between the LPP (low pressure point
5.6 PSIG
3. ΔPf, LPP -> Tank = 0.0 ft Frictional pressure drop from the tank to the LPP. Ignored
0.0 PSIG

Pi, boiling = 9.6 PSIG

Find pressure required to maintain pump NPSH This step can be skipped for all but high temperatur
1. NPSHr = ft From pump manufacturer data
0.0 PSIG
2. Pv = -7.1 PSIG The gauge saturation vapor pressure of the fluid at its ma
3. ΔPs, Tank -> Suction = 0.0 ft Elevation difference from the tank to the pump suction.
0.0 PSIG
4. ΔPf, Tank -> Suction = 0.0 ft Frictional pressure drop from the tank to the pump suctio
0.0 PSIG
5. PV, Tank -> Suction = 0.0 ft Difference in velocity pressure at the point of tank conne
0.0 PSIG

Pi, pump = -7.1 PSIG This is almost always less than Pi, boiling. If you calculated

Pi = 12.0 PSIG This is the required initial pressure of the tank (aka the Pr
default precharge from the factory so it is the minimum f
Determine Maximum Pressure
1. Pma = 90.0 PSIG Pressure rating of the equipment at the Critical Pressure P
2. ΔPs, CPP -> PRV = 0.0 ft Elevation difference from the CPP to the PRV. Positive if C
0.0 PSIG
3. ΔPf, CPP -> PRV = 0.0 ft Frictional pressure drop from CPP to PRV. Ignored if PRV i
0.0 PSIG

Safety factor 10% percent This is a safety factor to avoid nuisance relief valve trips.
Prv = 80.0 PSIG This is the Pressure Relief Valve Setpoint, rounded to the
 4. ΔPs, PRV -> Tank = -1.0 ft Elevation difference from the PRV to the tank. Positive if P
-0.4 PSIG

5. ΔPf, PRV -> Tank = 0.0 ft Frictional pressure drop from the PRV to the tank. Ignored
0.0 PSIG

Pmax = 80.0 PSIG This is the tank maximum pressure rounded to the neares

Tank Selection (assuming pre-charged tank)

VS = 0 Gal. System volume from "System Volume" tab

Th = 180 degF Maximum water temperature of the system. Set by the "S
T c= 60 degF Minimum water temperature of the system. Set by the "S

νh= 0.01650 ft3/lbm Specific volume of water at its maximum temperature

3
νc= 0.01604 ft /lbm Specific volume of water at its minimum temperature

Ve = 0.0 Gal. Increase in water volume from min. temperature to max.

Vt = 0.0 Gal. Total tank volume, equal to the volume of water expansio

Selection (manufacturer/model):
Notes
nimum and maximum water temperature in rows 55 and 56. Override these if necessary for your specific system.

on chart --> is curve fitted here

een the LPP (low pressure point) and the tank. The LPP will almost always be the highest point of the return line just after it drops down to

om the tank to the LPP. Ignored if the tank is downstream of LPP.

d for all but high temperature (>~210degF) hot water systems and systems where ET and pump suction are very far apart (e.g

or pressure of the fluid at its maximum expected temperature. Blue line on chart --> is curve-fitted here
the tank to the pump suction.

om the tank to the pump suction

sure at the point of tank connection to the point of suction at the pump. Typically negligible

than Pi, boiling. If you calculated it, you probably didn't have to (see row 18).

pressure of the tank (aka the Precharge Pressure). It's equal to the larger of Pi, boiling, Pi, pump and 12 PSI. 12 PSI is the
e factory so it is the minimum for convenience.

ipment at the Critical Pressure Point (CPP) aka the "weakest link". See CPP tab.
the CPP to the PRV. Positive if CPP is above PRV (Pressure Relief Valve).

om CPP to PRV. Ignored if PRV is upstream of CPP.

void nuisance relief valve trips.

Valve Setpoint, rounded to the nearest 5 psi. Note this on drawings.
the PRV to the tank. Positive if PRV is above tank.

om the PRV to the tank. Ignored if tank is upstream of PRV.

pressure rounded to the nearest 5 psi

em Volume" tab
ture of the system. Set by the "System Type" above. Override as necessary.
ure of the system. Set by the "System Type" above. Override as necessary.

at its maximum temperature

at its minimum temperature

from min. temperature to max. temperature. Tank "Acceptance Volume" must be ≥ to this value. Not an issue for "Full Acceptance" tanks

o the volume of water expansion plus the air cushion necessary to maintain pressure between Pi and Pmax. "Tank Volume" must be ≥ to
 160

140

120

100

Guage Pressure, psig

e just after it drops down to the pump. 80

60 Recommended
Minimum
Pressurization, Pmin
40

20
tion are very far apart (e.g. campus)

0
50 100 150 200 250

-20
Temperature, degrees F
for "Full Acceptance" tanks.

Tank Volume" must be ≥ to this value.

 Recommended
Minimum
Pressurization, Pmin

Saturation
Vapor
Pressure

200 250 300 350

ure, degrees F