Hydraulic, Pneumatic & Fluid Power Systems worked example

Accumulator Sizing with required discharge volume of 250 in³: a worked example

What does the result look like when required discharge volume reaches 250 in³? The full calculation is worked below with real intermediate numbers. Use it when accumulator sizing in hydraulic, pneumatic and fluid power systems needs a few factors combined into one defensible number for hydraulic, pneumatic and fluid power systems.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Required discharge volume (delta-V): 250 in³ (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 100)
  • Number of accumulator pre-charge cycles per minute: 4 cycles (unchanged)
  • Gas-law / volume-to-charge conversion factor: 0.01 x (unchanged)
  • Adiabatic vs isothermal correction multiplier: 1 x (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Accumulator Sizing = first factor × second factor × conversion factor × process multiplier) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 5 units for result, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 5 value for base product.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 1 x for multiplier.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 1,000 value for factor a x b.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where required discharge volume sits at 100 in³ and the headline result is 2 units, this scenario comes in 150% above the baseline at 5 units.
  • A figure at this level is achievable when required discharge volume is genuinely sustained, not just peaked for a shift. It is a simplified product model, not a substitute for full P1V1=P2V2 isothermal or PV^n adiabatic sizing with real pre-charge, min, and max pressures and gas compressibility at high pressure.

Results at a glance

  • Result: 5 units (headline result)
  • Base product: 5 value
  • Multiplier: 1 x
  • Factor A x B: 1,000 value

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Accumulator Sizing calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.