Section 9 - Technical Reference ACFM SCFM Conversion

Units of measurement are crucial when selecting vacuum equipment. ACFM and SCFM are often confused, which can result in a grossly over-sized or under-sized vacuum system.
ACFM (Actual Cubic Feet per Minute) is the flow of a gas/vapor stream at the actual measured pressure and temperature conditions. 500 ACFM @ 100oF and 24HgV is an example of ACFM (volume occupied by gas flow under stated conditions). SCFM (Standard Cubic Feet per Minute) is flow of a gas/vapor stream, where the temperature and pressure are corrected to standard conditions. Standard temperature is usually considered 60oF, and standard pressure is usually 29.92HgAbs, (or 14.7 psia). SCFM is the volume the gas would occupy if the mass flow were brought to standard temperature and pressure conditions. Ideal gas laws govern the expansion and contraction of gases due to changes in pressure and temperature. The Ideal Gas Law states: PV = mRT,

where: P = pressure (HgA) V = volume (CFM) M = mass (lb/min flow) R = gas constant T = temperature (oR)

All units must be compatible, and expressed in ABSOLUTE UNITS!

To convert ACFM to SCFM, and SCFM to ACFM, our formula can be simplified:
P 1 V1 P2 V 2 = T1 T2

To convert 500 ACFM @ 100oF and 24HgV to SCFM:

Solve for V1 (in SCFM)

where: P1 = 29.92HgA (standard pressure in absolute units) T1 = 520oR (standard Temperature in Absolute expressed in Rankin) V2 = 500 ACFM P2 = 5.92 HgA (29.92 24HgV) T2 = 560oR (460 + 100)

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P 1 V1 P2 V 2 = T1 T2

P2 V1 = V 2 P 1

T1 T2

5.92 560 V1 = 500 29.92 520 V1 = 106.54 SCFM

So, 500 ACFM @ 100oF and 24HgV is equal to 106.54 SCFM, which represents a factor of 4.69 to one. Selecting the wrong units of measure in this example could result in selecting a system that was over-sized or under-sized by a factor of 4.69. It becomes quite clear why the proper units must be used when sizing and specifying vacuum systems. The greater the vacuum level, the greater will be the difference between ACFM and SCFM. Systems operating fairly close to atmospheric pressure may be more forgiving of error, but the same principles still apply.

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SCFM ACFM Conversion Chart
"HgV
0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00 8.00 9.00 10.00 11.00 12.00 13.00 14.00 15.00 16.00 17.00 18.00 19.00 20.00 21.00 22.00 23.00 24.00 25.00 26.00 27.00 28.00 29.00 29.50 29.60 29.70 29.80 29.90 29.91

"HgAbs

Torr

Factor
1.00 1.03 1.07 1.11 1.15 1.20 1.25 1.31 1.36 1.43 1.50 1.58 1.67 1.77 1.88 2.01 2.15 2.32 2.51 2.74 3.02 3.35 3.78 4.32 5.05 6.08 7.63 10.25 15.58 32.52 71.24 93.50 136.00 249.33 1496.00 2992.00

29.92 760.0 28.92 734.6 27.92 709.2 26.92 683.8 25.92 658.4 24.92 633.0 23.92 607.6 22.92 582.2 21.92 556.8 20.92 531.4 19.92 506.0 18.92 480.6 17.92 455.2 16.92 429.8 15.92 404.4 14.92 379.0 13.92 353.6 12.92 328.2 11.92 302.8 10.92 277.4 9.92 252.0 8.92 226.6 7.92 201.2 6.92 175.8 5.92 150.4 4.92 125.0 3.92 99.6 2.92 74.2 1.92 48.8 0.92 23.4 0.42 10.7 0.32 8.13 0.22 5.59 0.12 3.05 0.02 0.51 0.01 0.25 (Above conversions based on 60oF air at sea level.)

To Convert from SCFM to ACFM: 1. Select pressure level from chart 2. Multiply SCFM by Factor to get ACFM To Convert from ACFM to SCFM: 1. Select pressure level from chart 2. Divide ACFM by Factor to get SCFM

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SCFM ACFM Conversion Curves
The curves below present SCFM ACFM conversion in a graphical form. As with the chart on the previous page, temperature is ignored in the conversion process. This is generally acceptable, since temperature corrections to volume are generally in the 5% range within ambient temperature ranges (50oF 90oF). When temperatures are much higher or lower than ambient, use the formulas to correct for both pressure and temperature.
ACFM - SCFM Conversion Factors - (0 - 24 "HgV)

5.5 5.0 4.5 4.0

Factor

3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 29.5 24 30.0

Inches of Mercury Vacuum

ACFM - SCFM Conversion Factors - (24 - 29.5 "HgV)

80.0 70.0 60.0

Factor

50.0 40.0 30.0 20.0 10.0 0.0

24.0

24.5

25.0

25.5

26.0

26.5

27.0

27.5

28.0

28.5

Inches of Mercury Vacuum

(Above conversions based on 60oF air at sea level.)

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29.0