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Plant Engineering Calculator

Updated Sep 17, 2026

Compressed Air Aftercooler Duty Calculator — Sensible Cooling Load

Calculate approximate aftercooler sensible duty from air mass flow, inlet/outlet temperature and average Cp.

Live calculationWorking shownPrivate in browser

Inputs

Results

Temperature drop 80.0 K
Sensible duty 97.0 kW
Heat rejection 330841 BTU/h
Annual sensible heat 581760 kWh
More actions

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Formula

Q=m·Cp(Tin−Tout).

Your calculation, step by step

These steps use the values currently entered above so the result can be checked independently.

  1. 1.Temperature drop = 120.0 − 40.0 = 80.0 K.
  2. 2.Sensible duty = 1.200 × 1.010 × 80.0 = 97.0 kW.
  3. 3.This excludes latent heat released when water condenses from the compressed air.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter measured or design values using the units shown beside each field.
  2. Review the live results and the substituted calculation steps before using the estimate.
  3. Check the assumptions below, then continue to a related calculator when the next engineering decision needs another model.

Worked example

1.2 kg/s compressed air cooled from 120°C to 40°C at Cp=1.01 kJ/kg-K rejects about 97 kW sensible heat.

Assumptions and limits

  • Sensible-gas cooling only; condensate latent heat can increase actual cooler duty.
  • Use actual mass flow and property data for final heat-exchanger sizing.

How to interpret the result

Treat the primary result as an engineering screening value, then use the secondary outputs to understand scale, energy or operating impact. Confirm site measurements, equipment limits and applicable standards before making a design or control change.

Questions engineers ask

How is compressed-air aftercooler duty estimated?

For sensible cooling, multiply air mass flow by average specific heat and the inlet-to-outlet temperature drop. The result is the approximate heat-removal rate.

Why can actual aftercooler duty be higher than the sensible result?

Cooling compressed air can condense water vapor. Removing that latent heat adds duty beyond the dry-gas sensible calculation.

Can this result directly size an aftercooler?

Use it as a first-pass thermal load. Final selection also needs pressure, allowable pressure drop, fouling allowance, cooling-medium temperatures, condensation load and manufacturer performance data.

Continue the calculation

Use the next calculator in the same engineering workflow instead of restarting from search.

compressed air heat recoverycompressed air moistureheat exchanger duty
Methodology. MAXScanner shows the governing formula, entered values and calculation outputs so the estimate is auditable. The calculator is a screening aid; assumptions and equipment-specific limits remain part of the engineering review.