HPR & Thermosyphon Receiver Sizing Calculator
This free calculator sizes high-pressure receivers (HPR), dedicated thermosyphon (TS) receivers, and combined HPTSR vessels for industrial refrigeration systems. Enter vessel orientation, refrigerant, and design conditions; it returns shell and head thickness, vessel volume, a liquid-level capacity schedule, and a nozzle/process-line schedule — on screen, free, with no account required.
It runs as part of the HPR / Thermosyphon Sizer, one of the four calculators in the ColdCalcs dashboard. Results are a preliminary sizing pass only, not a certified design.
Who it's for
Refrigeration engineers and ammonia system designers sizing a high-pressure receiver or a thermosyphon oil-cooling loop, who need a fast preliminary vessel size and nozzle schedule before a full code-compliance design pass. It is not a substitute for a design package prepared by a qualified engineer.
Limits
This calculator performs a preliminary sizing pass only. It does not size the pressure relief device, and its [ELI-REVIEW: nozzle reinforcement output is a callout only, not a full ASME VIII UG-37 area-replacement calculation]. Every result must be independently verified by a qualified engineer against the applicable code edition before it is used for design, fabrication, or construction.
Inputs and outputs
| Parameter | Type | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vessel orientation | Input | — | Horizontal or vertical. |
| Refrigerant | Input | — | [ELI-REVIEW: e.g. R-717 ammonia, plus several supported halocarbons.] |
| Design pressure basis | Input | psig | [ELI-REVIEW: condenser type and site design ambient, per IIAR-2 high-side design-pressure guidance.] |
| Vessel diameter / length | Input | in | Candidate standard OD and shell length. |
| Shell and head thickness | Output | in | [ELI-REVIEW: per ASME VIII UG-27 (shell) and Appendix 1-4 (2:1 ellipsoidal head).] |
| Vessel internal volume | Output | ft³ / gal | Net internal volume at the selected wall thickness. |
| Liquid-level capacity schedule | Output | gal per in | Capacity table by liquid level. |
| Nozzle / process-line schedule | Output | in | [ELI-REVIEW: liquid, vapor, and oil-cooling line sizes against velocity/flux targets.] |
Frequently asked questions
What does the HPR / Thermosyphon Sizer calculate?
[ELI-REVIEW: It sizes Dedicated Thermosyphon (TS) receivers, Combined HPTSR (high-pressure receiver plus thermosyphon) vessels, and plain High-Pressure Receivers (HPR) — shell/head thickness, vessel volume, liquid-level capacity, and nozzle/process-line schedule.] Results display on screen for free, with no account required.
What is thermosyphon oil cooling?
[ELI-REVIEW: Thermosyphon oil cooling uses natural liquid-refrigerant circulation, driven by a density difference between a supply leg and a return leg, to remove heat from compressor oil without a pump.] This calculator sizes the receiver vessel in that loop; it does not size the oil cooler itself.
What refrigerants does it support?
[ELI-REVIEW: Refrigerant saturation properties are sourced from a live CoolProp engine covering ammonia (R-717) and several halocarbon refrigerants; carbon dioxide (R-744) is excluded because its design pressure is standstill-temperature dependent rather than fixed.]
Does it size the relief valve?
No. This calculator does not size the pressure relief device. [ELI-REVIEW: A code-required relief device must always be sized and installed separately, per ASME BPVC VIII-1 and IIAR-2.]
Is it free to use?
Yes. Full on-screen results are free for every user, with no account required. PDF export and saved projects are part of a paid plan; on-screen results never are.
Related
Preliminary sizing for engineering evaluation only. Not for construction. All results must be independently verified by a qualified engineer against the applicable code edition.