Studio Matrx Monthly · Volume 1 · Issue 2 · July 2026
Amogh N P
 In loving memory of Amogh N P — Architect · Designer · Visionary 

Interactive Calculator · 2026

Filter Sizing Calculator (PSF/ACF)

Size a pressure sand filter (PSF) or activated carbon filter (ACF) from flow and filtration rate. Enter the daily flow, the filtration (loading) rate and operating hours — get the vessel diameter every filter design starts from.

Required filter vessel diameter0.00 m0.00 filter area at 10 m³/hr
1

Flow & filtration rate

Total volume the filter must treat per day.

Hours the filter actually runs — sets hourly flow.

12

Loading rate across the media bed — typically 8–20 m³/m².hr for a PSF/ACF. Lower = larger, gentler filter.

Vessel diameter
0.00 m
Filter area
0.00
Design flow
0.00 m³/hr

How filtration rate drives filter area

Required filter area at each filtration rate for 10 m³/hr — a higher rate shrinks the filter but pushes the media harder.

Highlighted bar = your selected rate of 12 m³/m².hr

How this is calculated

  • Design flow = flow ÷ operating hours = 200 ÷ 20 = 10 m³/hr.
  • Filter area = design flow ÷ filtration rate = 10 ÷ 12 = 0.83 m².
  • Vessel diameter = √(4 × area ÷ π) = √(4 × 0.83 ÷ π) = 1.03 m.

Indicative sizing for concept planning. A detailed design must also fix media depth, freeboard, backwash rate and vessel standard — confirm with a qualified consultant before procurement.