What this tool does
Checks whether available starting storage and delayed recovered flow cover a peak operating window without falling below the entered reserve.
When to use it
Use after the reclaim balance is known and before choosing a tank; run multiple peak-throughput and recovery cases.
Inputs and supported units
Each labelled field explains the quantity it expects. Unit-system changes convert existing numeric entries once and keep calculations on a single SI internal basis. Supported shared units include L/min and GPM, metres and feet, kPa and psi, millimetres and inches, kW and hp, and °C and °F as relevant.
Calculation or decision method
Usable limit = working tank volume − reserve
How to interpret the result
Read the primary result with the supporting breakdown and warning. A plausible number is not evidence that every input, operating case or design constraint has been included.
Worked example
A four-hour 12 vehicle/hour peak using 100 L reclaim/vehicle and returning 90 L/vehicle after 20 minutes draws a 3,000 L starting tank to a calculated minimum before recovery stabilizes.
Assumptions
Steady representative operating periods; user-entered meter, equipment, tariff and operating data; volumes are quantity balances rather than water-quality claims.
Limitations
No treatment technology, discharge route, oil-water separation, chemical compatibility, permit condition or manufacturer package is selected or approved.
Sources
- U.S. EPA WaterSense at Work — Vehicle Washes
- U.S. Department of Energy — Vehicle Wash Water-Use Estimating Methods
- International Carwash Association — Water Use, Evaporation and Carryout
- U.S. Department of Energy — Handbook of Water Use and Conservation