Detention Time Calculator
Calculate detention time for wastewater treatment, chemical reactors, and process engineering. Use our free calculator to determine detention time using volume and flow rate for clarifiers, aeration tanks, CSTR, PFR, batch reactors, and more.
Enter Parameters
Results
Enter parameters to calculate detention time
Detention Time
Formula
θ = V / Q
- • θ = Detention time
- • V = Volume of tank/reactor
- • Q = Flow rate
Units
- • Time: hours, minutes, days
- • Volume: m³, L, gal, ft³
- • Flow: m³/h, L/h, gal/h
Applications
Wastewater Treatment
- • Primary clarifiers
- • Secondary treatment tanks
- • Aeration systems
- • Anaerobic digesters
Chemical Engineering
- • Batch reactors
- • Continuous stirred tanks
- • Plug flow reactors
- • Mixing vessels
Typical Detention Times
Wastewater Treatment
- • Primary clarifier: 2-4 hours
- • Secondary treatment: 4-8 hours
- • Aeration tank: 6-12 hours
- • Anaerobic digester: 15-30 days
Chemical Reactors
- • Batch reactor: 1-24 hours
- • CSTR: 0.5-8 hours
- • PFR: 0.1-4 hours
- • Mixing tank: 0.5-2 hours
Other Applications
- • Storage tank: 1-7 days
- • Settling tank: 1-4 hours
- • Contact tank: 0.5-2 hours
- • Equalization tank: 4-24 hours