An installed flow meter provides an instantaneous flow rate reading. This is multiplied by the annual operating time, a unit conversion factor of 60 (to convert hours to minutes), and the quantity multiplier to obtain total annual consumption in standard cubic feet.

\begin{equation}\label{eq:compressed-air-reduction-flow-meter-consumption} C = Q_{meter} \cdot t_{op} \cdot 60 \cdot n\end{equation}

Symbols

\(C\)	Annual compressed air consumption \([\unit{ \cubic\foot\per\year}]\)
\(Q_{meter}\)	Flow rate reading from the installed meter \([\unit{ \cubic\foot\per\minute}]\)
\(t_{op}\)	Annual operating hours \([\unit{ \hour\per\year}]\)
\(60\)	Unit conversion factor (minutes per hour) \([\unit{ \minute\per\hour}]\)
\(n\)	Quantity multiplier (number of identical measures) \([\unit{ \unitless}]\)