TOP TEN Compressed Air "Rules of Thumb"

Here are our TOP TEN Compressed Air "Rules of Thumb" that we've come up with throughout our 25+ years of experience. These are the things that our compressor customers seem to ask about most.

1. Air Compressor CFM delivery per Horse Power at 100 PSIG:
• For "home owner" type of air compressors---2 to 2.5 CFM per HP
• For Industrial Air-cooled 2-stage air compressors----3.5 CFM per HP
• For Small Vane & Screw air compressors (25 HP or less) 4 CFM per HP
• For large Piston, Screw & Centrifugal air compressors--4.5 to 5 CFM per HP

NOTE: THE MORE CFM PER HP - THE LESS ENERGY USED.

2. Air Receiver Size needed for these types of inlet control:
• Modulating Control------------ 0 to 1 gallon per CFM
• On-Line/Off-Line-------------- 3 to 4 gallons per CFM
• Stop-Start / Variable Speed--- 4 to 6 gallons per CFM

NOTE: THE MORE AIR STORAGE - THE LESS ENERGY USED


3. Amperage per Horse Power:
115 Volts-------1 phase--------10 amps per horse power
230 Volts-------1 phase-------- 5 amps per horse power
208 Volts-------3 phase-------- 3 amps per horse power
230 Volts-------3 phase-------- 2.5 amps per horse power
460 Volts-------3 phase-------- 1.25 amps per horse power
574 Volts-------3 phase-------- 1 amp per horse power

NOTE: THE MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT THE MOTOR - THE LESS ENERGY
IS USED.

4. Air Piping Size by CFM and Pressure Drop:
• Compressor Room Header--0.25 PSIG pressure drop per 100 feet of piping
• Main Line---------------0.5 PSIG pressure drop per 100 feet of piping
• Loop Line---------------1 PSIG pressure drop per 100 feet of piping
• Branch Line-------------2 PSIG pressure drop per 100 feet of piping

NOTE: THE LESS AIR PRESSURE DROP - THE LESS ENERGY USED.

5. Size Compressed Air Line Filters to be twice (2x) your compressor CFM flow rate.
• This will lower your pressure drop approximately 2-3 PSIG and save 1% on energy costs.
• Elements will last twice (2x) as long and save on maintenance costs.

6. Lowering Compressor Pressure settings 2 PSIG will result in a 1% energy savings.

7. Lowering Compressor Inlet Air Temperature 10° F will result in a 2% energy savings.

8. The average energy cost to operate an air compressor is approximately $0.10 per horse power per hour.

9. Compressed air system leaks totaling the size of a ¼" orifice, at 100 PSIG, running 24 hours a day will waste approximately $15,000 worth of electrical energy a year.

10. Using Synthetic Compressor Lubricants can save you up to 9% of the energy cost of operating your compressor.


>>>>Click here to learn more about basic air compressor maintenance>>>>