Top 10 Compressed Air \\

Here are our TOP TEN Compressed Air "Rules of Thumb" that we have come up with throughout our 25-plus years of experience. These are the areas of interest that our air compressor customers seem to ask about most.

1. CFM delivery per Horse Power expected 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 power230 Volts-------  1 phase-------- 5 amps per horse power208 Volts-------  3 phase-------- 3 amps per horse power230 Volts-------  3 phase-------- 2.5 amps per horse power460 Volts-------  3 phase-------- 1.25 amps per horse power574 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 your Compressed Air Line Filters to be twice (2x) your compressor CFM flow rate.• This will lower your pressure drop 2-3 PSIG and save an additional 1% on electrical energy costs.• Elements will last twice (2x) as long and this can save on your 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 1/4" 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 as compared to using a non-synthetic lubricant.

DEFINITIONS: CFM= Cubic Feet per Minute  - Volumetric air flow rate.Inlet Pressure = The actual pressure at the inlet flange of the compressor.PSIG= Pounds Per Square Inch GaugeAMPS=Abbreviation of the plural for Ampere, a unit of electrical current

Tommy McGuireOwner of McGuire Air Compressors"Real People with Real Air Compressor Experience"1-888-229-9999Email:   compressors@mcguire.biz

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