The below video shows how to calculate the air consumption when operating at any pressure.
If you want to discuss efficient compressed air use or any of EXAIR’s engineered compressed air products, give us a call or email. We would enjoy hearing from you!
Steve Harrison
Application Engineer
Send me an email
Find us on the Web
Follow me on Twitter
Like us on Facebook
If you need to operate at a different pressure because you require less or more force or simply operate at a different line pressure, this formula will allow you to determine the volume of air being consumed by any device.
Using the EXAIR 1100 Super Air Nozzle as our example:
Lets first consider the volume of the 1100 Super Air Nozzle at a higher than published pressure. As shown in the formula and calculations it is simply the ratio of gauge pressure + atmospheric divided by the published pressure + atmospheric and then multiply the dividend by the published volume. So as we do the math we solve for 17.69 SCFM @ 105 PSIG from a device that was shown consume 14 SCFM @ 80 PSIG.
Now lets consider the volume at a lower than published pressure. As shown it is simply the ratio of gauge pressure + atmospheric divided by the published pressure + atmospheric and then multiply the dividend by the published volume. So as we do the math we solve for 11.04 SCFM @ 60 PSIG from a device that was shown to consume 14 SCFM @ 80 PSIG.
When you are looking for expert advice on safe, quiet and efficient point of use compressed air products give us a call. Experience the EXAIR difference first hand and receive the great customer service, products and attention you deserve! We would enjoy hearing from you.
Application Engineer
Send me an email
Find us on the Web
Follow me on Twitter
Like us on Facebook
To understand the value of a having a Pressure Regulator at every point of use we should start with identifying the two types of Pressure Regulators, Direct Acting & Pilot Operated. Direct Acting are the least expensive and most common (as shown above), however they may provide less control over the outlet pressure, especially if they are not sized properly. However when sized properly they do an outstanding job. Pilot Operated Regulators incorporate a smaller auxiliary regulator to supply the required system pressure to a large diaphragm located on the main valve that in turn regulates the pressure. The Pilot Operated Regulators are more accurate and more expensive making them less attractive to purchase. The focus of this Blog will be on the Direct Acting Pressure Regulator.
The Direct Acting Pressure Regulator is designed to maintain a constant and steady air pressure downstream to ensure whatever device is attached to it is operated at the minimum pressure required to achieve efficient operation. If the end use is operated without a regulator or at a higher pressure than required, it result’s in increased air demand and energy use. To clarify this point, if you operate your compressed air system at 102 PSI it will cost you 1% more in electric costs than if the system was set to run at 100 PSI! Also noteworthy is that unregulated air demands consume about 1% more flow for every PSI of additional pressure. Higher pressure levels can also increase equipment wear which results in higher maintenance costs and shorter equipment life.
Sizing of the Air Regulator is crucial, if it is too small to deliver the air volume required by the point of use it can cause a pressure drop in that line which is called “droop”. Droop is defined as “the drop in pressure at the outlet of a pressure regulator, when a demand for compressed air occurs”. One commonly used practice is to slightly oversize the pressure regulator to minimize droop. Fortunately we at EXAIR specify the correct sized Air Regulator required to operate our devices so you will not experience the dreaded “droop”!
Another advantage to having a Pressure Regulator at every point of use is the flexibilty of making pressure adjustments to quickly change to varying production requirements. Not every application will require a strong blast sometimes a gentle breeze will accomplish the task. As an example one user of the EXAIR Super Air Knife employs it as an air curtain to prevent product contamination (strong blast) and another to dry different size parts (gentle breeze) coming down their conveyor.
EXAIR products are highly engineered and are so efficient that they can be operated at lower pressures and still provide exceptional performance! This save’s you money considering compressed air on the average cost’s .25 cents per 1000 SCFM.
If you would like to discuss Air Regulators or quiet and efficient compressed air devices, I would enjoy hearing from you…give me a call.
Steve Harrison
Application Engineer
Send me an email
Find us on the Web
Follow me on Twitter
Like us on Facebook
Last week I pointed out the important locations for measuring your compressed air system pressure throughout your compressed air system. One of the critical points to measure system pressure was before and after each filter. This leads into another question that I receive every once in a while, “How do I tell when the filter needs to be changed?” The answer to this is easy, when you see more than a 5 PSIG pressure drop across the filter. This means that the element within the filter has become clogged with sediment or debris and is restricting the volume available to your downstream products.
This can lead to decreased performance, downtime, and even the possibility of passing contaminants through the filter to downstream point of use components. In order to maintain an optimal performance when using EXAIR filter separators and oil removal filters, monitoring the compressed air pressure before and after the unit is ideal.
Replacement filter elements are readily available from stock, as well as complete rebuild kits for the filter units. Changing the filters out can be done fairly easily and we even offer a video of how to do it.
The life expectancy of a filter element on the compressed air is directly related to the quality of air and the frequency of use, meaning it can vary greatly. If you tie a new filter onto the end of a compressed air drop that has not been used in years, you may get a surprise by the filter clogging rather quickly. However, if you maintain your compressor and your piping system properly then the filters should last a long time. Generally we recommend checking your filters every 6 months.
If you have questions about where and why to filter your compressed air contact us.
Brian Farno
Application Engineer
BrianFarno@EXAIR.com
@EXAIR_BF
