I read an internet post about compressed air pressure drop and I do agree with most of it. I agree with the fact that pressure drop has nothing to do with an air leak; however, air leaks can reduce the system pressure and should be corrected. Pressure drop is created by resistance in your compressed air piping system as every pipe length, bend, fitting, coupling, valve, filter, cylinder and dryer create pressure drop. The way to minimize pressure drop is not to simply grow the size of everything, but design your system to handle expected demands. Over sizing filters is a bad idea. Many filters depend upon velocity to separate properly. Over sizing pipe can be expensive as every fitting and part will cost more to buy. Installing Champion Infinity smooth aluminum powder coated pipe with solid brass fittings (not plastic like some European pipe fittings) is a good first start. Recognize that pressure drop is caused by velocity of air moving through the device. When an event occurs air leaves the compressor and travels through a receiver. After this, filtration travels through an air dryer and continues through the pipe system to the event. If the event is relatively large an ASME air receiver can be installed near the event to help eliminate pressure drop. Bob’s Rule! –Air receivers don’t eat, sleep and generally last for 20 or more years, the more in a system the better! -Sometimes there is an event that requires a higher air pressure than the standard system can provide, or a large occasional requirement for air that would severely deplete the available CFM and lower the systems pressure. Here again an air receiver can be installed, but with a booster compressor to store air at a much higher pressure without changing the normal system pressure to cover this event. The high pressure receiver and booster would employ a regulator to offer the required pressure and capacity for the event.
This all may sound complicated, but it is not. The goal of any compressed air system is to deliver the required air power at the lowest cost with maximum reliability. It has been stated that 75% of air compressor cost is electricity. Running your compressors at the lowest possible pressure is the most economical. Contact us and we will be pleased to offer all the help we have.
