[TheForge] air compressors, CFM, and psig

[terry l. ridder]

hello mike;


On Wed, 6 May 2009, CGRAF wrote:

> terry l. ridder wrote:
>
>> plasma cutter
>> soda blasting unit
>> parts cleaner
>> high volume low pressure spray paint unit
>> assorted hand held pneumatic tools, die grinders, angle grinders,
>> drills, impact tools, 3/8 inch pneumatic ratchet, pneumatic chisels,
>> and the ordinary tasks of inflating pneumatic tires, blow down
>> equipment, etc.
>>
>>
> terry, the real question is, do you foresee wanting to run all of these
> full bore at the same time?
>
that i do not have a good handle on. it would depend on who is in the
shop and what they are working on. that being said i can easily picture
the plasma cutter going, the soda blaster going, and the parts cleaner
going all at the same time.

what would change the equation is if i were to purchase a small water
jet cutting unit and retire the plasma cutting unit. that removes the
plasma cutting unit load on the air compressor but adds a rather large
load on the 3-phase side of the electrical. water jet pumps are
obscenely expensive.

>
>  If so what do each of them require and at what pressures? Just add up
> whatever you see using simultaneously then add 25%/50% depending on your
> level of paranoia.
>

i figure that i need at least 55 cfm at 125 psig.

>
> While it is real hard to imagine a compressor being to big, other than
> the cost and electrical consumption, you might want to consider that two
> or more smaller units staged to come on at different pressures would
> have its advantages. Not in the least is the insurance that redundancy
> gives on not being shut down due to mechanical failure. This could also
> be cheaper to run under light loads.
>

exactly!!!

that is what has lead me to look at duplex and quadplex air compressors.
the duplex and quadplex provide redundant reliability and economy. they
cost a bit more but that is saved in electric bills and maintenance.

>
> Mike Graf
>

-- 
terry l. ridder ><>