Maximum Air Flow Inlet Pipe

The pressure loss through air compressor inlets should be kept to a minimum to avoid noise problems. The diagram below indicates rea

1 cfm = 0.47 l/s

1 inch = 25.4 mm

1 cfm = 0.47 l/s

1 inch = 25.4 mm

Air Leakage Through Orifices

The diagram below indicates the the air leakage or air volume passing through orifices ranging 1/64 - 1/4 inches

1 psig = 6.9 kPa = 0.069 bar

1 inch = 25.4 mm
1 scfm = 0.472 nl/s

Compressed Air Quality

Power, instrumentation, process and breathing air
The quality of compressed air is often characterized as
Power air - used for tools in plant and workshops
Instrument air - used in pneumatic process control systems, laboratories, paint spraying and climate control systems
Process air - used in production processes, pharmaceutical and food processes
Breathing air - used in hospital air systems, diving, cleaning of breathing equipment

Power Air
Power air quality is used for pneumatic tools in plant and workshops.
Filtered separator is normally required
Refrigerated compressed air dryer and particulate filter may be required where sir tools, sand blasting and pneumatic control components are used.

Instrument Air

Instrument air quality is used in pneumatic process control systems, laboratories, powder coating, paint spraying, climate control systems, packing mach
Refrigerated compressed air dryer and oil removal filter required

Process Air
Process air quality is used in production processes, chemical, pharmaceutical and food processes and laboratories.
Refrigerated compressed air dryer, oil removal filter and oil vapor absorber may be required
For outdoor lines in cold climate low dew point desiccant dryer and particulate filter may be required

Breathing Air
Breath air quality is used in hospital air systems, diving, cleaning of breathing equipment.
aftercooler, coarse pre-filter, and auto draining water trap required
suitable in-line sorbent beds and filters required

Pressure Loss in Compressed Air Pipe Lines

Pressure drop in compressed air pipe lines depends on the line pressure, the air flow and the size of pipe. Pressure loss in
schedule 40 steel pipes with compressed air ranging 50 to 125 psig can be estimated from the table below.
NPS

Air Flow1)

Pressure Loss per 100 ft pipe (psi)

(in)

(SCFM)

Line Pressure (psig)

50

75

100

125

10

0.7

0.5

0.4

0.3

20

2.7

1.6

1.3

30

5.9

4.3

3.4

2.8

7.5

5.8

4.8

40
2-Jan

50

7.4

60

12.9

10.6

10

4-Mar

0.2

0.15

20

0.9

0.5

0.4

0.3

50

3.8

2.7

2.1

1.8

80

6.8

5.2

4.4

100

10.6

125
4-Mar

13.9

20

0.2

0.1

0.1

50

1.1

0.8

0.6

0.5

75

2.6

1.7

1.3

1.1

100

4.1

2.3

1.9

125

6.3

4.5

3.5

2.9

6.5

5.1

4.2

8.9

7.3

200
250

11.3

50

0.1

75

0.3

0.2

0.15

0.1

100

0.5

0.3

0.3

0.2

125

0.7

0.5

0.4

0.3

150

0.8

0.6

0.5

200

1.8

1.3

0.8

250

2.8

1.6

1.3

300

2.9

2.3

1.9

400

3.2

7.8

6.2

5.1

600

8.8

7.2

700

11.9

500

1 1/2

800
100

0.1

150

0.3

0.2

0.2

0.1

200

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

250

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.4

300

1.1

0.8

0.6

0.5

400

1.9

1.4

1.1

0.9

500

2.9

2.1

1.7

1.4

600

4.2

2.4

800

5.4

4.2

3.4

1000

8.3

6.5

5.3

10

8.3

1500

11.9

150

0.1

200

0.2

0.15

0.1

250

0.3

0.2

0.2

0.1

300

0.5

0.3

0.3

0.2

400

0.8

0.6

0.5

0.4

500

1.2

0.9

0.4

0.6

600

1.7

1.3

0.8

800

2.2

1.7

1.4

1000

4.7

3.4

2.7

1.9

1250

7.5

5.4

4.2

3.5

7.5

5.9

4.8

10.3

8.5

1500
2000
2 1/2

9.8
12.8

1250
2

7
10.7

150

150
1

8.3
12.9

2 1/2

2500

13.3

300

0.1

0.1

500

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.2

750

0.8

0.6

0.5

0.4

1000

1.5

1.1

0.8

0.7

1500

3.3

2.4

1.9

1.5

2000

5.9

4.2

3.3

2.7

2500

5.6

5.1

4.2

3000

9.4

7.4

5.1

3500

10.1

8.3

4000

13.1

10.8

4500

13.6

750

0.2

0.15

0.1

1000

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.2

1500

0.8

0.6

0.5

0.4

2000

1.5

1.1

0.8

0.7

2500

2.2

1.6

1.3

1.1

3000

3.2

2.3

1.8

1.5

4000

5.7

3.4

3.2

2.6

5000

6.3

4.1

6000

7.1

6.8

7000

9.7

7.9

8000

12.7

10.3

ms. The diagram below indicates reasonable maximum flow through inlet pipes.

matic control components are used.

g, climate control systems, packing machines etc.