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Sizing Industrial Air Compressors

Wondering how to size an industrial air compressor? This can present itself as a challenge but don't fear, we'll walk you through it step by step! Making this decision requires the following knowledge, how many and how often jobs are being performed by the compressor, planning for upcoming changes to the application and knowledge of the pressure and flow needed to complete the jobs.

The size of an air compressor is referring to the amount of air it's able to produce, not the outward appearance/size of the machine. With ever improving technology, compressors can produce large quantities of air while also saving energy.

If you already have a compressor it might be undersized, oversized or just right! To determine this you'll want to pay close attention to detail. For example, is your compressor constantly running? Are there pressure drops? Is your compressor sometimes unable to complete jobs? These are signs that your compressor is too small. On the other hand, if it's too large you might experience frequent stopping and starting resulting in very high energy consumption. Because the compressor is using an immense amount of energy to start up repeatedly, your compressor might experience catastrophic failure.

3 Steps To Size a Compressor Correctly

  1. First order of business, you'll need to check your pressure. The PSI, pounds per square inch, is the amount of pressure required by the tools used by your application. It's a good idea to add a little extra room for yourself in case the compressor has a big job at any point. Average PSI is between 90 and 100 but can vary.
  2. Next you'll want to Check your flow! This refers to the output measured in cubic feet per minute/CFM. This is determined by the demand of equipment on the compressed air system. It may be necessary to identify individual equipment demands to properly size a compressed air system. Best practice is to have an experienced system specialist assist in this decision.
  3. Lastly, know your voltage and phase. When placing a compressor in your plant it will need an energy source. Enough energy must be available to run your compressor consistently.

Solving the Moisture Levels in Your Compressed Air

When we talk about moisture being in our compressed air… we become mortified, right? The compressed air system can become damaged from corrosion, rust, and scale build-up. Negatively affecting the products and processes that require dry air.

Can Compressors Make Snow?

Winter sports are very popular here in Michigan and in other states that receive snowfall. The only thing about snowfall is that there never seems to be enough! At least here in Michigan, it can be tough to rely on just the snowfall to meet the minimum requirements for the resort to be open. Resort owners had to get creative and think outside the natural realm. This is where air compressors have come into play. Air compressors can create artificial snow, thankfully allowing ski resorts to be open and allowing our winter hobbies to continue no matter the weather.

Carbon Dioxide vs Nitrogen in the Food and Beverage Industry

Our atmosphere is made up of 78% Nitrogen. Nitrogen is not only used throughout the food and beverage industry, but surprisingly it is a huge part of it. Starbucks uses nitrogen to infuse cold brew coffee for a creamier smoother taste and feel. The fruit and vegetable industry uses nitrogen as well by storing it in non-oxidizing coolers to keep the fruit from perishing faster. Making your own nitrogen is efficient and sustainable. It reduces CO2 use and consumption by 70% when nitrogen is used as a replacement specifically in breweries, switching out all taps for nitrogen use. In high-traffic companies, for instance, Breweries. Healthier environments bring in happier and healthier customers.

Air Compressors Providing Us With Wine!

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about wine is most definitely not compressed air. In fact, it’s probably not second or third either. When wine comes to mind, we often think of social gatherings, dinner parties, gifts etc. However, I bet you didn’t realize that compressed air plays a critical role in the creation and processing of wine! Only certain systems can make this process happen, oil free compressors, nitrogen generators and blowers play critical roles in this.

Detecting Air Leaks

Air leaks may seem like a small inconvenience, but they can be costly over time and affect production. Leaks can be caused by a multitude of things like loose or cracked pipes. It’s important to stay on top of issues like this to save money and have timely production.

Farming Thanks to Compressed Air

The best time for fresh fruits and vegetables is during the summer! With farmers markets, gardens and warm summer air I think it’s safe to say summer is in full swing.

Air Compressor Oil and Lubricant

Air compressors need specific oil for their size and type just the same as a car engine would. Similarly, oil is used to lubricate the moving parts of the machine and keep things running smoothly. The lubrication helps the compressor from wearing...

Clean Compressed Air Management

It’s no secret that industrial air compressors require large amounts of energy and resources. That’s why we do our part in reducing the cost of energy along with the carbon footprint associated with our systems.  What is...

Sustainability in the Compressor Industry

The business world is an ever-changing environment. In recent years we’ve seen more of an emphasis on taking care of our planet by recycling, electric cars, and sustainability efforts within companies.  Over the past year Metro Air has...

Air Compressors at Ski Resorts

We all know that Michigan weather can be unpredictable, one day there’s six inches of snow and the next there’s none. This would be detrimental for skiers and snowboarders if it wasn’t for air compressor’s ability to create...

How Is Compressed Air Used In The Food Industry

There’s no doubt that compressed air plays a key role in food and beverage processing behind the scenes. Compressed air can be used for packaging and preparing, below we discuss the many applications air compressors are used...

Backup, Standby, and Redundant Compressors

Air compressors aid in the production of many products, for example, painting vehicles in an auto body shop, making snow at ski hills, and powering dental and medical devices. Even with the most up to date machines, there’s always the possibility...

Noisy Air Compressor?

Air compressors provide us with the resources to do many tasks such as, operate manufacturing equipment, construction equipment, and even assist in food and beverage production. Something else they provide is noise. If you’ve ever heard the...

When Should I Upgrade My Air Compressor?

Have you been seeing service technicians more often recently? Is your compressor using more energy than you would like to admit? If the answer to these questions is yes, it might be time for an upgrade There are many aspects that go into making...

Keeping Your Compressor Clean This Summer Season

Summer is a wonderful season filled with warm weather, blooming trees and flowers. However, with the blossoming trees comes cottonwood seeds. Eastern Cottonwood is one of the fastest growing hardwood trees in North America. I’m sure we’ve all...

Common Pressure Problem With Air Compressors

Why is my compressor running out of air? Many people find themselves turning up the pressure on their compressors because they think they’re “running out of air”. However, this would refer to volume in the compressor, also known...

Why Is My Air Compressor Over Heating?

This is a common question asked by customers in the compressed air industry. To answer this, we need to understand where the heat is being generated. When air is being compressed the heat value becomes greater than the volume can contain. This is...
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