Specifications of industrial air compressor
PSI – means pounds per square inch which is the rated pressure at the rated volume that the air compressor will deliver. All compressors have this psi rating which should be taken into consideration when specifying the right size for your application. Single stage models compress air in one stroke and typically have a maximum rating of 135 psi while the two-stage models compress air in two strokes and typically have a maximum of 175 psi. Most pneumatic tools typically require 90 psi but you can choose an industrial air compressor with a higher rating for greater air storage.
CFM – is cubic feet for minute which in addition to psi are the important specifications that have to be considered in an industrial air compressor. Every air tools has a cfm requirement and every industrial air compressor has a maximum cfm output. It makes perfect sense to have an air compressor that has a significantly higher cfm output than what is required by the pneumatic tool for operating efficiency. There is no perfect formula that can estimate the peak cfm demands but normally every operator of a pneumatic tool must have at least 5 cfm. For example:
A ½ “impact wrench will typically require 5 cfm at 90 psi. This means that the cfm output of the air compressor must be grater then 5 cfm to achieve the most optimal performance. If two operators are going to operate ½ “impact wrenches simultaneously, the total cfm requirement from the air compressor is 10 cfm to ensure that there is enough capacity to complete both applications.
In the production line, an operator cannot stop with his work while waiting for pressure to build up in case you made a wrong choice for the industrial air compressor. Production lines typically require a higher cfm considering that they use more than one or two pneumatic tools. Continuous-use air tools like grinders and sanders have much higher cfm requirements than ordinary air tools like impact wrenches.
HP – or horsepower is an indicator of how hard the air compressor has to work in order to deliver the cfm requirements and the rated pressure. In general the horsepower is also an indication of the lifespan of your air compressor. For example if you are given a choice between two air compressors with the same cfm and psi, the industrial air compressor with the higher horsepower will definitely outlast the one with a lower horsepower but it will definitely cost more.