Factors to consider when buying industrial air compressors to power pneumatic tools
Minimum requirements of the pneumatic tools
Most pneumatic tools specify the minimum requirements to work properly which is often expressed in psi or pounds per square inch of pressure and the correct amount of cfm or cubic feet per minute of air flow. In order to calculate the requirements of your pneumatic tools, look for the one that has the highest requirement for psi which should serve as the minimum psi when you buy the industrial air compressors. The cfm requirements of the pneumatic tools means you intend to run more than one device off the air compressor at same time and you need to add up all of these requirements to arrive at the minimum cfm. When choosing an air compressor based on your psi requirements, more is not necessarily better since it can be wasteful. If cfm is your consideration, more is better because there are usually instances when air flow is lost through hose or other mechanics of the air tool.
Minimum requirements for horsepower
Horsepower is the amount of energy that the industrial air compressors use. Generally, it is assumed that a higher horsepower means higher psi and cfm which is not so in all applications. Once you know your minimum requirements for psi and cfm, it would be a good idea to shop around for an air compressor using these requirements but does so at the lowest horsepower. Always keep in mind that the higher horsepower, the higher would be the energy used.
Size of the storage tank
Industrial air compressors work from the air stored in the storage tanks. The amount or volume of compressed air will impact on how the pneumatic tools will operate. If you are using air tools that require continuous air, you should consider a larger tank since it will not have to run as much to provide the cfm’s for the tools you are using. If you are planning on air tools that only require intermittent running, the air compressor can have a smaller tank size.
The style of the tank will also depend upon the type and power requirements of the air compressor you are running. Although the style of the tank will not affect the compressor’s performance, it can become an issue when considering floor space, portability and overall compressor size. If the location of the air compressor has limited floor space, a better option will be a vertical tank.