The purpose of compressed air piping systems is to deliver compressed air to the point of use. However, designing a compressed air system is more difficult than you might imagine — the compressed air has to be delivered with sufficient volume, good quality and enough pressure to power the components that require compressed air. Inadequate compressed air piping systems will lead to high energy bills, low productivity and poor air tool performance.
How to size your compressed air pipe properly
Properly sized pipe is a critical component of any distribution compressed air system. If piping is too small for the demand, the delivery of air from the compressor to the specific points of use will be inefficient and costly, both in the short term as well as in the long term. To size your compressed air piping system correctly, you must consider your application’s required operating pressure, maximum CFM (cubic feet/minute), and the distance from the compressor to the point-of-use application which is furthest away from the compressor.
Select the right pipe material
Pipes used for transporting compressed air are available in a variety of materials such as aluminum, copper and plastic etc. Some materials are easily corroded, leading to debris and particulates in the air stream. Other materials affect the pressure loss due to friction. Still others offer a better option because they have low friction coefficients. It is essential to choose the right compressed air piping as the piping materials itself also impact on the system efficiency.
⇒ You can find what type of pipe you should use for your air compressors here
Keep the future in mind
Don’t forget about planning for future needs and expansions! It can be a big mistake to size your piping system based solely on present flow requirements, rather than planning for future additions. Where possible, think forward regarding your systems demands at the outset rather than having to modify your piping installation down the road. Some additional cost and forethought now could pay serious dividends in the future.
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