Air Compressor Sizing

Air consumption rates for each of the items to be connected to it.

Add a reserve for leaks in the connections at least 10%...15%.

Consider as well the possible evolution of your needs since you do not buy an expensive equipment every time you add a machine to your park.

Make a short calculation how much it will cost to change it and how much it costs if you take a bigger one from the start. You can make energy economy using a variable speed drive and a reservoir.

Whatever you do, do not buy a compressor of marginal capacity. Buy an oversized compressor so that as you add tools you will still have some reserve capacity.

I made that mistake, and now have an expensive compressor that will not perform the tasks that I need to perform.

Get some reserve capacity.

Good luck.

As you see my recommendation is confirmed by Lyn's experience.

Go big....get a good dryer system...

And an oil separater if it's needed. Some tools like oil in their air supply, some don't.

In fact, since you don't give a whole lot of detail, you might consider getting some sort of shop expert in to review your situation and provide advice. Better safe than sorry!

Pressure at the application point/s-Kg/cm2 or Bar, Air Consumption of the pneumatic m/c-CFM/M3/min/M3/hour..

Quality of air-Pressure Dew Point,Oil content ppm

Many good answers. Just to add few more important points while selecting a compressor.

1) Check the minimum pressure required to operate your pneumatic machineries. select the maximum among them. Your compressor discharge pressure shall be about 20% higher than that. If pipe length is more with so many bends and connections, it can be even more considering higher pressure drop.

2) Check the maximum air consumption rate when you operate several pneumatic machineries at a time. Your compressure capacity shall be 10% more than that.

3) Check for air quality required by your machineries, if neccessary install a drier.

Just like in an old pneumatic controlled building add up the amount of pressure using devices, calculate approxamate usage of these devices, multiply the specific volume each device uses and then add 20% - 30% so that you have a compressor run time of 4 times per hour.

As stated above, Air Dryers, oilers or oil seperators will need to be added to the storae tank outlet before the devices depending on the Manufactures requirements. Install a storage tank auto purge system as well to keep the tank purged of water due to condensation durring compression.

Sum your equipment demand and add a cushion factor of 20% to the number.

A suggestion; If this is for providing air in a business/production facility and not at home for personal use, be sure to evaluate negative impact to production due to loss of the compressor during maintenance or unit failure and consider purchasing two units. (one primary, one as backup and rotate usage.)