Air Loss Cost

Leakage Loss/
Orifice Dia. (In.)		 Air Loss
CFM		 Air Loss, cu.
ft./day		 Loss/day
$		 Loss/month,
$		 Loss/year,
$
1/64 0.4 590 0.15 4.4 54.75
1/32 1.6 2332 0.58 17.6 211.7
3/64 3.7 5270 1.32 40.15 481.8
1/16 6.5 9345 2.34 71.17 854.1
3/32 14.5 20880 5.22 158.77 1905.3
1/8 26 37152 9.29 282.57 3390.85
3/16 58.3 83952 20.99 638.45 7661.35
1/4 104 149760 37.44 1138.8 13665.6
5/16 162 233280 58.32 1773.9 21286.8
3/8 234 336960 84.24 2562.3 30747.6
1/2 415 597600 149.4 4544.25 54531
5/8 649 934560 233.64 7106.55 85278.6

 

The above figures are based on values from the Compressed Air & Gas Handbook. Calculations assume a conservative cost of $0.25/1000 cu. ft. of compressed air, 100% coefficient of flow, and working 8,760 hours/year, at 100 psig.



Artificial Demand:

• Most air systems operate at artificially high pressures to compensate for flow fluctuations and downstream pressure drops.

• At higher pressures, air users consume more air than needed to perform a specific task.