a double acting air cylinder - is 15 HP enough?

by Tim
(Ontario)

I have a double acting air piston that consumes 10cfm per minute...by calculations. The operating pressure required is 150psi. 100 percent duty cycle is required. I have 15 hp available.

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Hmmmm, Tim. I fail to see the question.

I'm guessing it is "is my compressor big enough"?

First question I guess is, is your air compressor rated for 150 PSI output?

Bill

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a double acting air cylinder - is 15 HP enough?

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Apr 05, 2011
 Rephrase of question
by: Tim

Alright let me attempt to rephrase the question in an attempt to clarify things.
I have a system that utilizes a double acting pneamatic cylinder that requires 20 cfm per minute a planned operating pressure is 150psi. I have 15hp available to run a compressor.
So the question is a compound one, what size and type of compressor would be best suited for my air requirements? Second part as to weather or not 15 hp is enough to run the compressor required.

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Rule of thumb is you'll get about 4 CFM of compressed air at 90 PSI for each HP of motor. I don't have a formula to figure out what that flow would be per horsepower at 150 PSI, but you can be sure it will be quite a bit less than 4 CFM, but might be enough to run your cylinder.

In terms of type of compressor, the decision making has to include your budget, who sells them near where you are, more importantly, who services them where you are, what the duty cycle is, and and what type will give you the 150 PSI output required, reliably. I cannot answer these questions sitting at my desk here in a rural part of the country.

My gut feel is a small rotary screw, one with more than the 150 PSI at 20 CFM required, to give you a margin of safety.

Cheers,

B.

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