How to Calculate Air Savings
| Super Air Knife Air Consumption* |
| Pressure Supply |
Air Consumption per Inch (25mm) |
| PSIG |
BAR |
SCFM |
SLPM |
| 20 |
1.4 |
1.1 |
31 |
| 40 |
2.8 |
1.7 |
48 |
| 60 |
4.1 |
2.3 |
65 |
| 80 |
5.5 |
2.9 |
82 |
| 100 |
6.9 |
3.5 |
99 |
*with .002" (.05mm) thick shim installed
12" (305mm) Super Air Knife tested
The chart above shows the air consumption of a Super Air Knife per inch of length (25mm) at various pressures. Comparable data is given for holes drilled in pipe.
To Determine Air Consumption for the Drilled Pipe
- Determine the size of existing holes and current supply air pressure. From the chart below, find air consumption per hole.
- Multiply air consumption per hole times the number of holes to obtain total air consumption.
Holes Drilled In Pipe
| Air Consumption Of Drilled Pipe |
| Air Consumption |
PSIG |
20 |
40 |
60 |
80 |
100 |
| BAR |
1.4 |
2.8 |
4.1 |
5.5 |
6.9 |
| 1/16" (1.59mm) dia. hole |
SCFM |
1.4 |
2.2 |
3.0 |
3.8 |
4.6 |
| SLPM |
40 |
62 |
85 |
108 |
130 |
| 3/32" (2.38mm) dia. hole |
SCFM |
3.5 |
5.4 |
7.4 |
9.4 |
11.5 |
| SLPM |
99 |
153 |
209 |
266 |
326 |
| 1/8" (3.18mm) dia. hole |
SCFM |
6.4 |
10.2 |
14 |
17.5 |
21.5 |
| SLPM |
181 |
289 |
396 |
495 |
609 |
| 3/16" (4.76mm) dia. hole |
SCFM |
14.5 |
22.9 |
31 |
39.5 |
47.5 |
| SLPM |
410 |
648 |
877 |
1118 |
1344 |
| 1/4" (6.35mm) dia. hole |
SCFM |
25 |
40 |
54 |
69 |
84 |
| SLPM |
710 |
1132 |
1528 |
1953 |
2363 |
To Determine Air Consumption for the Super Air Knife
- From the chart at the top, find the air consumption per inch (25mm) at current pressure and multiply by number of inches required.
Example:
- Existing blowoff is 18" (457mm) long pipe with 1/16" (1.6mm) diameter holes on 1/2" (12.7mm) spacing (37 holes), 80 PSIG supply. Air consumption from chart is 3.8 SCFM per hole. Total air consumption is 37 x 3.8 = 140.6 SCFM (3996 SLPM).
- Use 18" (457mm) Super Air Knife with standard .002" (.05mm) gap and 80 PSIG supply. Air consumption from chart is 2.9 SCFM per inch. Total air consumption is 18 x 2.9 = 52.2 SCFM (1476 SLPM).
- Compressed air saved = 140.6 SCFM - 52.2 SCFM
= 88.4 SCFM (2520 SLPM).
- Most large plants know their air cost. If you don't know your actual cost/1000 SCF, a reasonable average to use is $.25 per 1000 SCF (28,329 SL).
- Dollars saved per hour = SCFM saved x cost/1000 SCF x 60 minutes
= 88.4 x .25/1000 x 60
= $1.33/hour
= $53.20 per 40 hour week
= $2,766.40 per year savings