Compressed Air 101
Most end-use devices in a compressed air system act like orifices, or a hole in the pipe. The higher the pressure in the pipe, the higher the air flow through the device. For each 1 psig increase in system pressure, there is approximately a 1% increase in demand (artificial demand) compressor power assuming little to no pressure regulation at the air users. |
Why All the Waste?
Often times, even the fastest compressor controls can’t keep up with the very dynamic system demands. Many compressed air systems operate at higher pressures than they need to because the system pressure fluctuates sometimes dipping below the acceptable level. Consequently, a compressed air system that is operating at a pressure 10 psig higher than it needs to operate is consuming 10% more power than it should. | 
