CONNECT

CONNECT
BASIC NOTIONS IN COMPRESSED AIR

WHAT DOES PRESSURE MEAN IN COMPRESSED AIR?

CONNECT
Compressed air PRESSURE is a way of measuring the potential energy stored in the
compressed air system. Like voltage in electricity, pressure simply states what is avail-
able for work. Just as a wall plug still has voltage even if nothing is connected, so does
a pressurized compressed air system have pressure even if nothing
is being used.

Pressure is measured by calculating the force placed on the walls of the container in
which the air is stored; this is usually stated in pounds per square inch, or PSI. Other
measurements include BAR, for barometric
pressure, ATM, for atmospheres, and kPa, or kiloPascals.

WHAT DOES AIR FLOW MEAN IN COMPRESSED AIR?

Compressed air FLOW is a way of measuring the volume of air running through a com-
pressed air system, application, component or tool, over a given time. Like current
(amps) in electricity, flow indicates us the volume of air required to maintain sufficient
force to perform work.

Flow is measured by taking the volume of air and dividing by a period of time. The most
common unit of measurement is the cubic foot per minute, or CFM; liters per minute is
another common measurement.
 UNITS AND CONVERSION TABLES

CONVERSION FACTORS
Multiply Multiply
From by = From by =
POWER
1 "horsepower" = hp 0.746 kiloWatts = kW 1 kiloWatts = kW 1.34 "horsepower" = hp

VOLUME
1 inch³ = in³ 16.387 centimetre³ = cm³ 1 centimetre³ = cm³ 0.061 inch³ = in³
1 feet³ = ft³ 0.0283 metre³ = m³ 1 metre³ = m³ 35.3 feet³ = ft³
1 feet³ = ft³ 28.32 litre = l 1 litre = l 0.0353 feet³ = ft³
1 gallon (U.S.) 3.785 litre = l 1 litre = l 0.264 gallon (U.S.)
1 gallon (U.S.) 0.1337 feet³ = ft³ 1 feet³ = ft³ 7.48 gallon (U.S.)
1 gallon (imperial) 4.546 litre = l 1 litre = l 0.22 gallon (imperial)
1 gallon (imperial) 0.1605 feet³ = ft³ 1 feet³ = ft³ 6.23 gallon (imperial)
1 metre³ = m³ 1000 litre = l 1 litre = l 0.001 metre³ = m³
1 ounce (liquid) U.S. = oz 29.574 millilitre = ml 1 millilitre = ml 0.0338 ounce (liquid) U.S. = oz
1 ounce (liquid) imperial = oz 28.413 millilitre = ml 1 millilitre = ml 0.0352 ounce (liquid) imperial = oz

LENGTH
1 inch = in 25.4 millimetre = mm 1 millimetre = mm 0.03937 inch = in
1 feet = ft 0.3048 metre = m 1 metre = m 3.281 feet = ft

MASS
1 ounce = oz 28.35 gram = g gram = g 0.03527 1 ounce = oz U.S.
1 pound = lb 453.592 gram = g gram = g 0.002205 1 pound = lb

TEMPERATURE
Fahrenheit to Celsius Celsius to Fahrenheit
(°F - 32) x 5/9 = °C (0 °C x 9/5) + 32° = °F

FLOW RATE CONVERSION

→ To
→

From litre/sec litre/min gallon/min ft3/sec ft3/min(SCFM)

litre/sec 1 60.0 15.8 0.0353 2.12

litre/min 0.0167 1 0.264 0.000589 0.0353
gallon/min 0.0631 3.789 1 0.00223 0.134
cu.ft/sec 28.3 1 700 449 1 60.0
cu.ft/min (SCFM) 0.472 28.3 7.48 0.0167 1

PRESSURE CONVERSION
→To lb/in2
CONNECT

From mm Hg in Hg ft H2O atm Bar PSI kg-f/cm2 kPa

→

mm Hg 1 0.0394 0.0446 0.00132 0.00133 0.0193 0.00136 0.133

in Hg 25.4 1 1.13 0.0334 0.0339 0.491 0.0345 3.39
ft H2O 22.4 0.883 1 0.0295 0.0299 0.434 0.0305 2.99
atm 760 29.9 33.9 1 1.01 14.7 1.03 101
Bar 750 29.5 33.5 0.987 1 14.5 1.02 100
lb/in2 (PSI) 51.7 2.04 2.31 0.068 0.0689 1 0.0703 6.89
kg-f/cm2 736 29.0 32.8 0.968 0.981 14.2 1 98.1
kPa 7.50 0.295 0.335 0.00987 0.01 0.145 0.0102 1
Hg = Mercury Example: 1 bar = 14.5 psi
 PRESSURE AND FLOW ARE DIFFERENT!

Pressure and flow are often confused, interchanged and misunderstood; while they are related, they are
not the same thing. As an example, knowing what voltage is present in an electrical system is important,
but it will not provide the information needed to gauge usage vs. available power. The current (amperage)
available will be much more important; the same can be said of compressed air systems.

While it is important to note supply pressure, as much in terms of the compressor as in terms of what is
required by the tools or applications, it is the volume of air available over time that will determine if the
system can keep up with the tools. What is important to understand is that system flow capacity allows
the system to replace air consumed at the tool in order to maintain adequate pressure for the tool to func-
tion properly. This can be demonstrated in how different types of tools function:

Rotating tools, such as screw drivers, impact guns or grinders, require flow to func-
tion well, since it is the volume of air running through a turbine or over a wheel that
will drive the tool.

Pulse tools, such as nailers, staplers, etc., require a specific pressure to drive the
fastener into the material; they will therefore be less affected by flow restrictions
(as long as there is sufficient flow to replace the air used in the cycles).

WHAT IS THE AIR CONSUMPTION FOR TYPICAL TOOLS?

Continuous Air Continuous Air
Description Consumption at 90 PSI Description Consumption at 90 PSI
18 Gauge Brad Nail Guns 0.02 SCF per cycle Pull Type Air Nibbler 17.3 SCFM
22-18 Gauge Staplers 0.03 SCF per cycle 4" Angle Disc Grinder 18.4 SCFM
Finishing Nail Gun 0.03 SCF per cycle Mini Belt Sander (10 mm) 18.9 SCFM
Coil Roofing Nail Gun 0.05 SCF per cycle 3/8" Ratchet 19.2 SCFM
Framing Nail Gun 0.09 SCF per cycle D.A. Sander 19.2 SCFM
Riveter 0.08 SCF per cycle Jitterbug Sander 19.2 SCFM
Grease Gun 0.8 SCF per cycle Pistol Grip Shears 19.2 SCFM
Caulking Gun 0.1 SCFM* Chisel/Hammer 21.9 SCFM
Engine Cleaner 6.1 SCFM High Speed Sander 22.7 SCFM
CONNECT

CONNECT

Conventional Spray Gun 7.0 SCFM** 3/8" Reversible Drill 23.8 SCFM
HVLP Spray Gun 9.5 SCFM** Abrasion Cut Off Tool 25.4 SCFM
Screwdriver 9.6 SCFM Full Size Die Grinder 25.4 SCFM
Straight Line Sander 9.6 SCFM 1/2" Reversible Drill 26.4 SCFM
1/4" Mini Ratchet 12.5 SCFM 1/2" Impact Wrench 28.6 SCFM
1/4" Impact Driver 14.0 SCFM 7" Angle Sander 29.6 SCFM
Mini Die Grinder 16.5 SCFM 7" Vertical Polisher 31.0 SCFM
Random Orbital Sander 16.6 SCFM 3/4" Impact Wrench 34.7 SCFM
3/8" Angle Drill 17.3 SCFM 1" Impact Wrench 87.5 SCFM
* at 20 PSI / ** at 40 PSI Data based on a drop of 5 PSIG maximum
 HOW CHOOSING THE PROPER HOSE SIZE PER LENGTH AND FLOW (TOOL TYPE)?

• With most tools, the proper air hose size is at least one size larger than that of the air inlet pipe-thread
• Use of a smaller than recommended hose size will result in a serious reduction of tool performance

TOOL TYPE FLOW SCFM HOSE LENGTH

25' 35' 50' 75' 100' 150'

NAILERS & STAPLERS
18 gauge nailer/stapler 0.02 SCF/cycle 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4
22-18 gauge stapler 0.03 SCF/cycle 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4
Finishing nailer 0.03 SCF/cycle 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4
Roofing nailer 0.05 SCF/cycle 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4
Framing nailer 0.09 SCF/cycle 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4
IMPACT TOOLS
Miniature 1/4" ratchet 12.5 3/8 3/8 3/8 1/2 1/2 1/2
1/4" impact gun 14.0 3/8 3/8 3/8 1/2 1/2 1/2
3/8" ratchet 19.2 3/8 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 3/4
Zip gun 21.9 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 3/4 3/4
1/2" impact gun 28.6 1/2 1/2 1/2 3/4 3/4 3/4
3/4" impact gun 34.7 1/2 1/2 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4
1" impact gun 87.5 3/4 3/4 3/4 1 1 1
POLISHING TOOLS
Orbital polisher 16.6 3/8 3/8 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2
Oscillating sander 23.0 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 3/4 3/4
SANDERS
Sander 9.6 5/16 5/16 3/8 3/8 3/8 1/2
4-1/2" angle grinder 18.4 3/8 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 3/4
10mm belt sander 18.9 3/8 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 3/4
7" angle sander 29.6 1/2 1/2 1/2 3/4 3/4 3/4
DRILLS
3/8" air drill 17.3 3/8 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2
3/8" reversible air drill 23.8 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 3/4 3/4
1/2" reversible air drill 26.4 1/2 1/2 1/2 3/4 3/4 3/4
OTHER TOOLS
Riveter 0.08 SCF/cycle 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4
Grease gun 0.8 SCF/cycle 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4
Caulking gun 0.1 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4
HVLP paint gun 9.5 5/16 5/16 3/8 3/8 3/8 1/2
Screw driver 9.6 5/16 5/16 3/8 3/8 3/8 1/2
Gravity fed sand blaster 12.0 3/8 3/8 3/8 1/2 1/2 1/2
CONNECT

CONNECT

SCFM available per length at 100 PSI

Hose
I.D. 25' 35' 50' 75' 100' 150'
NOTE: 1/4 ≤ 7 ≤ 6 ≤ 5 ≤ 4 ≤ 3 ≤ 3
• Continuous consumption at 100 PSIG 5/16 ≤ 13 ≤ 10 ≤ 9 ≤ 7 ≤ 6 ≤ 5
• Average consumption (actual consumption may vary) 3/8 ≤ 20 ≤ 17 ≤ 14 ≤ 12 ≤ 10 ≤ 8
• Data for straight PVC, rubber or polyurethane air hose 1/2 ≤ 43 ≤ 36 ≤ 30 ≤ 25 ≤ 22 ≤ 17
new and exempt of contaminants (water, rust, dust) ≤ 125
3/4 ≤ 105 ≤ 88 ≤ 72 ≤ 62 ≤ 50
• Information based on 5 PSIG pressure drop
1 ≤ 265 ≤ 224 ≤ 188 ≤ 153 ≤ 133 ≤ 108