How much is the pressure of compressed air in the factory?

The air pressure of compressed air in factories is usually set according to equipment requirements and process characteristics, and there is no uniform standard, but most scenarios focus on 0.6 to 0.8 MPa within the scope, the specific need to combine the following factors comprehensive judgment:

1. common air pressure range and applicable scenarios

  1. basic gas consumption scenario (0.4-0.6 MPa)
    • suitable for pneumatic tools (such as air guns, pneumatic screwdrivers), simple material handling (pneumatic suction cups) and other equipment that do not require high pressure.
    • If the factory is dominated by such light load equipment, the air pressure can be set in this interval, which can not only meet the demand, but also reduce the energy consumption of the air compressor.
  2. General industrial scenario (0.6-0.8 MPa)
    • cover most of the production needs, such as CNC machine tools, automated production lines, spraying equipment, etc.
    • In this range, the air pressure is stable, which can take into account the efficiency and equipment life, and is the most commonly used setting value in the factory.
  3. Special process scenario (>0.8 MPa)
    • A few processes (such as high-pressure bottle blowing and metal pressure forming) may require higher pressures, but require separate booster equipment or special air compressors.
    • If this kind of process is involved in ordinary factories, it is recommended to set the main gas supply system below 0.8 MPa, and meet the demand through local pressurization to avoid excessive overall energy consumption.

2. the key factors that affect the air pressure setting

  1. requirements for gas-using equipment
    • the required air pressure range will be marked in the equipment manual, and the setting shall be based on the minimum demand to avoid equipment damage or waste of energy consumption caused by excessive pressure.
    • For example, a spraying equipment requires 0.6 MPa. If the air supply pressure is set to 0.8 MPa, the uneven atomization of the paint may be caused by too high pressure, which may affect the product quality.
  2. Pipeline loss
    • when compressed air is transmitted in the pipeline, it will cause pressure loss due to friction, elbows, valves, etc., usually about 0.01-0.03 MPa per 100 meters of pipeline loss.
    • When setting the air pressure, the loss allowance shall be reserved to ensure that the pressure of the terminal equipment reaches the standard. For example, if the main air supply pressure is set to 0.7 MPa, the end equipment can still obtain a pressure above 0.65 MPa.
  3. Air compressor type and efficiency
    • the air compressor with water lubrication technology can maintain the set pressure more stably and reduce the pressure fluctuation due to its high cooling efficiency.
    • Through intelligent speed regulation, the permanent magnet variable frequency air compressor can accurately match the gas consumption and avoid the waste of energy consumption caused by too high or too low pressure.

Practical recommendations for 3. air pressure settings

  1. sub-zone gas supply
    • the gas supply area is divided according to the process requirements, and the equipment with similar pressure requirements is concentrated to reduce unnecessary pressure increase.
    • For example, the spraying workshop and the assembly workshop are supplied separately, the former is set to 0.7 MPa, the latter is set to 0.6 MPa.
  2. Installing air reservoir
    • the gas storage tank can buffer the fluctuation of gas consumption, stabilize the system pressure and reduce the frequent start and stop of the air compressor.
    • It is recommended that the capacity of the air storage tank be 15%-30% of the exhaust volume of the air compressor, for example, an air compressor with an exhaust volume of 1 cubic meter per minute is equipped with an air storage tank of 0.15-0.3 cubic meters.
  3. Regular inspection and adjustment
    • use a pressure gauge or smart sensor to monitor the air supply pressure in real time, and adjust the air compressor setting value according to actual needs.
    • For example, the pipeline loss may be reduced in winter, and the main supply pressure can be appropriately reduced to save energy.

Special advantages of 4. water lubricated air compressor

if the factory requires high cleanliness of compressed air (such as food, pharmaceutical industry), the air compressor with water lubrication technology can further optimize the air pressure management:

  • no oil pollution: Water is used as a lubricating medium to prevent oil from entering the compressed air, reduce the burden of end filtration, and ensure stable air pressure.
  • Efficient cooling: The cooling efficiency of water is better than that of oil, which can reduce the exhaust temperature and reduce the pressure fluctuation caused by thermal expansion and contraction of the pipeline.
  • Low maintenance costs: There is no need to replace the oil filter element, reducing the risk of pressure drop caused by filter element blockage, and the system runs more reliably.

Summary: The air pressure setting of compressed air in the factory should be based on equipment requirements, taking into account pipeline loss and air compressor efficiency. 0.6-0.8 MPa is a reasonable range in most scenarios. The gas pressure stability can be further optimized by zonal gas supply, installation of gas tanks and regular inspection. If the air quality requirements are high, the water-lubricated air compressor is a better choice, which can meet the requirements of cleanliness and efficiency at the same time.

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