Technical data

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Compressed Air Applications Manual | Pipework design and installation Compressed Air Applications Manual | Dimensioning
Compressed-air pipe systems, as energy
carriers, have to be carefully calculated
and dimensioned.
If the compressed air pipes are calcu-
lated according to the same principles as
water pipes, the result will be an energy
loss of > 50 %.
For correct dimensioning, it is necessary
to know three major factors:
I Network concept
II Pipe material
III Total compressed air demand
Network concept
The pipe network consists of:
– The main pipe with a maximum pres-
sure loss of ∆p ≤ 0.03 bar. This main
pipe is the connecting element between
the receiver and the distribution pipes.
– The distribution pipes with a maxi-
mum pressure loss of ∆p ≤ 0.03 bar.
They can be in the form of a ring line or
feeder branches.
Compared with feeder branches, ring
lines have the advantage that they can
offer twice the capacity. They are recom-
mended particularly for facilities where
the points of use are fairly equally spaced
out.
The ring line is calculated analogous to
a feeder branch, i.e., the ring is divided
in the middle and calculated with half the
nominal length and half the necessary air
demand.
– The connecting pipes with a maxi-
mum pressure loss of ∆p ≤ 0.04 bar.
These pipes represent the link between
the distribution pipe and the point of use.
Point of use
∆p ≤ 0.9 bar
Dimensioning
1/2
1/1
1/2
Connecting pipe
Distribution pipe