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Velocity Pressure
Velocity pressure is the pressure air has while it is in motion. This is the kinetic energy of the moving air, and it pushes only in the direction that the air is traveling.
To produce quality compressed air, it’s essential to maintain this value at a low level, ensuring the machine can achieve the desired output. As air travels through the pipes, it must encounter the least resistance to hold as much static pressure as necessary for proper operation.
Quincy Compressor is your complete solutions provider for air compressors, vacuum pumps and air treatment components. We’ve provided tailored solutions for businesses worldwide since 1920. Whether you need a reliable air compressor for a demanding application or technical support, our expert team is here to help.
Below are some of the most common questions about velocity pressure:
FAQs
The pressure of moving air is more than one simple value. It consists of two key types of pressure:
- Static pressure: This type of pressure is the bursting force that pushes outward in all directions. It’s the useful pressure that powers your air tools and makes them work.
- Velocity pressure: Also called dynamic pressure, this is the kinetic energy of the moving air. It can increase or decrease depending on the speed air requires to move through your compressor.
The total energy in the system is relatively constant. If one type of pressure increases, the other must decrease in order to maintain equilibrium. To calculate the total pressure, you can use Bernoulli’s equation:
Total Pressure = Static Pressure + Velocity Pressure
As air goes through your compressor, it can spend more energy moving through piping, leading to less static pressure.
Pipe size can increase or decrease the amount of velocity pressure in air. Wide, straight piping creates a path of least resistance, allowing air to flow freely, while smaller piping requires the air to speed up to get through. More restricted piping results in more velocity pressure and less static pressure, leading to reduced productivity.
Designing your piping system with fluid dynamics in mind is crucial to ensure the air retains the maximum amount of static pressure possible.
Maintaining a balance between velocity pressure and static pressure is crucial for an efficient compressed air system. To provide your air tools with enough force to work correctly, you must ensure your piping system creates the least possible velocity pressure to maintain a high static pressure.
To design an efficient piping network, it’s necessary to conduct careful calculations, balancing pipe size, cost and performance. At Quincy Compressor, we are experts in total system design and optimize every compressor element to provide high-quality pressurized air and maximum efficiency.
If you’re planning a new installation or experiencing pressure loss, contact our system design experts for help.
Additional Resources
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