Combining Portable Diesel Air Compressors

Compressed air is everywhere. Portable diesel air compressors bring compressed air wherever it is needed: plantside, roadside, refineryside and many other jobsites.

This month’s tip is on combining portable diesel air compressors.

Flow is cumulative, but pressure is not. What does this mean? Imagine for a moment the garden hose at your house. Let’s assume the flow rate of water is five gallons per minute at 60 psi. If you fill a swimming pool with one hose and then add a hose from your neighbor’s house with the same flow rate and pressure, you are now filling the pool at 10 gallons per minute, and still at 60 psi. The same applies to compressed air.

When combining compressors to add needed flow capacity it is important to have the same pressure. For example, a 185 cfm compressor at 100 psi paired with a 375 cfm machine at 200 psi simply will not work. This is what happens: the higher pressure machine will overcome the lower pressure machine and cause it to go idle.

Find your authorized Sullair distributor to learn more about this application and which compressor is right for you.