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Plant Engineering Calculator

Compressed Air Cost per CFM Calculator — kWh, Annual Cost & Unit Air Cost

Convert compressor specific power, airflow, operating hours and electricity tariff into annual energy, annual spend and cost per CFM-hour.

Inputs

Results

Package power 90.00 kW
Annual energy 540000 kWh
Annual cost $54000
Cost per CFM-year $108.00
Cost per 1,000 CFM-h $18.00

Formula

kW=CFM×(kW/100CFM)/100; cost=kW×hours×tariff.

Worked example

At 18 kW/100 CFM, 500 CFM requires 90 kW at the stated operating point before hours and tariff are applied.

Assumptions & limits

  • Use total package input specific power at actual operating pressure.
  • Part-load controls can make average specific power worse than full-load data.

FAQs

What does this Compressed Air Cost per CFM Calculator calculate?

Convert compressor specific power, airflow, operating hours and electricity tariff into annual energy, annual spend and cost per CFM-hour.

What should I verify before using the result?

Check units, operating point, measured site data and OEM limits. This calculator is a transparent screening tool, not a substitute for equipment selection or code-required design.

Why are intermediate results included?

Intermediate values expose the engineering chain so you can audit assumptions, compare scenarios and catch unrealistic inputs.

Related calculators

compressor specific powercompressed air system efficiencycompressed air demand profile

Last updated: 2026-09-17