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Plant Engineering Calculator

Compressed Air Dryer Purge Loss Calculator — CFM, kW & Annual Cost

Quantify desiccant-dryer purge air from inlet flow and purge percentage, then convert lost compressed air into compressor power, annual energy and cost.

Inputs

Results

Purge flow 150.00 CFM
Power penalty 27.00 kW
Annual energy 162000 kWh
Annual cost $16200

Formula

Qpurge=Qin×purge%; kWloss=Qpurge×specific power/100.

Worked example

A 1,000 CFM dryer using 15% purge consumes 150 CFM before translating that loss into compressor kW.

Assumptions & limits

  • Use measured or OEM purge percentage at the actual dryer cycle.
  • Heated, blower-purge and heat-of-compression dryers have different purge behavior.

FAQs

What does this Compressed Air Dryer Purge Loss Calculator calculate?

Quantify desiccant-dryer purge air from inlet flow and purge percentage, then convert lost compressed air into compressor power, annual energy and cost.

Is this suitable for final design?

Use it for transparent engineering screening and diagnostics. Verify final design or operating changes against measured site data, OEM curves and applicable standards.

Why are assumptions shown?

Plant calculations depend on operating boundaries. Explicit assumptions make scenarios auditable and prevent false precision.

Related calculators

compressor specific powercompressed air system efficiencycompressed air moisture

Last updated: 17 September 2026