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Air Compressor Specific Power and Efficiency

How many kW does your compressed air really cost per m3/min, and what would variable speed, a lower pressure or heat recovery save?

Air compressor free air delivery corrected to ISO 1217 conditions, specific power in kW per m3/min and kW per 100 cfm, isothermal, adiabatic and volumetric efficiency, load / unload vs modulation vs variable speed, annual cost, heat recovery and the value of a lower discharge pressure.

USD 39 one-time purchase

  • Excel workbook (.xlsx), no macros, version v1.0
  • Excel 2010 or later, Windows and Mac
  • Instant download after payment; updates to this major version included
  • Single-user licence; team and site options
  • Refund if it does not work as described or has an error we cannot fix: contact support within 14 days of purchase — full refund policy

Download the sample report (PDF)

Need it once? Use it online: check your data free, unlock results from USD 9 for 3 runs.

Try the free compressor power calculator

Air Compressor Specific Power and Efficiency — sample pages

What it does

Free air delivery

Corrected to ISO 1217, 1.01325 bar a at 15 °C or 0 °C, or your own reference, from intake, line or reference-state flow.

Specific power

kW per m³/min and kW per 100 cfm, on package input power, plus shaft power from motor and drive efficiency.

Isothermal, adiabatic and volumetric efficiency

On shaft and input power, with the isentropic exponent of the humid air.

Control modes compared

Load/unload, inlet modulation and variable speed: power at zero flow and average load, annual energy and cost.

Heat recovery

Heat rejected, recoverable and actually used, with MWh per year and the fuel displaced.

Discharge pressure what-if

Power, specific power and energy saved for four pressure reductions, with Design, Actual and Proposed columns.

Built for engineers

  • Visible formulas — nothing hidden, so you can check every step.
  • Fully referenced — methods from the standard references, checked against their published worked examples.
  • Safe to share — sheets are protected against accidental edits, with an open password so you can still customise.
  • Built-in input checks — clear warnings for impossible inputs and values outside typical ranges.

For engineering estimates; verify against site data. Code-based methods are aligned with the publicly documented procedure; they are not a licensed reproduction or a certification.

Preview the workbook

Real pages from the workbook with its built-in example loaded (example data, not a measured plant). Choose a page below, or select the large image to enlarge it.

Report sheet: results
Select a page, then the large image to enlarge.Open original-resolution imageDownload the sample report (PDF)

Specification and checks

FormatExcel workbook (.xlsx), no macros
Versionv1.0
Works inExcel 2010 or later, Windows and Mac
UnitsSI, US and British, mixed freely
IncludesGuide tab with method and references, calculator, print-ready report
Checked againstAbout 375 recalculated runs against an independent Python model: all 324 selector combinations, SI, US, British and every-option unit sets and 31 edge cases; about 39,000 values compared, largest deviation 0.00001 %.
Free versionTry the free compressor power calculator

Online tool or Excel workbook?

Online toolExcel workbook (this page)
What it doesThe same sheet as the Excel workbook, run in your browserAir compressor free air delivery corrected to ISO 1217 conditions, specific power in kW per m3/min and kW per 100 cfm, isothermal, adiabatic and volumetric efficiency, load / unload vs modulation vs variable speed, annual cost, heat recovery and the value of a lower discharge pressure.
CostCheck your inputs free. Results: 3 runs for USD 9, or every online tool for USD 15 a month (USD 99 a year)USD 39 once, yours to keep
Input checks and findingsEvery input checked; findings with the unlocked resultsEvery input checked, with findings and recommendations
Report for your calculation filePrintable results sheetPrint-ready report with your plant, tag, document number, revision and sign-off
FormulasMethod described in the guideEvery formula visible in its cell
Save, edit and rerun your casesEach run separatelyYes: keep and edit your own file
Works offline, on a plant PCNo, needs the internetYes: Excel 2010 or later, Windows and Mac

Online access and the Excel workbook are separate licences: one does not include the other.

Compatibility, licence and support

FileExcel workbook (.xlsx), no macros, version v1.0; works in Excel 2010 or later on Windows and Mac. Sheets are protected against accidental edits, with an open password so you can customise.
LicenceSingle user. A team licence (up to 5 named users) is 3 × the shop price; site licences on request — licence terms.
UpdatesUpdates to this major version are included; download them again from the link in your receipt.
SupportEmail [email protected] with your order number — questions on the method, your inputs or your results are welcome.
RefundsIf the tool does not work as described, or has an error we cannot fix, email [email protected] with your order number within 14 days of purchase and we will refund you in full. Refunds are not offered for a change of mind once a file has been downloaded. Read the full refund policy.