PneumaForgeCompressed air & pneumatics calculators

PF-100 · Verified method

Compressed Air Leak Flow Calculator

Estimate leak flow from equivalent hole size and system pressure.

Inputs

AFFILIATE LINKS

Useful equipment for this calculation

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ENGINEERING GUIDE

Use the Compressed Air Leak Flow Calculator to estimate leak flow from equivalent hole size and system pressure. The calculator uses Leak hole diameter, Upstream absolute pressure, Air temperature and Discharge coefficient Cd and reports leak flow.

How to interpret the result

Read the result in the context of the selected units and pressure basis. For this tool, the primary outputs are leak flow. Change one input at a time when comparing scenarios so the effect of each variable remains clear.

Formula and methodology

PneumaForge applies this verified method: Compressible orifice flow to atmosphere. The functional engine is shared with related tools in the compressible-orifice family, while this page solves the specific intent represented by compressed air leak flow calculator.

Compressible orifice flow to atmosphere

Variables and inputs

Leak hole diameter
Upstream absolute pressure
Air temperature
Discharge coefficient Cd

Worked example

Reproducible example: start with the calculator's default values (Leak hole diameter = 2; Upstream absolute pressure = 7.01325; Air temperature = 20; Discharge coefficient Cd = 0.8) and calculate the result. Then change the variable most relevant to your application and compare the new leak flow against the baseline.

Assumptions and limits

Ideal-gas, quasi-steady, known discharge coefficient C_d. P₁,P₂ absolute. Flag non-air gases unless γ,R supplied.

Engineering tips

Use your actual electricity tariff and operating hours instead of a generic market price.
Use measured compressor specific power when available; ideal thermodynamic estimates are not package performance data.
Treat rule-of-thumb pressure savings as assumptions and keep them editable.
Keep the inputs used for compressed air leak flow calculator on a consistent engineering basis before comparing alternatives.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Compressed Air Leak Flow Calculator calculate?

It is designed to estimate leak flow from equivalent hole size and system pressure. The reported outputs are leak flow.

What inputs does the Compressed Air Leak Flow Calculator use?

The calculator uses Leak hole diameter, Upstream absolute pressure, Air temperature and Discharge coefficient Cd. Only use values that represent the same operating condition or design case.

What formula or method is used?

The calculation follows: Compressible orifice flow to atmosphere. The page also states the assumptions that define where the method is valid.

Which assumptions can affect the result?