Air Compressors - Maximum Air Flow vs. Inlet Pipe Size

Inlet pipe size and maximum air flow. The pressure loss through an air compressor inlet should be kept to a minimum to avoid noise problems. The diagram indicates reasonable maximum flow through an inlet pipe.

Inlet Pipe Size (inches)	Inlet Pipe Size (mm)	Maximum Air Flow (cfm)	Maximum Air Flow (l/s)
0.5	12.7	20	9.4
0.75	19.05	40	18.8
1	25.4	80	37.6
1.25	31.75	125	58.75
1.5	38.1	160	75.2
2	50.8	250	117.5
2.5	63.5	350	164.5
3	76.2	500	235