Stupid Question Regarding cfm

[Dilkris]

So.......if you have a belt drive compressor giving insufficient cfm for your needs, can you not just run the compressor faster by changing pulley sizes.? (Sure I understand this may require a larger motor but is the idea do-able?)

Or is there a maximum compressor rpm?

Please be gentle guys .... I'm old.

 

[Wildefalcon]

If the motor doesn't overheat and the pump doesn't seize, and the pipes don't melt, you'll be fine.

Manufacturers normally don't leave much margin in their products, it's giving money away, so they are built to a price and specification.

 

[brightspark]

dont run the pump any faster than it was built for .the modern ones are on the limit anyhow just buy another and run in tandem when you need the extra cfm

 

[roofman]

Pumps get to a stage where if turning too fast the petal valves cant keep up so your actually pumping less air.

 

[merryman]

Motor power is the critical thing on compressors, if you have a motor of twice the power of the one the compressor was built for, you could run it twice as fast , though as above, valve problems or belt slip could be a limiting factor.

 

[brightspark]

most of the new cheap junk are not continuously rated duty cycle and take badly to being run continuously. especialy sandblasting

 

[MetalMonkey]

A lot of manufacturers at the cheaper end are already pushing the pumps to get the claimed CFM figures, if anything you would probably want to slow it down to improve the pump life and noise!

 

[premmington]

CFM displacement - FAD ratings - are all very deceiving.


You look at Hydrovane rating and they look poor - but what they are quoting is air delivery at working pressure. 23cfm @ 90psi