Benchmarking Compressed Air Energy Use

Benchmarking shows how your compressed air system performs against similar plants. Specific energy is the key metric for comparison.

The Key Metric

  • Specific energy in kW per m³/min or kWh per m³.
  • Measure power and flow under normal load.
  • Compare at the same working pressure.

How to Benchmark

  • Log energy and flow over representative periods.
  • Compare with manufacturers’ published data.
  • Track trends after changes.

Acting on Results

  • Investigate when specific energy is high.
  • Set targets and review progress.
  • Use the data to justify upgrades.

What is a good specific energy for a screw compressor?

Around 6–7 kW per m³/min at 7–8 bar for Grade-1 machines, depending on conditions.

Talk to an Engineer

Contact Panrui with your flow, pressure and air quality requirements to get a recommendation and factory quote for your project.