Hydraulic, Pneumatic & Fluid Power Systems worked example

Power Unit Energy Cost at 92% average load factor: a worked example

What does the result look like when average load factor reaches 92%? The full calculation is worked below with real intermediate numbers. Use it when power unit energy cost in hydraulic, pneumatic and fluid power systems is being put through a hydraulic, pneumatic and fluid power systems weighted-cost review.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Power unit operating hours: 100 units (unchanged)
  • Energy cost per operating hour: 45 $ / unit (unchanged)
  • Average load (duty) factor: 92 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 80)
  • Fixed standby and cooling cost: 250 $ (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Power Unit Energy Cost cost = quantity × rate × capture factor + fixed cost) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 4,390 $ for weighted cost, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 43.9 $ / piece for per piece value.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 4,140 $ for captured value.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 250 $ for fixed adjustment.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where average load factor sits at 80% and the headline result is 3,850 $, this scenario comes in 14.03% above the baseline at 4,390 $.
  • A figure at this level is achievable when average load factor is genuinely sustained, not just peaked for a shift. It uses one average load factor and one hourly rate, so it smooths over real demand peaks, time-of-use tariffs, and motor efficiency curves.

Results at a glance

  • Weighted cost: 4,390 $ (headline result)
  • Per piece value: 43.9 $ / piece
  • Captured value: 4,140 $
  • Fixed adjustment: 250 $

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Power Unit Energy Cost calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.