Energy worked example

Compressed Air Cost at 81% average load: a worked example

Push average load up to 81% and the picture changes. This example computes every intermediate figure at that operating point. Use when pneumatic demand or leaks need a dollar value.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Compressor horsepower: 50 HP (unchanged)
  • Average load: 81 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 70)
  • Run hours per day: 16 hr (unchanged)
  • Operating days per year: 250 days (unchanged)
  • Electricity rate: 0.12 $ / kWh (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (kW = horsepower × 0.746 × load) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 14,502 $ / yr for annual air cost, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 30.21 kW for compressor load.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 120,852 kWh for annual energy.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 58.01 $ / day for cost per day.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where average load sits at 70% and the headline result is 12,533 $ / yr, this scenario comes in 15.71% above the baseline at 14,502 $ / yr.
  • It computes the annual and per-day electricity cost of a compressor from its motor HP, average load fraction, daily run hours, annual operating days, and your kWh rate. The value of this scenario is the size of the gap it exposes: that gap, priced out over a year, is the budget you can justify spending to close it.

Results at a glance

  • Annual air cost: 14,502 $ / yr (headline result)
  • Compressor load: 30.21 kW
  • Annual energy: 120,852 kWh
  • Cost per day: 58.01 $ / day

Run it with your numbers

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

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.