Originally Posted by
DDM
I think you guys are looking on the extreme side of air compressors but I'm looking a little smaller along the lines of something that could be ran off of single phase power. I was thinking along the lines of maybe a 3-5 hp setup pushing around 1000 psi. Although air acts like fluid in many respects, it is compressable where as fluid can be compressed but the volume only changes by 3%. I'm not too sure on the abrasives available on the market but I was looking at an orfice size of .020 to .050, something small enough so that small work could be done. It's late but here is my thinking when the compressed air reaches the barrel it accelerates (loosing pressure) to the mixing chamber and the air/abrasive mixture is then shot out the tip into the work. There's a little more than that but it's the basic idea.
When calculating the velocity of the air or the air/abrasive mixture can I use the same equations that I would use in fluid power or does the compressability of air cause this to change? After I know that what is a preferred velocity of the abrasive to distroy the wood in it's path? I mean what's the difference between 100 f/s and 1000 f/s? What is the equation to determine orface size to pressure and volume? And from that you should be able to determine the velocity. My thinking is that after you have these numbers it would be a good starting point for designing and eventually building a machine.
Well it's late and I'm going to bed. Thank you everyone for your input, I'll see if I can find some equations somewhere for all of these nagging questions.
Carl
A while back, I was trying to determine the flow thru an orifice and found a spreadsheet using google. The name on the copy I have is: [email protected] I believe it cost around $25, but I'm not sure. The equations are reasonably complex.
It gives:
REFERENCES: MARKS' MECHANICAL ENGINEERS HANDBOOK; PERRY'S CHEMICAL ENGINEERS HANDBOOK; FLUID FLOW by Sabersky & Acosta.
One important thing to realize is that the limiting velocity thru an orifice is the speed of sound (1080 feet per second in air). So, more pressure will not give a higher velocity; it will just give a higher flow rate.
By the way, I'm not qualified to say anything I've said about flow thru orifices. Just because I can type this doesn't mean I'm an authority.
Kenneth Lerman
55 Main Street
Newtown, CT 06470