Windhexe is a grinding and dehydrating apparatus operated with compressed air typically used in waste reduction and food processing. It requires a low pressure, high volume air source. One of the biggest drawbacks to using this type of machine is the large energy requirement as demonstrated in the following mathematical procedure.


  1. P = theoretical power, in kW (kilowatts) which is same as (Nm/s)/1000
  2. F = (mass flow of gas, in kg/s)(9.806 m/s2), in kg•m/s3 which is same as N/s
  3. N = Newtons
  4. m = meters
  5. s = seconds
  6. H = adiabatic head, in meters
  7. k = cp/cv = specific heat of gas at constant pressure/ specific heat at constant volume
  8. T1 = inlet temperature, in °K (degrees Kelvin)
  9. R = (universal gas constant, in J/kgmol•°K)/MW = 8314/MW
  10. MW = molecular weight of gas (dimensionless)
  11. P1 = absolute inlet pressure, in kPa (kiloPascals)
  12. P2 = absolute discharge pressure. in kPa

To obtain the actual power, simply divide the theoretical power by the compressor efficiency which you will have to obtain from the manufacturer. [1]



References

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  1. ^ Beychok. "Energy Required to Compress Air".