What limits the speed of an air compressor?

[westerner]

Agree? No? Let's talk it over. I suspect there's something I'm missing, as I quite often do, when I look around and see that everyone making compressors (and making money by making compressors) is making them with bigger tanks and people seem to want bigger tanks. What am I not seeing?

I was taught that the benefit of a larger tank on ANY system was fewer start cycles which saves wear and tear on the motor, starter and belts.

Great set of data, and an interesting study. Thank You for your effort in posting this well designed experiment. I think we ALL learned something.

 

[Downunder Bob]

The waY I see it is that a larger tank will help if your air demand is high at intermittent intervals, if the demand is always high then a larger compressor is the way to go.