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How to Calculate Your Vacuum Lifter’s Capacity at Altitude

Vacuum Lifting Capacity is Reduced As Altitude Increases

It is important to consider the relationship between atmospheric pressure and altitude as it affects vacuum pump performance. Basically, the higher you are, the less vacuum you can attain.

Because free air is less dense at higher altitudes (i.e. lower atmospheric pressure) operation at these higher altitudes has the effect of reducing the capacity and maximum vacuum levels attainable. In general, flow is not affected, only the maximum vacuum level attainable. Use our Vacuum Lifting Calculator below.

(This calculator is NOT compatible with Internet Explorer, please use Google Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge)

ANVER Vacuum lifter capacities are normally based on 24″Hg (22″Hg for foam seals) at sea level per ANSI specifications with a safety factor of two (2) in the horizontal (flat), and four (4) in the vertical (upright). Vertical Load Capacity is half of the listed Horizontal Load Capacities above. Rated Load Capacities are estimated; actual capacity will vary based on the load surface and the level of vacuum. Temperature and Humidity can affect these results.

The table below indicates vacuum pump performance at various altitudes. The values provided are to be considered static estimations for reference only.

Vacuum Gauge Reading When Read at Altitude 

Altitude Above 
Sea Level 
(feet)		 Altitude Above 
Sea Level
(meters)		 Atmospheric 
Pressure
(psi)		 Maximum Vacuum 
Level Attainable
(inches Hg)		 Vacuum Level 
Loss at Altitude		 Maximum Vacuum Level Possible at 
this Altitude
0 0 14.70 29.921 – –
1000 305 14.16 28.9 3.4% 96.6%
2000 610 13.66 27.8 7.1% 92.9%
3000 914 13.16 26.8 10.4% 89.6%
4000 1219 12.68 25.8 13.8% 86.2%
5000 1524 12.22 24.9 16.8% 83.2%
6000 1829 11.77 24.0 19.8% 80.2%
7000 2134 11.33 23.1 22.8% 77.2%
8000 2438 10.91 22.2 25.9% 74.1%
9000 2743 10.50 21.4 28.6% 71.4%
10,000 3048 10.10 20.6 31.3% 68.7%
11,000 3353 9.71 19.8 33.9% 66.1%
12,000 3658 9.34 19.0 36.5% 63.5%
13,000 3962 8.97 18.3 39.0% 61.0%
14,000 4267 8.62 17.5 41.4% 58.6%
15,000 4752 8.28 16.9 43.6% 56.4%

 

Conversion Chart:

Pg-psig Pa-psia In. Hg -mbar Torr -mm Hg % Vacuum
0.00 14.70 0 0.00 760.0 0.0 0.0
0.49 14.24 1 33.86 734.6 25.4 3.3
0.98 13.75 2 67.72 709.2 50.8 6.6
1.47 13.26 3 101.58 683.8 76.2 9.9
1.96 12.76 4 135.44 658.4 101.6 13.2
2.45 12.27 5 169.30 633.0 127.0 16.5
2.95 11.78 6 203.16 607.6 152.4 19.8
3.44 11.29 7 237.02 582.2 177.8 23.1
3.93 10.80 8 270.88 556.8 203.2 26.4
4.42 10.31 9 304.74 531.4 228.6 29.7
4.91 9.82 10 338.60 506.0 254.0 33.0
5.40 9.33 11 372.46 480.6 279.4 36.3
5.89 8.84 12 406.32 455.2 304.8 39.6
6.38 8.35 13 440.18 429.8 330.2 42.9
6.87 7.86 14 474.04 404.4 355.6 46.2
7.36 7.36 15 507.90 379.0 381.0 49.5
7.86 6.87 16 541.76 353.6 406.4 52.8
8.35 6.38 17 575.62 328.2 431.8 56.1
8.84 5.89 18 609.48 302.8 457.2 59.4
9.33 5.40 19 643.34 277.4 482.6 62.7
9.82 4.91 20 677.20 252.0 508.0 66.0
10.31 4.42 21 711.06 226.6 533.4 69.3
10.80 3.93 22 744.92 201.2 558.8 72.6
11.29 3.44 23 778.78 175.8 584.2 75.9
11.78 2.95 24 812.64 150.4 609.6 79.2
12.27 2.45 25 846.50 125.0 635.0 82.5
12.76 1.96 26 880.36 99.6 660.4 85.8
13.26 1.47 27 914.22 74.2 685.8 89.1
13.75 0.98 28 948.08 48.8 711.2 92.4
14.24 0.49 29 981.94 23.4 736.6 95.7
14.70 0.00 29.92 1013.00 0.0 760.0 100.0

Anver vacuum equipment meets ASME Safety Standards and other European regulations at sea level. Please note it is the responsibility of the purchaser of vacuum equipment to account for and compensate for loss of vacuum lifting capacity if equipment is to be used at higher altitudes. This sometimes requires purchasing a larger capacity vacuum lifter and derating it, or purchasing larger diameter pads, or larger pump in vacuum component applications. Vacuum lifters that have control systems to shut off above a preset level must also be adjusted down for altitude. Vacuum gauges with green, yellow and red zones may also not indicate correctly at high altitude. This is all due to the fact that as you go higher in altitude you cannot achieve the same levels of vacuum. Contact factory for additional information as different applications and vacuum lifter models require different solutions.

Our applications engineers are always available to assist you in selecting the right vacuum lifter. Call or e-mail us for assistance.

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