YT28 Air Compressor Sizing Guide: Flow, Pressure, Hose and Multi-Drill Demand

Quick answer: Size an air compressor for a YT28 rock drill by the airflow the drill requires at its stated operating pressure, not by compressor kW/HP or receiver size alone. The current PerfoMax YT28 reference configuration lists air consumption of ≤55 L/s at 0.50 MPa and ≤81 L/s at 0.63 MPa, with a 25 mm air hose. Those flows convert to approximately 3.30 m³/min (117 cfm) and 4.86 m³/min (172 cfm) per drill. They are tool-demand reference values, not a complete compressor selection by themselves.

The compressor must have enough rated delivered capacity at the required pressure for every tool that can run simultaneously, plus other air demand and leakage. The distribution system must also preserve the required pressure at the drill inlet under load. Ingersoll Rand's YT28 manual explicitly states that the air requirement is at the rock-drill inlet rather than at the compressor, because pressure is lost between the compressor and the tool.

This guide addresses compressor and air-system sizing for YT28 procurement. It does not replace the exact supplier manual, compressor performance curve, or an on-site compressed-air audit.

YT28 Air Demand: The Numbers to Start With

Important: The cfm figures above are simple unit conversions of the listed L/s values; they are not a separate correction to standard conditions. When matching a compressor's Free Air Delivery (FAD) rating to a tool-consumption figure, confirm that the compressor supplier and tool supplier are using compatible reference conditions.

The 0.50 MPa and 0.63 MPa values should also not be mixed. In the cited YT28 manual, impact frequency and air consumption are both tied to the stated pressure. Select the intended operating point first, then size the air system around that operating point.

Why Compressor Horsepower Is the Wrong Starting Point

Buyers often ask for a “75 kW compressor” or “185 cfm compressor” before defining the drill demand. The first approach is incomplete because compressor power does not uniquely determine delivered flow. Compressor type, discharge pressure, ambient conditions and manufacturer efficiency all influence the capacity available at the job.

Atlas Copco's compressor-sizing guidance treats pressure and airflow/FAD as the primary sizing variables. A receiver can smooth short peaks, but a YT28 is a high-demand tool used continuously while drilling; a tank cannot compensate indefinitely for a compressor that produces less air than the drill consumes.

Procurement rule: Compare the compressor's rated FAD at the planned discharge pressure with the calculated simultaneous air demand. Do not approve a compressor from motor power, receiver volume or a headline cfm number without its rating conditions.

Step 1: Set the Required Pressure at the Drill, Not at the Compressor

The pressure gauge beside the compressor is not the pressure doing work at the face. Hose length, hose diameter, couplings, filters, separators, valves and leaks can reduce pressure before air reaches the drill.

The Ingersoll Rand YT28 manual instructs users to size the air-supply line so the required maximum operating pressure is available at the tool inlet. It also notes that, for a relatively short hose in good condition, pressure drop from the compressor or receiver to the drill should not exceed 15% of the initial pressure. Treat that 15% figure as YT28-manual guidance for that described arrangement, not as a universal design target for every compressed-air network.

For a new installation, specify both:

• the required dynamic pressure at the YT28 inlet while drilling; and
• the maximum acceptable pressure loss through the actual distribution system.

The compressor discharge setpoint can then be selected to overcome the engineered system loss while keeping the drill itself within its approved operating range.

Step 2: Calculate Base Flow for Every YT28 Running at the Same Time

If several drills can operate simultaneously, the starting airflow calculation is linear: multiply the per-drill reference consumption by the number of drills operating at that same pressure.

These are base tool-demand calculations, not final compressor capacities. They do not yet include other pneumatic equipment, measured leakage, future simultaneous demand, or any change in compressor output caused by the actual site conditions.

Step 3: Add the Site Demand Without Hiding It Inside a Generic Margin

A single percentage “safety factor” is convenient but can hide the real reason capacity is needed. A more defensible B2B specification separates the demand components:

• Other simultaneous pneumatic tools: add each manufacturer's rated consumption at its stated pressure and duty pattern.
• Leakage: measure it on an existing system where possible. Kaeser notes that leakage can be quantified and should be included in the demand picture.
• Operating pattern: size against the credible simultaneous peak that production requires, not only the average shift consumption.
• Future loads: state them explicitly if the compressor is expected to support additional drills or equipment later.
• Air treatment: filters, separators, dryers and valves mainly add pressure loss; include their rated differential pressure in the pressure calculation.
• Ambient temperature and elevation: request the compressor manufacturer's performance or correction data for the actual site. A nominal sea-level catalog figure may not equal the delivered capacity at a high-altitude mine.

Kaeser's system-sizing guidance summarizes the pressure side as required source pressure = required point-of-use pressure + total pressure loss. That logic is particularly important for a high-flow pneumatic rock drill because a restriction can look like a compressor-capacity problem even when the compressor itself is large enough.

Step 4: Treat the 25 mm Hose as a Tool Connection Reference, Not a Whole-Network Design

The current PerfoMax YT28 reference and the cited YT28 manual both list a 25 mm air hose. That does not mean every upstream pipe, manifold or long trunk hose should also be 25 mm.

Pressure drop increases with flow and is affected strongly by internal diameter, run length, bends, valves and couplings. A system feeding two or three YT28 drills may therefore need a larger upstream header or manifold before branching to individual drill hoses.

Atlas Copco's fixed compressed-air network guidance recommends keeping pipe-network pressure drop low and explicitly warns that flexible hoses, hose couplings and fittings must be added to the loss calculation; these connection points can create a large share of the total drop. That fixed-network target is not a substitute for calculating a mobile mine hose system, but the design principle carries over: do not cure an undersized or restrictive distribution system by simply raising compressor pressure.

Field check before approving the compressor

1. Install a suitable pressure measurement point near the YT28 inlet.
2. Run the intended number of drills at production load.
3. Record compressor discharge pressure and dynamic pressure at the drill at the same time.
4. If the pressure loss is excessive, inspect hose ID and length, couplings, filters, valves, manifolds and leaks before concluding that the compressor is too small.

Can a 185 CFM Compressor Run One YT28?

Not automatically. A 185 cfm nameplate is higher than the simple 0.63 MPa YT28 reference conversion of about 172 cfm, but the difference is only about 13 cfm before considering any other demand. More importantly, the compressor's “185 cfm” must be the relevant delivered/FAD rating at the intended pressure and site conditions—not a displacement figure or a rating at another pressure.

At the 0.50 MPa YT28 reference point, the listed demand converts to about 117 cfm, so the nominal flow gap is larger. Even then, approval should depend on:

• the exact YT28 supplier's pressure/consumption data;
• the compressor's FAD curve at the required discharge pressure;
• actual hose/manifold pressure loss;
• other simultaneous air consumers and leakage; and
• temperature/elevation correction where applicable.

In other words, “185 cfm” is a useful screening number, not a complete system match.

A Seven-Step YT28 Compressor Sizing Workflow

1. Confirm the exact YT28 configuration. Obtain the controlled supplier data sheet or manual. Do not assume every product carrying the YT28 name has identical test data.
2. Choose the intended drill operating pressure. Keep the flow figure tied to the same pressure and test basis.
3. Calculate simultaneous YT28 demand. Multiply the per-drill consumption by the maximum number expected to drill at the same time.
4. Add other real air demand. Include concurrent tools, measured leakage and any explicitly planned future loads.
5. Calculate pressure losses separately. Include hose, pipe, fittings, treatment equipment, manifolds and valves.
6. Check the compressor at the real duty point. Compare required demand with manufacturer-rated FAD at the selected discharge pressure and site conditions.
7. Commission under full load. Run the planned tools together and verify dynamic pressure at the drill inlet. Record this value as a baseline for later troubleshooting.

Common Compressor-Sizing Mistakes for YT28 Drills

What to Send in a YT28 + Compressor RFQ

For a useful quotation, send more than the drill model:

• exact YT28 manufacturer/configuration or the current drill nameplate and manual;
• required hole diameter, depth and production pattern;
• planned operating pressure at the drill;
• number of YT28 drills operating simultaneously;
• other pneumatic tools sharing the compressor;
• compressor location versus drilling face, including hose/trunk length;
• hose, pipe, manifold and coupling inside diameters;
• site elevation, ambient-temperature range and duty schedule;
• existing compressor make/model and rated FAD curve if this is a compatibility check;
• measured dynamic pressure at the tool under load, if an existing system is being upgraded.

For the current machine reference, review the PerfoMax YT28 Air-Leg Pneumatic Rock Drill. If you are specifying a complete drilling and air-supply package, send the known parameters through the PerfoMax Request a Quote form. For model-level drill selection before compressor sizing, see How to Choose an Air-Leg Rock Drill for Underground Mining.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cfm does one YT28 rock drill need?

For the reference configuration used here, listed consumption is ≤55 L/s at 0.50 MPa and ≤81 L/s at 0.63 MPa. Simple unit conversion gives approximately 117 cfm and 172 cfm respectively. Confirm the exact supplier data and comparable air-rating basis before using those values to select compressor FAD.

What compressor size do I need for two YT28 drills?

The base simultaneous tool demand is approximately 110 L/s (6.60 m³/min or 233 cfm) at the 0.50 MPa reference point, or 162 L/s (9.72 m³/min or 343 cfm) at the 0.63 MPa reference point. The final compressor must also cover other air users and leakage, and its discharge pressure must overcome system losses while maintaining the required pressure at each drill.

Is a 25 mm hose always enough for a YT28?

It is the listed reference air-hose ID for the YT28 configuration checked here. It does not prove that a long trunk line or a shared supply for multiple drills can also be 25 mm. Size upstream distribution from total flow, run length and allowed pressure loss.

Should I run the compressor above 0.63 MPa to prevent pressure drop?

Do not increase the pressure delivered to the drill beyond the selected manufacturer's approved operating range. Compressor discharge pressure may need to be higher than point-of-use pressure to overcome an engineered pressure loss, but the system should be designed and regulated so the YT28 receives the specified pressure at its inlet.

Why does a YT28 feel weak even when the compressor gauge shows enough pressure?

The compressor gauge may be showing static or upstream pressure. A restrictive hose, coupling, filter, manifold or leak can cause the drill-inlet pressure to fall once full airflow begins. Measure dynamic pressure close to the tool while drilling before blaming the drill or buying a larger compressor.

References

• Ingersoll Rand — Product Information Manual, Air Percussive Rock Drill Model YT28
• Atlas Copco — Compressor Sizing Guide
• Kaeser — Air Requirements for Compressed Air Systems
• Atlas Copco — How to Size Compressed Air Piping

Last reviewed: August 12, 2026. Manufacturer ratings, compressor performance and site conditions can change. The final quotation and current controlled supplier documents should govern the delivered configuration.