Glossary
KPIs and measurements
Operating pressure
Also known as supply pressure, operating pressure bar psi.
Operating pressure for industrial sonic horns is the compressed-air supply pressure at which the horn delivers its rated SPL. Typical operating pressure is 4–7 bar (60–100 psi), with vendor-specific upper limits.
SPL vs operating pressure
Sonic horns are typically rated at a specified design pressure. Operating below that pressure causes SPL to fall sharply — sometimes by 6–10 dB for a 1 bar pressure drop — because the diaphragm cannot achieve full oscillation amplitude.
Operating above the design pressure provides little SPL gain and shortens diaphragm life.
Engineering implications
- Specify operating pressure at the horn inlet, not at the compressor outlet — pressure drop in piping can be significant
- Install a regulator and pressure gauge at the horn inlet for visible verification
- Size piping and the air receiver for the simultaneous-firing case to maintain pressure during multi-horn cycles
Related terms
Related terms
- Compressed air (industrial)Compressed air at 4–7 bar from plant or instrument-air systems drives industrial sonic horns. Consumption typically 8–14 Nm³/min during a firing burst.
- Pneumatic acoustic cleanerA pneumatic acoustic cleaner is a sonic horn driven by compressed plant air. The pneumatic design dominates industrial acoustic cleaning because it has no electrical parts in the gas path.