Diving · Firefighting & Safety | Breathing Air · Industrial Air

Pacific High-Pressure Compressors

Pacific represents the largest compressor range produced by Nardi Compressori. It comprises nine series and a total of 40 models designed for high-pressure breathing air. These units deliver between 160 to 850 L/min (5.7 to 30 cfm) while reaching pressures up to 420 bar (6000 psi). They can be supplied in portable frames and fixed vertical cabinets, and are powered by electric motors, gasoline engines or diesel engines. It represents the most extensive line found in the Nardi catalog, and we link all the series for you here on this page.

The range is wide because breathing‐air needs differ across applications. Dive centers that fill cylinders, fire departments that recharge SCBA bottles, offshore crews lacking mains power, and industrial stations employing cascade storage all demand air that complies with the same standard. Nevertheless, they require different machines. The smallest Pacific model generates 160 L/min (5.7 cfm) using a 3 kW (4 hp) motor housed in a portable frame. The largest model delivers 850 L/min (30 cfm) with an 18.5 kW (25 hp) motor placed inside a silent cabinet.

The engineering stays consistent throughout the whole range. Each Pacific compressor employs either three- or a four‐stage block architecture. The blocks are constructed from aluminum and stainless steel without paint or coating, allowing heat to dissipate correctly. They incorporate European roller bearings on the crankshaft and stainless‐steel cooling coils positioned between stages. A separator is placed after each stage except the first, and a safety valve follows every stage. All Pacific models utilize the PAC filtration platform to satisfy EN 12021 standards. The Pacific P16 and the Pacific MX85 differ in output by a factor of five, yet both generate air that meets the same quality standard.

Pacific Range Specifications

Pressure

Up to 420 bar (6000 psi)

CHARGING RATE RANGE

160 – 850 L/min (5.7 – 30 cfm)

POWER RANGE

3 – 18.5 kW (4 – 25 hp)

POWER TYPES

Electric, gasoline, diesel

STAGES RANGE

3 – 4

FILTRATION RANGE

PAC1 – PAC3×2

WEIGHT RANGE

108 – 620 kg (238 – 1367 lb)

MODELS

40

Series	Charging Rate Range		Stages Range	Power Types	Power Range		Maximum Pressure		Filtration Range	Weight Range
Series	L/min	cfm	Stages Range	Power Types	kW	hp	bar	psi	Filtration Range	kg	lb
PORTABLE
Pacific D	230 – 350	8.1 – 12.4	3 – 4	Diesel	4 – 7.5	5.5 – 10	420	6000	PAC1 – PAC2	165 – 172	364 – 379
Pacific E	160 – 350	5.7 – 12.4	3 – 4	Electric	3 – 7.5	4 – 10	420	6000	PAC1 – PAC2	108 – 123	238 – 271
Pacific EG	230 – 350	8.1 – 12.4	3 – 4	Gasoline	6.7 – 10	9 – 13	420	6000	PAC1 – PAC2	108 – 123	238 – 271
Pacific P	160 – 350	5.7 – 12.4	3 – 4	Electric	3 – 7.5	4 – 10	420	6000	PAC1 – PAC2	127 – 142	280 – 313
Pacific PG	230 – 350	8.1 – 12.4	3 – 4	Gasoline	6.7 – 10	9 – 13	420	6000	PAC1 – PAC2	113 – 128	249 – 282
VERTICAL
Pacific C	160 – 350	5.7 – 12.4	3 – 4	Electric	3 – 7.5	4 – 10	420	6000	PAC1 – PAC2	205 – 235	452 – 518
Pacific M	230 – 350	8.1 – 12.4	3 – 4	Electric	4 – 7.5	5.5 – 10	420	6000	PAC1 – PAC2	264 – 274	582 – 604
Pacific CX	500 – 850	17.7 – 30	3 – 4	Electric	11 – 18.5	15 – 25	420	6000	PAC3 PAC3×2	400 – 570	882 – 1257
Pacific MX	500 – 850	17.7 – 30	3 – 4	Electric	11 – 18.5	15 – 25	420	6000	PAC3 PAC3×2	460 – 620	1014 – 1367
Entire Pacific Range	160 – 850	5.7 – 30	3 – 4	Electric Gasoline Diesel	3 – 18.5	4 – 25	420	6000	PAC1 – PAC3×2	108 – 620	238 – 1367

Portable and Vertical Configurations

Portable: Pacific D, E, EG, P and PG

All five series are built with aluminum frames that have epoxy powder coating and include stainless steel components and anti‐vibration mounts. Both the coating and the stainless steel parts are resistant to corrosion in marine settings. The units have a weight range of 108 to 172 kg (238 – 379 lb).

The design of the frame separates the models. The Pacific E and EG represent the lighter versions, with weights of 108 to 123 kg (238 – 271 lb). The Pacific P and PG feature a heavy‐ duty protective frame and may be fitted with an optional integrated trolley. The Pacific D is powered by a diesel engine for remote or offshore sites that do not have access to the electrical grid.

The models also vary according to drive type. The Pacific E and P are equipped with electric motors that range from 3 to 7.5 kW (4 – 10 hp). These motors are offered in single‐phase or three‐phase configurations, and custom voltages may be requested. The Pacific EG and PG employ gasoline engines that deliver between 6.7 and 10 kW (9 – 13 hp). The Pacific D utilizes a diesel engine rated at 4 to 7.5 kW (5.5 – 10 hp). All five series share the same compressor block. This enables an organization such as a fire department to keep the same pump type for both gasoline field units and electric station units.

Vertical: Pacific C, M, CX and MX

These four series are designed for permanent installation or vehicle integration rather than mobile use. The cabinets contain sound insulation, rear cooling air intakes, and air discharge at the top or rear. They are equipped with removable side doors for maintenance and with the Nardi electronic control panel. Sound levels average 73 dB(A).

The Pacific C and CX models employ the Silent frame. The Pacific M and MX models use the SuperSilent frame, a larger enclosure that provides increased cooling air flow and weighs between 264 and 620 kg (582 – 1367 lb). Pacific C and M models use blocks that range from 160 to 350 L/min (5.7 – 12.4 cfm). Pacific CX and MX models provide between 500 and 850 L/min (17.7 – 30 cfm). These compressors represent the highest output we build. They include single or dual PAC3 filtration and three-phase motors that range from 11 to 18.5 kW (15 – 25 hp).

Breathing Air Quality

Pacific compressors are breathing air machines first—but can also be configured for industrial (non-breathing air) duty upon request. Each unit carries two separators on the compressor block and a further separator and final filter specific to breathing air. The PAC cartridge has felt disks to catch larger particles, a molecular sieve to strip water vapor, and activated carbon to remove oil vapor and odor. Hopcalite is available to convert carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. Every cartridge is decontaminated, sealed and vacuum-packed so the drying material is protected until it goes into service.

Each filter carries a pressure maintaining valve to hold contact time between the gas and the absorbent material, which is what makes conformity with EN 12021:2014 achievable in service. PAC cartridges are certified to EN 12021 and ANSI/CGA G-7.1 Grade E specifications. Filters are designed, produced and tested under PED 2014/68/EU, and final pressure safety valves are TUV and PED certified. Residual oil after the final molecular filter is below 0.003 mg/m3 .

Condensate handling is automatic on many models. Interstage separators feed the Nardi automatic drain system, which contains the patented Nardi Slow Flow System. Against a conventional condensate drain it cuts compressed gas lost during discharge by 80% and needs no separate oil and water gas separator, because condensate runs directly to the optional collection container.

Any Pacific compressor can integrate Nardi Gas Guardian, a multi-gas analyzer that measures humidity, oxygen, CO, CO2, VOC and, on request, helium and H2S in continuous flow, with live readings displayed through the compressor's control panel. Integrated models that detect readings outside the user-set limit triggers an alert, an alarm, or an automatic machine stop, depending on user settings. Gas Guardian is also available as a wall-mounted unit for continuous inline piping monitoring, or as a portable unit for pointof-use SCUBA/SCBA bottle analysis.

Control and Monitoring

The Nardi electronic control panel is standard on the vertical series and available on some portable series. It monitors temperature, oil level, current consumption, inlet pressure and outlet pressure, drives every valve and solenoid valve, tracks the service schedule, and monitors filter cartridge status with an exhausted-cartridge alarm. Display units switch between °C and °F and between bar, MPa and psi.

Modbus communication supports remote control and a master and slave arrangement of up to ten compressors in parallel. A remote controller is available for operation up to 50 m from the machine.