Compressed Air Best Practices - January 2008 - (Page 23)

Focus Industry ENERGY MANAGEMENT | 01/08 | IN PNEUMATIC SYSTEMS AN ANALYTICAL LOOK People tend to look at air systems in relation to the direction the air flows, i.e., from the compressor out to the end use. From an analytical standpoint, however, it is important to understand that the Demand Side (where air is consumed) of the system determines what happens or needs to happen on the Supply Side (where air is generated). Let’s take a look at some of the issues specific to the demand side of the air system. Since demand determines what is required on the supply side of the system, it is imperative that one start with the end points of the system and work backward (counter to air flow) in analyzing where the air is being consumed. An obvious first step in improving air system efficiency and reducing energy demand is to stop the leaks in the system. In an average compressed air system, 20–30% of the air is lost to leaks. An aggressive leak identification and correction program needs to be an integral part of any compressed air energy management program. Unfortunately, many compressed air audit programs only take a cursory look beyond leaks, when looking for opportunities to reduce energy consumption in compressed air systems. Second to leaks, the biggest potential improvement areas in the system are reducing or eliminating inappropriate uses of compressed air, and identifying and eliminating the artificial demand caused by operating the system at excessive pressure. Remember, every 2 psi change in operating pressure is equal to 1% of the input horsepower for the application. It is important to recognize what are appropriate uses of compressed air, and what are considered inappropriate uses of compressed air. DRYER www.mikroporamerica.com Up to 3500 SCFM Non-Cycling High Performance MB Heat Exchanger Low Pressure Drop Hyper-Efﬁciency Consistent Dewpoint: at 0-100% load Heavy Duty Construction Compact Design 53% Energy Savings Safety Features Phone: 1.877.645.7676 Fax: 1.231.344.5902 THE FIVE “LOW-HANGING FRUIT OPPORTUNITIES” TO SAVE ENERGY When looking for opportunities to reduce energy consumption or improve efficiencies in compressed air systems, an often-overlooked area is the opportunity that exists in reverseengineering existing equipment. There are five “low hanging fruit opportunities” that most people fail to consider when looking at ways to reduce consumption and increase efficiency: 1. Proper sizing of supply lines and connections from the main header to the inlet of the equipment to minimize pressure drop. Best design practices reduce the number of angle fittings and connections, reducing leaks and minimizing pressure drop. Proper sizing of point-of-use air treatment components, such as filters, regulators and lubricators at the machine inlet, also minimizing the pressure drop. Reducing the cost of ownership over the life of the equipment far outweighs the acquisition cost of properly sized equipment. Proper use of reverse flow regulators and dual pressure circuits in automation applications using valves, cylinders and actuators can reduce air consumption while increasing efficiency. Most actuators such as cylinders perform work in one direction only, and the return stroke is merely repositioning for the next cycle. Performing work extending a cylinder or proper operation, and then retracting the cylinder at a reduced pressure can result in significant energy savings and reduced cost of operation. Email: info@mikroporamerica.com 2. 3. a r ra ar W Ye 2 nty www.airbestpractices.com 23 http://www.mikroporamerica.com http://www.mikroporamerica.com http://www.airbestpractices.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Compressed Air Best Practices - January 2008

Compressed Air Best Practices - January 2008 Contents Focus Industry Features Compressed Air Industry Articles From the Editor Real World Best Practices: Selecting A VSD Rotary Compressor Audit of the Month: Energy Savings in Peru The Low-Hanging Fruit in Pneumatic Systems Mikropor America, Inc. Wireless Sensor Networks: Improve Efficiency in Compressed Air Systems Special Report: The Chicago Pneumatic Compressor Launch in North America The Importance of Measuring Vacuum The Comp-Air Service Co. Special Report: The 2007 NAACD Wall Street Watch Advertiser Index Job Market

Compressed Air Best Practices - January 2008

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