Compressed Air Best Practices - February 2008 - (Page 22)

| 02/08 Compressed Air Industry BULK HANDLING | REAL WORLD BEST PRACTICES MATERIAL CONVEYING WITH PNEUMATIC AND VACUUM SYSTEMS The deep drops in pressure are caused by a lack of available compressed air at the time from the effects of the somewhat convoluted interconnecting pipe and the response time of the control system. The plant is experiencing significant pipeline erosion. The transport system appears to be now consuming 1,500 average scfm with peaks to 2,600 scfm. If the transport system can be run with a 55 to 60 psia main air supply to the transport pipe, there is a 112 kW average reduction in Primary compressed air input power and or electrical energy. At $0.10 kWh for 8500 hours per year, this would reduce the electric bill almost $95,200 per year annual electrical energy savings. In order to implement, all piping, valving, etc, must be checked to see if they can still perform at this lower input pressure. At lower pressure, the piping may have to be bigger to avoid excess pressure drop. The air boosters if required could be tied to the high-pressure system, but they would have to be carefully controlled. It would be best if they can be fed from the low-pressure system with proper piping and regulation. Vacuum Conveying Vacuum pneumatic conveying has some inherent advantages compared to positive pressure pneumatic conveying: As is always the case, each proposed process should be evaluated with total annual electrical energy operating cost as a key ingredient in the selection process. Although vacuum is most often used in dilute phase transport, it can also be used in dense phase system when economics and conditions dictate. Careful evaluation should be implemented to the optimal power drives, particularly if a compressed air-driven central vacuum pump is planned to be used. With a vacuum conveying system, an electric motor driven central vacuum pump should always be used from an energy efficiency standpoint. An air driven central vacuum pump starts out already “deep in the hole” with regard to energy efficiency. BP For more information contact Hank Van Ormer, tel: 740-862-4112, email: hankvanormer@aol.com, www.airpowerusainc.com kW CO2 O • Dust control — systems can be completely sealed from entry to discharge. Any leakage in the system will be internal, not into ambient work area • Minimum maintenance — fewer moving parts mean a simpler system • Economical to operate — often a properly applied vacuum system with an electric motor-driven vacuum pump will utilize significantly less electrical energy operating costs than a similar operating positive pressure system. 22 www.airbestpractices.com http://www.airpowerusainc.com http://www.airbestpractices.com

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

Compressed Air Best Practices - February 2008 Contents From the Editor Utility-Air News February Audit of the Month: Dense-Phase Transport System Wreaks Havoc on Compressed Air System Real World Best Practices: Material Conveying with Pneumatic and Vacuum Systems Industrial Vacuum Cleaners Use Compressed Air in Portland Cement Manufacturing Processes The Numatics Air Preparation Group The Ins and Outs of Vacuum Generators Dekker Vacuum Technologies Do Your Meetings Sabotage Your Profits? Resources for Energy Engineers Wall Street Watch Advertiser Index Job Market

Compressed Air Best Practices - February 2008

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