Compressed Air Best Practices-August 2008

| 08/08 Focus Industry COMPRESSED AIR AUDITS | COMPRESSED AIR AUDIT OF THE MONTH A Vacuum System Audit Vacuum Header and Connectors The new style routers will require a 10" diameter connector to the primary header and 10" diameter drop legs to each table. When the drop leg splits into two feed lines to each table, pipe diameter can be reduced to 8". Pressure differential was measured from the primary header to the point-of-use filter in the new router area. Pressure differential was 2" HgV. The inlet filter was measured with a handheld meter and was found to add another 1.5" HgV pressure differential. We are recommending the installation of Solberg CSL inlet filters to each of the four new router tables where the 10" diameter drop leg is reduced to 8" diameter. The central distribution header consists of 6" diameter and 4" diameter connectors from each vacuum pump to a primary 12" diameter vacuum header loop that extends over production machinery. There is approximately 1" HgV pressure differential in this header during normal production demand loading. In the projected scenario, there will be three 300 hp rotary lobe blowers where two will handle the entire production load and the third will be used for alternation and back up. A 24" diameter trunk header will be necessary to provide for low pressure-drop and adequate flow characteristics. The trunk header should extend from the three vacuum pumps to the far end of the 12" diameter loop and connect at each cross bar. Making these changes in the distribution system will allow for maximum vacuum delivery to use points. Note that any connection to the primary header, drop legs or splits to production machines should be made with full ports i.e. 6" diameter pipes connected to 6" diameter primary header connections. Do not use (for example) a 4" diameter existing connection in the header for 6" diameter pipe. C. Vacuum Demand Issues Testing was completed on two types of production machines, a modified table and a standard table, to determine the shape of the vacuum supply profile inside production machinery during normal operation. Testing was completed with high-speed data loggers that read vacuum levels 10 times per second. The Modified Router Table The modified router table was tested simultaneously at each of the two vacuum ports on the table (table inlet and table end). When cutting started, supply pressure at the table inlet was 8.5" HgV and as cutting progressed, vacuum level dropped to 4.4" HgV. The critical point to note here is that the vacuum level at the end of the table was only 3.1" HgV and production was operating normally. 12 www.airbestpractices.com http://www.airbestpractices.com

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

Compressed Air Best Practices- August 2008 Contents From the Editor Utility-Air News The August Audit of the Month: A Vacuum System Audit Energized for Savings at Seattle City Light and Tacoma Power Know Your System CASE: Compressed Air Supply Efficiency Ecos Air: Managing Incentive Programs Kaeser Compressors: Loyalty, Energy and Growth Building Relationships at Cummins-Wagner McIntire is Moving Forward The 2008 A.I.C.D. Conference & Exhibition Tuthill Vacuum and Blower Systems Resources for Energy Engineers: Training Calendar & Product Picks Wall Street Watch Advertiser Index Job Market

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