Compressed Air Best Practices - September 2008 - (Page 49) Compressed Air Industry FOOD PACKAGING & PROCESSING | 09/08 | What is the biggest efficiency opportunity? The biggest opportunity is in compressor controls. We consistently find older installations with multiple air compressors that cannot work together. The air system is supplied by this collection of inefficiently working equipment. When these facilities grow, they often just add another air compressor. Usually when we see one of these compressor rooms with three machines running, we estimate it should only be 1½ machines in operation. Usually these systems deliver only 3½ cfm per horsepower. We are able to get them between 5 and 5½ cfm per hp! What advice do you have for the food industry? When using food-grade coolant (as is required), be sure to change it at the 1,000-hour point as specified. We sometimes see a lack of timely maintenance in the food industry on the lubricant because it is expensive. Not changing the lubricant, however, can result in a build-up of varnish, which in turn can cause the premature failure of an airend. We have our own airend rebuild shop, which is always happy for more business but we know that the best thing for our customer is to simply maintain their equipment appropriately. And in some applications, the processor may want to consider oil free. How are power costs and the energy rebate programs in North Carolina? A typical blended rate here is $0.05 per kWh. Our two main utilities are Duke Energy and Progress Energy. They run incentives on and off and it’s just a matter of keeping up with their current incentive programs. The State also has a low interest rate loan program for industry based upon the size of the projects’ energy reduction. There are some co-ops who buy bulk energy from Duke Energy and Progress Energy. During the summer or during peak periods, the co-ops will give a two-hour warning to their industrial customers that the price will go from $0.05 to $0.15 per kWh. Many of our customers have turned to us to see how they can go offline during these peak usage periods. We have seen Liquefied Propane Air Compressors as rental units and some will purchase their own bulk load generators. The systems are all pre-piped and ready to go so that when the customer gets the phone call from the co-op, they can just walk down and fire up the stand-by air compressors. The customers are excited when we can supply them a rental solution to this energy crisis! Thank you, Air Flow, for your insights. For more information, please contact David Vanhoy, Air Flow, Inc., tel: 336-605-9622, email: dvanhoy@airflowinc.com w www .airbe s t ra c e ww .ai rbe stp rac tic es. com e actic m 49 http://www.airflowinc.com http://www.airbestpractices.com
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