Efficiency of Compressed Air Distribution and Piping

Think about efficiency for a minute. Every year with constant innovation, things are becoming even more efficient. Everything from electronics to industrial machinery are being developed to get more done faster while using less power.

The same is true for Air Compressors, having a compressed air distribution system that is inadequate will lead to higher energy bills, low productivity, and poor air tool performance. There are three main demands which must be addressed to avoid inefficiency.

  1. Low pressure drop between the compressor and the point of consumption
  2. Minimal leakage from the distribution piping
  3. If no dryer, making sure there is proper condensate separation

These demands primarily apply to the piping installation for current and planned compressed air consumption. Routing, design, and making sure you are using the proper dimensions for your compressed air piping is important for the efficiency, reliability, and cost of compressed air production.

Rather than increasing a compressors working pressure to compensate for large pressure drops, which can decrease efficiency, it is recommended to evaluate the fittings. The best option for optimal efficiency is designing a closed loop ring pipe system. Once installed, pipes can branch out and run to various consumptions points. This approach will provide uniform compressed air supply as air is delivered to the consumption point from two directions.

Setting up your compressed air system for optimal performance with minimal pressure drops and leakage is important for achieving ultimate efficiency and a great place to start is to look at your piping installation.

If you have any questions, please reach out to an expert today.

Browse our revolutionary AIRnet Piping System:

AIRnet Aluminium Piping System: Designed to Perform! AIRnet saves you 70% on installation time vs. traditional piping systems

AIRnet Aluminium Piping System: Designed to Perform! AIRnet saves you 70% on installation time vs. traditional piping systems

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Below 50HP - Screw Air Compressors

Chicago Pneumatic rotary screw air compressors are built on the very robust platform and feature state of the art controller and high-efficiency screw element.

The Ash Air range of oil lubricated screw air compressors are excellent all-in-one solutions for small and medium workshops, with energy cost savings of 30% - 35%. The most popular air compressors 10HP, 15HP, and 20HP are available as a full feature with integrated air dryer and receiver. More than 100 rotary air compressors available for sale from stock in Auckland and Christchurch.

Direct driven air compressors with variable speed drives offer high energy efficiency, a smooth start and prolonged life of the component parts, reduced system pressure and energy consumption.

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Fixed Speed below 50HP Variable Speed Drive below 50HP
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Above 50HP - Screw Air Compressors

For power above 45 kW we offer ALUP air compressors, designed and manufactured in Europe. We installed Alup rotary screw air compressors at dozens of sites in New Zealand for food processing, at timber plants and other industrial sites.

These high-efficiency rotary screw air compressors feature variable speed drives, remote monitoring and heat recovery options. ALUP air compressor is covered by an optional 5 years warranty.

The three most popular air compressors 45 kW, 55kW and 75 kW are available for sale from stock in Auckland. Chat to our experts, we will help you to answer questions about what can you use the compressor for, what compressor is the best and learn all about air compressor efficiency.

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Oil Free - Screw Air Compressors

The team at AshAir specialises in oil-free or oil-less scroll compressors with zero risk of oil contamination, and are ideal for critical applications including medical, pharmaceutical, dental, R&D, food & beverage, wine and brewery. Our 100% oil-less scroll compressors are designed with fewer moving parts, which means less wear and tear, less noise, higher efficiency and reliability, and a longer machine life .

These scroll compressors use cutting-edge scroll technology where the spirals never contact each other, and no lubrication is needed, making them completely oil-free. Our SPR 20 Multi oil-less scroll compressor operates with variable air delivery, controlled by an intelligent controller for air delivery supplied according to the fluctuation of air demand. This means a higher energy efficiency and more stable system pressure.

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ALUP Oil-Free Series - Screw Air Compressor spiralAIR Scroll Compressors wisAIR Oil-Free Screw Compressors


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Who we are and how Ash Air can help your business!

Ash Air has been around in New Zealand since 1979, and we’ve grown into a nationwide company with international support and a reputation for quality and reliability.We look after all things compressed air for your business!

  • Reciprocating, Screw, air compressors
  • Vacuum pumps
  • Nitrogen
  • An extensive line of air treatment components

Ash Air's range of Chicago Pneumatic, Alup, Pneumatech, and Quincy compressors are used extensively around the world in industries ranging from oil and gas to food, automotive and farming, and we bring you these world class compressors here in the land of the long white cloud.Our technicians are compressed air equipment experts and are dedicated to addressing customer needs. Supported by a 13 locations nationwide, Ash Air offers one of the widest selections of compressed air equipment and parts available today in New Zealand.

Reliability and Efficiency

With Ash Air compressors, you can count on reliability and high performance for even the most demanding applications. We focus our efforts on the following:

  • Increasing uptime
  • Reducing unexpected repairs
  • Reducing energy consumption
  • Improving the cleanliness of compressed air


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Air compressors can fail for an assortment of different reasons: Normal wear and tear, lifespan and age of the unit, poor maintenance, power surge, install issues are just a few the come to mind. Check out this blog to find out our top 7 tips to ensure your compressor is looked after!  …

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