Proportioning the Compressed Air Dryer
Trying to figure out which air dryer capacity is best for you? Here are some factors to consider. Read More…
Five Tips to Increase Compressor Installation Efficiency
Did you know that one of the
largest costs for industrial manufacturers is compressed air? That’s right – anywhere from 12% to 40% of a facility’s total energy costs
come from its compressed air installation. This means that finding innovative ways (no matter how small) to increase compressed air
efficiency can amount to big savings over the long run! Items like leak elimination, air audits, reduced pressure bands, and
reducing unloaded running hours are some of the most popular ways to decrease energy usage – but there are many other actions that you can
take. Read on to discover additional ways to reduce your costs and make sure your compressor system is running as efficiently as possible!
- Think About Heat Recovery. One area that offers manufacturers a significant opportunity for savings? Recovering the waste heat from air compressors! Without energy recovery, this heat is lost into the atmosphere via the cooling system and radiation. While the amount of electrical energy that can be recovered depends on the size of the compressor and the running hours, typical recoveries are between 70% for oil-injected screw compressors to up to 94% for oil-free water-cooled screw compressors. Recovering heat from compressed air also reduces the need for purchasing energy – i.e. for heating hot water or using exhausted cooling air for space heating.
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Ensure Your Compressed Air Equipment is Sized Correctly. Choosing the wrong size air compressor for your facility can
lead to production issues and increased costs due to wasted energy. When choosing the right type of compressor, consider these questions:
- What is the application?
- How much air flow does my facility/workshop use?
- What is the minimum pressure needed within the facility?
- Do I need clean, dry air?
- How many hours per year does my compressor operate?
- How many shifts do I run per day?
- Is there fluctuation in flow demand between shifts?
- Are there any plans for future expansion?
Once you have the answers to the above, make sure that you select your compressor based not only on initial cost, but on the lowest total lifecycle costs
3. Consider New Compressor Technologies. Air compressors are long term investments that will play a significant role in your business for years to come. The average factory changes air compressors every 7-10 years, meaning that the initial capital expenditure is only a fraction of how much your compressor will cost you in total. 70% (or more!) of your air compressor’s lifecycle cost will come down to its energy usage.
- Switching or updating your compressed air installation to the latest technology can reduce energy consumption by up to a quarter. If you have an old or inefficient compressor, the cost to replace it with a new compressor is often less than the current running costs. A modern air compressor with the latest controllers and energy efficient motors will contribute to your bottom line from day one.
- You can also think about upgrading certain aspects if your compressor! Reach out to your compressed air provider to discuss the possibility of replacing major components of your compressor with new, more efficient components. For example, upgrading your compressor with the latest type of electronic controller will allow you to take advantage of the most advanced compressor control management, reduced unloaded running and higher efficiency.
4. Make Sure You Have the Right Compressor Type. Many applications in the food and beverage, electronics, automotive, textile, and pharmaceutical industries require oil-free air to guarantee product integrity and quality (often specified as Class 0). Oil-free compressed air technology will help to avoid expensive filter replacements, cut the cost of oil condensate treatment and reduce energy loss from pressure drop in filters and, in food & beverage applications, the use of expensive food grade lubricants.
If you have a very large-scale application, you can also consider a centrifugal compressor, given that these offer energy efficiency in process air or in bulk air applications presenting a flat load; they're also ideal for providing a baseline flow in mixed installations with VSD screw compressors.
5. Consider VSD (Variable Speed Drive). Most production processes require different levels of demand in different periods, which may mean that the compressor is running off-load or idle (not producing any compressed air) for long periods of time. Great savings can be made if a fixed speed compressor can be replaced by a variable speed drive unit as it only produces compressed air as and when required. This also minimizes offload running of the compressor, which is known to waste energy. A VSD compressor saves an average 35% energy and a VSD+ unit can save as much as 50% compared to a fixed speed unit, even at full load.
Through it all, remember that the best way to take care of your compressed air system is by investing in regular preventative maintenance! This will sustain the efficiency that you have gained by purchasing a new compressor or improve the performance of an older unit.
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!
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.
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:
Talk to the team today:
Maintenance budget: 8 factors to consider
Just like any other equipment, a compressed air installation also requires the necessary maintenance work during its entire
lifespan. Even though maintenance costs are only about 5 to 10% of a machine's annual operating costs, failure to budget for
maintenance can have potentially disastrous consequences.
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The air dyer is one of the most ignored cooler in the system. A dirty condenser will cause water in the lines, or worse it will cause
complete dryer failure.
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Why Replace CO2 with Nitrogen in your Brewery
Using nitrogen is not about fully replacing CO2, but it can reduce their consumption of CO2 by close to 70%. Using nitrogen is about
sustainability. Creating your own nitrogen is easy and will reduce the use of a greenhouse gas, which is better for the environment. It will
also save you money as early as month one adding that savings to your bottom line.
Read More…
What do I need to know about ICONS?
ICONS: Intelligent Connectivity System: The insight into your compressed air system, wherever you are. Learn More about ICONS in this article here!
Read More…
A question that is occasionally asked by our customers to Ash Air is 'what is the cost of compressed air?' This article looks at the
product costs involved with compressed air, as well as minimising the energy cost of compressors and cost allocation. When looking at these
factors, we need to realise what causes dropped efficiency of your compressor, leading to increased costs of compressed air.
Read More…
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