Industrial Utility Efficiency

Instrumentation

Detecting Compressed Air Leaks Can Lead to Reduced Energy Waste, Boosted Productivity, and Improved Profits for Paper Mills

Many manufacturing industries including food and beverage, chemical, mining and pulp and paper are heavily reliant on the use of compressed air within their production processes. Paper mills are major industrial facilities that rely on compressed air throughout the entire process as it is used to separate and clean the raw pulp fiber, operate pneumatic tools, and even control valves.

Best Practices for Acoustic Inspections in the Pulp and Paper Industry

Detecting Compressed Air Leaks Can Lead to Reduced Energy Waste, Boosted Productivity, and Improved Profits for Paper Mills

Many manufacturing industries including food and beverage, chemical, mining and pulp and paper are heavily reliant on the use of compressed air within their production processes. Paper mills are major industrial facilities that rely on compressed air throughout the entire process as it is used to separate and clean the raw pulp fiber, operate pneumatic tools, and even control valves.

A Deep Dive into Dew Point Measurement in Compressed Air Systems

In extreme situations, raw battery materials can react with water molecules in the air, causing explosions. In semiconductor development, wafer manufacture requires a highly controlled environment and precise data on the manufacturing environment. Moisture can cause defects in the microelectronic components, impacting their functionality and reliability. For each application, a fast response time allows for quick detection of dew point changes, which can be addressed before they cause damage to the product or equipment.

Smart Pneumatics Play Big Role in Meeting Industrial Sustainability Goals

Pneumatics and the generation of compressed air accounts for about 10% of a typical facility's energy consumption. That number could be much lower, but because of leaks and poor air pressure regulation, a surprising amount of energy is wasted in the process. Yet, most manufacturers are not taking full advantage of smart pneumatic technologies or data analytics to improve energy efficiency. By installing connected pneumatic solutions in their plants, manufacturers can continuously collect critical data to understand where energy is being wasted and make informed decisions to optimize energy consumption. 

A Case for Using Compressed Air Flow Meters

To accurately assess compressed air systems, it is best to gather as much information as possible, for as long as practical so a clear picture of the operation of the system can be formed. The basic equipment needed includes pressure and amp/power data loggers, but in the past decade some excellent advances in instrumentation design has made very affordable flow meters available. This article discusses using flow meters for an example compressed air assessment.

Moisture: the Assassin in Compressed Air Installations

Moisture can freeze in compressed air systems and cause rust and pitting in pipes and components. It can also flush out the lubricant resulting in accelerated tool wear and damage to valves and cylinders. Moist air is also a rewarding breeding ground for bacteria, which especially in the food and pharmaceutical industries can lead to product rejection and costly production downtime. It is therefore strange that many companies limit themselves to measuring only basic quantities such as pressure, flow and (absorbed) power.

Achieving Sustainability Targets by Optimizing Compressed Air Use

By monitoring compressed air consumption using smart pneumatic sensors, companies can reliably reduce energy use and emissions. 

The digital transformation of pneumatic systems is one critical way that companies can improve operational sustainability. Advanced airflow-sensing technology provides compressed air monitoring and valuable insights that allow companies to control and significantly reduce the energy used to produce compressed air as well as related carbon emissions.

Compressed Air Systems and Rocket Science

Would you believe the same technology used in the launching and controlling of a space rocket is also used in your compressed air system? Yes, in some cases, “rocket science” helps to solve problems in compressed air systems and ensures the performance of the installed units. In this article, we are going to explain the technology called the “Sonic Nozzle”, that combines a space rocket thruster and your compressed air system. Additionally, we are going to walk through a case study, step by step, to show how it works.

Sensor Technologies Used in Dew Point Transmitters - Advantages/Disadvantages

Have you ever had a failing dryer in your compressed air system, ruining your production output, but it was not noticed until it was already too late? Dry compressed air is one of the most important quality parameters when it comes to process safety. When ambient air is compressed, the ratio of the humidity to the air volume will rise drastically. Therefore the higher concentration of humidity in the compressed air leads to a higher dew point temperature and the humidity is more likely to condensate at higher temperatures.

Measurement Principles for Compressed Air System KPIs

In this article we clarify how the main KPIs can be monitored, and we will have a closer look at a few key KPIs: efficiency, pressure loss and leakage.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are variables or measures by which the performance of organizations, machines and/or processes can be measured and analysed in a targeted manner. For example, a KPI can be a certain production number per time unit, but also the amount of profit a company makes on a specific product.