Industrial Utility Efficiency

Industries

The current cost to operate the compressed air system is \$139,100 annually, and the proposed measures will reduce it by \$50,700 annually. The proposed cost to complete the measures is $47,600 providing a simple payback of 11 months. The cost included in the Action Plan includes engineering, project assistance, services to maintain the gains, and a 10% contingency.  

Fifteen Years of Compressed Air Best Practices Support Gentex Business and Production Goals

While many businesses strive to plan, install and maintain a compressed air system that fulfils the company’s specific needs, I’ve found that implementing compressed air best practices not only accomplishes specific goals, but also results in time-tested advantages that aid in the overall business and production goals of the organization.

Compressed Air, Nitrogen Generation, and Assist Gas Technology for Metal Fabrication at FABTECH 2019

One topic up for discussion in the metal fabrication industry is the assist gas used for laser cutting. The assist gas is fed into the laser head, and surrounds the laser as it cuts the work piece. The assist gas is intended to facilitate a smoother cut, increase cutting speeds and productivity, and to prevent discoloration, oxidation, scale, burred edges and other defects that can arise from the hot cutting temperatures. Since Nitrogen is an inert gas, it is used as an assist gas on many laser cutting systems to prevent oxygen from coming into contact with the metal while it’s being cut. Nitrogen is supplied to users in traditional cylinders, and with on-site nitrogen generation.

Keep Contaminants Out of Food and Beverage Processing Air Supplies

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, more than 30,000 food and beverage processing plants across the United States employ more than 1.5 million workers.1 Each of those plants applies a wide range of processes to raw agricultural goods to produce consumable food and beverage products.

Milk Products Plant Finds 52 Percent Potential Savings

A food processor was having compressed air problems, so they invited a compressed air auditor into their plant for an assessment and to help them size future permanent air compressors. The plant was experiencing low air pressure and detecting water in the compressed air lines despite having a desiccant air dryer. The auditor thoroughly analyzed the compressed air system production equipment and did end-use assessment and leakage detection. This article discusses the findings leading to a potential cost savings of 52% of the current level.

Standardization of Automation Components Pays Off at New Biotest AG Plasma Fractionation Plant

Blood plasma is an indispensable resource in the production of life-saving medicines. It is also in high demand on global markets. To make more efficient use of this valuable commodity, Biotest AG developed a new large-scale production plant in Dreieich, Germany, for plasma fractionation capable of obtaining five instead of the previous three products from a single liter of blood plasma. As part of its strategy, Biotest AG worked with Festo to standardize automation components used at the plant, resulting in simplified installation and maintenance.

An Overview of Medical Air Packages

The air is delivered through a distribution piping system that ends with a medical air outlet within the room. Outlet requirements per room are governed by American Institute of America (AIA) Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities. Equipment is plugged into the medical air outlet to treat the patient. Many studies have been done determining the load required for medical air compressors. The sizing can be calculated using several methods. 

Verifying Compressed Air and Gas Safety and Quality in Medical Applications

Compressed air and gases are vital to numerous healthcare facility operations. Commonly used for breathing, sedation, and the operation of medical instruments, healthcare facilities must rely on these utilities for lifesaving and therapeutic benefits. The quality of the air and gas produced by the facility’s compressed air systems is paramount to their efficacy in promoting positive outcomes for patients.

Auto

Given that compressed air leak management programs are meant to save energy, reduce CO2 emissions,

Bulk

When the design capabilities of an installed compressed air system didn’t align with real-world

Food

There were two situations brought to our attention. The first was that production at times was

Medical

The air is delivered through a distribution piping system that ends with a medical air outlet

Metals

Vane motors can run at much higher speeds (2000 rpm and up), but piston motors tend to turn much

Paper

Detecting Compressed Air Leaks Can Lead to Reduced Energy Waste, Boosted Productivity, and

Pharmaceutical

This article is intended to show the relationships between risks and specifications, opportunities

Plastics

Logoplaste, based in Cascais, Portugal, introduced its embedded wall-to-wall manufacturing model to

Power

A newly constructed ethanol plant experienced control gap issues shortly after comissioning. 

Printing

The Trinity Mirror Group print works on Oldham is one of the UK’s largest newspaper printers. The

Transit

In the absence of the control system, the air compressors were loading and unloading according to

Wastewater

When selecting a mixing technology, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and their consultant