Industrial Utility Efficiency

System Assessments

Given that compressed air leak management programs are meant to save energy, reduce CO2 emissions, and generate ROI, DENSO’s Maryville, Tennessee, manufacturing facility can definitively say it has scored a trifecta when it comes to results – and reaped benefits beyond hard numbers alone.

Hitting the Gas on Efficient Compressed Air Delivery at Hitachi Astemo

Hitachi Astemo’s efficiency gains will turn into significant cost savings. In this article we outline the savings reported by the client since the changeover was complete. It shows a sizeable reduction in energy costs, air compressor energy costs and maintenance costs to the tune of 21.95%, 24.14% and 24.14%, respectively. Total operating costs to date have dropped from \$1,277,394 to \$941,959 with the new system a decrease of 26.25%.

Plastic Pipe Selection in Industrial Compressed Air Applications

Compressed air piping systems contain high amounts of stored energy, which can be dangerous if released suddenly. Most plastic pipe systems are not suited for this application. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued rulings regarding the use of thermoplastic piping materials for these applications. 

Four Compressed Air Demand Reduction Projects

A large food manufacturing operation in the U.S. Midwest spends $529,000 annually on energy to operate the compressed air system. 

The plant currently has two supply-side systems that operate and feed two different distribution networks at two different pressures. One compressed air system is at 115 psig (medium pressure system) and the low-pressure system is at 30 psig. The compressed air equipment for both systems is located in four areas throughout the facility. 
 

Beyond Leaks—Factory Continues Reducing Compressed Air Demand

A significant manufacturing operation, in the U.S. Midwest, had successfully deployed a compressed air leak management program. This on-going leak management program, along with tuning the air compressor control system, had delivered energy savings and a more reliable compressed air system.

Improving the Efficiency of Pumping Systems through Pump System Optimization

The U.S. Department of Energy’s 2002 Motor Market Assessment established that pumping systems offer the greatest optimization potential of all types of fluid systems, with potential savings up to 75% and an average net savings of 20.1%. In this article, The Hydraulic Institute defines the steps for a pump system optimization.

Improve Process Efficiency and Reduce Energy Use with Compressed Air Monitoring

Without compressed air monitoring, up to 30% of the compressed air generated goes to waste. This waste occurs for several reasons, including leaks caused by failures at joints and tubes, exposure to vibration and normal component wear, and the suboptimization of machines and devices. Continuous monitoring capabilities allow operators to detect leaks and other anomalies in their early stages. By addressing pneumatic issues before they can grow, companies can reduce compressed air use by 20% to 30%. 
 

Defining the Purity of Facility Generated Nitrogen Gas

While oxygen is unquestionably the most important gas in our atmosphere, as it is essential for most animals and human life, nitrogen is the most widely used atmospheric gas.  Nitrogen is the go-to gas for countless industrial, medical, and scientific applications. This is because nitrogen is in vast supply, inert, and possesses the desirable characteristics of being colorless, odorless, and tasteless. The purity of nitrogen significantly affects the outcome of the application for which it is used and how the industry measures the purity of nitrogen gas is the focus of this article.       

Using Air Storage to Balance Capacity in a Reciprocating Air Compressor Installation

One of the components frequently included in a reciprocating air compressor is an air receiver, often referred to as an air tank.  Proper air storage is a critical component of intermittent duty cycle because for brief moments, the system can provide more compressed air than would otherwise be provided by the compressor pump. The capacity of compressed air piping also contributes to the total capacity of the air storage system.

The Myth of Leak Repairs

When fundamentals like leak detection are neglected, best practices begin to slip. Inefficiency does not happen instantaneously, but slowly becomes the new norm as leaks or open blows are overlooked. Maintaining peak compressed air system efficiency is essential to streamlined operations. Better yet: it doesn’t need to be complicated. A clear, concise, and actionable plan will prevent negligence and keep your operation up-to-date on energy efficiency and cost savings.

Crimping Pipe Nozzles for Improved Efficiency

Blowing a jet of compressed air at an object is a common but “poor” use of compressed air. Often the blowing nozzle is a piece of pipe on a hose with a manual valve for control. This quickly solves a production problem when a more efficient factory made nozzle is either physically too big, too expensive, or not on site when needed. Retrofitting with factory made nozzles is often ruled out by for the same reasons, and the time needed by managers and fitters to change a nozzle for often little gain in production.

Compressor Controls

As part of its ongoing corporate initiative to find ways to reduce its energy bills, and the costly

Piping Storage

Blowing a jet of compressed air at an object is a common but “poor” use of compressed air. Often

End Uses

Without compressed air monitoring, up to 30% of the compressed air generated goes to waste. This

Pressure

During Dealer Week, they needed enough compressed air to power multiple machines at a time all day

Air Treatment/N2

Over the last two decades, there has been a significant increase of manufacturing facilities

Leaks

A significant manufacturing operation, in the U.S. Midwest, had successfully deployed a compressed

Pneumatics

If there was ever a place where manufacturers can save energy using compressed air and make

Vacuum/Blowers

A ‘Process’ application, is one where it’s all about controlling the contents of a vessel, pipeline