Industrial Utility Efficiency

Piping/Storage

Sizing Compressed Air Piping to Manage Pressure, Flow and Velocity

By Ryan Freymuller, Sales Director, Manufacturers Distributor, Inc.

Efficient compressed air distribution depends on proper piping design to balance flow, pressure and velocity. This article explains how modular aluminum piping systems improve performance by reducing friction, minimizing pressure drop and maintaining laminar flow. With smooth interiors, full-bore fittings and leak-free connections, these systems help lower energy consumption and extend equipment life. A real-world case study shows how an optimized design reduced material and installation costs while maintaining performance. The result is a more adaptable, efficient and reliable compressed air network for modern industrial facilities.

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

By the Compressed Air & Gas Institute

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.
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Crimping Pipe Nozzles for Improved Efficiency

By Murray Nottle, Working Air System Engineer, The Carnot Group

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.
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Moisture: the Assassin in Compressed Air Installations

By Pascal van Putten, CEO, VPInstruments and Frank Moskowitz, Instructor, Compressed Air Challenge

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.
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Compressed Air Systems and Rocket Science

By Mustafa Uslu, Revindus

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.
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Re-engineered Compressed Air System Scores Perfect “10” at PC Forge

By Mike Grennier, Compressed Air Best Practices® Magazine

Since completion of the system upgrade in the fall of 2020, PC Forge is on track to save an average of 1.9 million kWh and $266,000.00 per year in energy costs – and increase the production capability of its forging operation by 40%. The project also achieved a one-year payback with a \$245,000 incentive from Government of Ontario’s utility Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO).
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Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds™ Optimizes Piping and Air Compressor Automation

By Tyler Costa, ALD, Inc.

The Wonderful Pistachios and Almonds campus in Lost Hills, California is a manufacturing facility that processes and packages pistachios and almonds for the consumer market. Food processing requires extensive use of compressed air to control multiple applications ranging from actuators, valves, optical sorters, packaging equipment and plant maintenance operations. The campus has its peak season during harvest in late August/early September, but processing and packaging operations take place year-round.
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Compressed Air System Drawings: A Picture Can Save Tens of Thousands of Dollars

By Paul Edwards, Compressed Air Consultants, Inc.

There are some fundamentals when it comes to compressed air system improvements. One strategy that is overlooked is just drawing the details of whatever aspect of a system you are looking at. It is fairly common to see a misdiagnosis of some particular technical issue that would have been obvious should someone have created the drawing to describe the problem.
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Air Receiver Tank Care Guide, Sizing, Safety and Storage - Part 2

By Derrick Taylor, PneuTech USA

Your air receiver tank works hard to keep your compressed air system running at optimal efficiency. For best results and safe operation, it’s important to make sure you have adequate storage capacity for your application. You also need to take proper care of your tank once it is installed. In this article we provide advice for air receiver tank sizing, safety and storage.
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How Your Air Receiver Tank Improves System Efficiency - Part 1

By Derrick Taylor, PneuTech USA

 

 

An air receiver tank (sometimes called an air compressor tank or compressed air storage tank) is a type of pressure vessel that receives air from the air compressor and holds it under pressure for future use. The tanks come in a range of sizes and in both vertical and horizontal configurations. An air receiver tank provides temporary storage for compressed air. It also helps your compressed air system run more efficiently.
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