Industrial Utility Efficiency

Technology

Safe Compressed Air Drying Systems for Class I, Division 1 Environments

By Jess Elley, Product Marketing Manager, Suburban Manufacturing Group – Tsunami Compressed Air Solutions

Learn how engineers can safely remove moisture from compressed air systems in hazardous environments by eliminating ignition risks through pneumatic controls. This article explores design considerations, performance characteristics and reliability factors for regenerative desiccant dryers operating in Class I, Division 1 locations.

Read Full Story

Avoiding Control Gap with Centrifugal Air Compressors

By Tim Dugan, P.E., Compression Engineering Corporation

Have you ever wondered how to stay “in control” of an engineering organization with a fixed staff and a varying workload, where the engineers all have a mind of their own? “Herding cats” is what they call it.  Of course, that’s normal, right? Well, controlling multiple centrifugal air compressors is pretty close to that model, which can lead to a condition known as “control gap.”  This article discusses the reasons for control gap with centrifugal air compressors and solutions to help avoid it.
[ Read Full Story ]

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

By John Bilsky, MWS, CCAS, Gentex Corporation

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.
[ Read Full Story ]

Compressed Air System Upgrades Need Follow-up Attention at Food Operation

By Ron Marshall, Marshall Compressed Air Consulting

There is usually a deep feeling of pride welling up inside the designers and installers after completing the installation of a new compressed air system, especially if it starts up and works perfectly. But what happens after a few years, are things as perfect as at the start? This is a question with an answer that very few people know for their system. This article describes some interesting experiences with a food products company at two plants where compressed air assessments of optimized systems done a few years after the system upgrades showed problems.
[ Read Full Story ]

Profile: Ozen Air Technology

Compressed Air Best Practices® interviewed Fehmi Esen, President of Ozen Air Technology, LLC.

By Mike Grennier, Compressed Air Best Practices® Magazine

We manufacture and market a full line of low- and medium-pressure piston and screw air compressors, as well as air dryers, air tanks and accessories. Ozen Air Technology is a subsidiary of Ozen Kompresor based in Konya, Turkey. Our company has been manufacturing air compressors and related equipment for more than 50 years. In 2018, we expanded into North and South America with an operation in Charlotte, North Carolina, which is exciting for us given the opportunity we see.  
[ Read Full Story ]

SHOW REPORT EXTRA Part 2 – Blower, Vacuum, Measurement, Air Purification and Piping at the 2019 BEST PRACTICES EXPO & Conference

By Bill Smith, Compressed Air Best Practices® Magazine

The Best Practices EXPO & Conference held from October 13-16, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee, saw a significant increase in attendance growing by 15 percent to 850 attendees from 20 countries. End user (factory personnel) attendance grew by 60 percent! The EXPO was also truly international showcasing 115 exhibitors from 16 countries and EXPO attendance was free for qualified industry personnel. This SHOW REPORT EXTRA Part 2 complements our 2019 Best Practices EXPO & Conference Show Report and the Show Extra Part 1 Report. 
[ Read Full Story ]

Modbus Transducers: Delivering Thorough and Accurate Compressed Air Audits

By David Parks, Logic Beach Incorporated

High accuracy of multiple measured parameters is critical for the development of a trusted compressed air system baseline audit. The same is true for follow-on performance validation after system improvements have been implemented. The use of data acquisition systems using Modbus-interfaced transducers can aid auditors in achieving a thorough and highly accurate system performance assessment.
[ Read Full Story ]

Cell-Connected Compressed Air Monitoring Systems Save Time and Money

By Ron Marshall, Marshall Compressed Air Consulting

Like any system, to properly manage compressed air equipment some measurements have to be taken. Typically, some sort of data logging equipment is installed to measure various pressures, amps or power, flow, and sometimes temperatures and dewpoints. Placing this equipment on a system is like putting an electrocardiograph machine on a human heart, the heartbeat of the compressed air system in a plant can be analyzed to determine if everything is normal or if there is a problem, all without interrupting the system. 
[ Read Full Story ]

Built for the Long-Term: Kaeser Kompressoren Celebrates 100 Years

By Rod Smith, Compressed Air Best Practices® Magazine

This story begins in Coburg, Germany in the year 1919. Coburg was first mentioned in a monastic document dated 1056, but to speed forward almost nine centuries, Coburg would join the Upper Franconia Region of Bavaria in 1920 where it remains today. Back here in 1919, the United States passed the 19th Amendment allowing women the right to vote and Pancho Villa was attacking Juarez, Mexico. So it was in 1919 that in Coburg a gentleman named Carl Kaeser Senior would open a small workshop producing parts for the early automotive industry, along with gear wheels and special machines for the glass industry.
[ Read Full Story ]

SHOW REPORT EXTRA: IoT, Motors and Lubricants at the 2019 BEST PRACTICES EXPO & Conference

By Kimberly Vickman, Compressed Air Best Practices® Magazine

The Best Practices EXPO & Conference held from October 13-16, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee, saw a significant increase in attendance growing by 15% to 850 attendees from 20 countries. End user (factory personnel) attendance grew by 60%! The EXPO was also truly international showcasing 115 exhibitors from 16 countries and EXPO attendance was free for qualified industry personnel. This SHOW REPORT EXTRA complements our 2019 Best Practices EXPO & Conference Show Report.
[ Read Full Story ]

Air Compressors

Best Practices 2024 EXPO & Conference Show Report
From October 29-31, 2024, professionals who operate, maintain and design industrial compressed air,
More Articles ›

Air Treatment/N2

Leland Brewing Adopts Modular Nitrogen Generation
A modular nitrogen generation system integrated with compressed air infrastructure enabled on-site
More Articles ›

Blowers

Fayetteville Wastewater Treatment Plant Lowers Operational Costs, Increases Efficiencies
The plant upgrades, in combination with a progressive management strategy, allows the plant to
More Articles ›

Compressor Controls

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
More Articles ›

Instrumentation

Pressure Dew Point Monitoring: The Key to ISO 8573-1 Compliance
The ISO 8573-1 standard defines clear limits for various compressed air quality parameters. This
More Articles ›

Pneumatics

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
More Articles ›

Vacuum

Advanced Vacuum Generation Reduces Maintenance
Industrial ceramics have been produced in Hermsdorf, near Jena, since 1890. In the past, high
More Articles ›

Cooling Systems

The AIM Act’s Impact on HFC Gases
The AIM (American Innovation and Manufacturing) Act was finalized by the US government at the end of
More Articles ›