Technology

ASHRAE 90.1 Brings New Requirements to Compressed Air System Design

By Troy Dreier, Compressed Air Best Practices® Magazine

Word is beginning to filter out about the 2022 changes to the ASHRAE 90.1 energy efficiency standard, and the changes it promises to bring to how compressed air systems are specified, commissioned and maintained. More specifically, the industry is learning about section 10.4.6 of 90.1, which is the first time the standard has included a section on compressed air.

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Profile: BeaconMedaes

Compressed Air Best Practices® interviewed Mark Allen (Director of Marketing) of BeaconMedæs.

In the U.S. as an example, the NFPA has taken the view that if your compressor draws in good clean ambient air, the air stays clean through the compressor, is then dried and filtered, when you deliver it to the patient it will be entirely satisfactory. After all, when you went into the hospital that’s what you were breathing and when you leave you will breathe it again!

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The Ins and Outs of Vacuum Generators

"Dr. Vacuum" with "Dan Bott"

There is an enormous population of vacuum generators being used successfully by industry. Applications range from pick & place to vapor extraction to bulk material handling and the number of installations is growing. Before proceeding with an installation utilizing these devices, there are two general issues to consider: efficiency and appropriateness.

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Profile Dekker Vacuum

Compressed Air Best Practices interviewed Rick Dekker (President & CEO) of Dekker Vacuum Technologies.

The roots of our company start with my father, Jan Dekker, who was heavily involved with oil-sealed liquid ring vacuum systems used in the gold mines of South Africa. This was in the mid-1970’s when gold prices were going up. Vacuum systems (in the mines) were optimized by improving vacuum levels using oil instead of water and by adding vacuum boosters.

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Air Storage Receiver Helps Dense-Phase System

By Brent Ehrlich

Sitting on his desk the day Brian began his new job as Plant Engineer for Carbo Ceramics’ McIntyre, GA facility was a proposal to purchase a new 150 HP air compressor as a backup machine. The facility already had six of these machines and, yes, all six ran almost continuously.

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Reducing Packaging Cycle Times

By Phil O’Neill, Standard Products Manager, Bosch Rexroth Pneumatics

Swiss brush company Ebnat-Kappel uses non contact transfer technology from Bosch Rexroth to automate a problematic section of its packaging production process.

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Roxane Laboratories’ System Assessment

By Hank Van Ormer, Air Power USA

Roxane Laboratories, Inc., a subsidiary of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation located in Columbus, Ohio, created a world-class air system that generated \$61,314 per year in electrical energy cost savings (1,156,868 kWh), improved productivity and quality, and allowed the successful completion of a significant plant expansion.

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Ultrasound Leak Tests on Heat Exchangers

By: Alan S. Bandes Vice President, UE Systems, Inc.

The secret to success is to understand the nature of what type of leak produces a detectible ultrasound and what does not, along with the techniques that can be used for effective leak identification.

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Aluminum Mill Reconfigures Compressed Air System

By Hank Van Ormer, Air Power USA

This aluminum mill spends \$369,000 annually in energy costs to operate their compressed air system. This system assessment recommends actions reducing annual energy costs by \$120,000 and improving productivity and quality by delivering clean, dry compressed air.

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Chillers Save on Energy and Water Consumption

By Rod Smith, Compressed Air Best Practices®

Industrial plants are major consumers of water. Water is used in many processes. Sustainability projects focus on reducing the consumption of water and the energy-costs associated with cooling water so it may be effectively used.

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Compressed Air Dryers

By the Compressed Air Challenge®

Compressed air dryers are important items to consider when evaluating the efficiency of a typical compressed air system. One of the keys to optimal system operation is ensuring the air is only dried to the level required by the actual needs of the facility.

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