A sawmill was having trouble finding a flow meter to measure the compressed air that was produced by compressors totaling 1,500 cfm utput.Β This flow was running through a 3-in. pipe. The plant personnel contacted a compressed air expert to see if he could help. They were surprised by his answer. The most common and […]
Mode selection makes a difference
A little button press can make a big difference.Β The compressor in the photo was running in a control mode called online/offline (aka load/unload) for the first bit of its service life but now has been changed to a mode called modulation. The reason for the change, as found by a compressed air system auditor, […]
Festo’s auto industry predictive software named an AI champion
Festo has been named an artificial intelligence (AI) champion for the companyβs project Intelligent ΊΪΑΟ³ΤΉΟ Runtime Monitoring. The award was given during the inaugural Baden-WΓΌrttemberg awards ceremony on August 11. Baden-WΓΌrttemberg, Germanyβs third largest state, is one of the countryβs leading regions for AI development. Thousands of pneumatic clamping systems are used daily in […]
Turn off the air before the lights
An aerospace plant has an 8 hour per day shift, but the rest of the time the plant is empty.Β The facility has a compressor monitoring system where the pressure, power and flow is recorded over time. Recently, the flow meter output has been showing a regular timed pattern during overnights and weekends. The maintenance […]
Tips on how to become an air auditor
By Ron Marshall Question: I have been reading a lot about compressed air optimization efforts through auditing, and am I interested in doing this myself in my own area. What tips would you give me for undertaking this sort of effort? Answer: Here are a few basic tips about starting air auditing: Read all […]
Compressed air fail: The spare dryer
By Ron Marshall A printing plant had two compressors β one main and one backup β each with refrigerated air dryers. A third air dryer was on site as a backup, should the main dryer go down for any reason. The spare compressor was too small for the plant but was used as emergency backup, […]
Compressed air efficiency: Donβt stop at the compressor
Question: Good day! I was hoping for some advice on how to design the demand side of an air supply system. We are located between a river and the ocean, in a non-climate-controlled aircraft hangar. About 8 months out of the year, we are at 100% humidity. We have an air system that was installed […]
Emerson air dryers quadruple maintenance intervals in rail applications
Emerson has introduced two new compressed air dryers designed to significantly extend maintenanceΒ intervals, minimize downtime and reduce energy costs in rail applications, including brakes and door control. Typically, air dryers have an average service interval of less than two years. The Aventics RDD (Roll-Up Dessicant Drying) and RDDmin air dryers, have a service interval of […]
Compressed air efficiency: Donβt stop at the compressor
By Ron Marshall A printing plant is planning to replace its efficient 100-hp VSD compressor, a premium unit that runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.Β Making a straight change out will gain a small amount of estimated savings, about 5%, because the newer compressor models has been improved and are more efficient […]
Achieving cycling dryer success
Running your home refrigerator like a non-cycling air dryer would run up your electrical bill considerably.Β The non-cycling style dryer consumes almost constant power, as if the dryer was fully loaded, even in conditions of part load and partial moisture content. Temperature control is accomplished in these types of dryers with a hot gas bypass […]
