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 […]
Air Preparation
Emerson air dryers quadruple maintenance intervals in rail applications
Emerson has introduced two new compressed air dryers designed to significantly extend maintenance 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: Don’t 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. 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. 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 […]
Keep it dry to keep it clean
If you have ever been unfortunate enough to squirt some compressed air system condensate on yourself you might have noticed it is usually an oily, rusty and smelly mess. Even after several hand washings your fingers may still be stained brown and smell like an old gym sock. Why is that? Air compressors produce water […]
Six compressed air problem signs
Is your compressed air system in trouble? How would you know? Fortunately, there are some common signs that may give you some hints. Here are six of them. Low Pressure — Having adequate pressure is most important in an air system. If there is a constant low pressure, or periods of time where the pressure […]
Pneumatic “batteries” a boost for renewable energy
The knock on renewable power generation is that it doesn’t reliably supply energy around the clock. Solar shuts down after dark and turbines don’t run when winds are calm. Currently, fossil-fuel power plants must serve as a back-up, which negates the benefits of “green” energy. Large-scale energy storage is another alternative, but lithium-ion batteries are […]
How can you increase FRL efficiency?
FRLs are combination devices used to treat compressed air by filtering it, regulating its pressure levels and lubricating any pneumatic tools or equipment that use it. These devices require careful selection and care to ensure long-lasting, efficient operation. Here are some keys to maximizing the efficiency of your FRLs. Understand proper sizing and selection. Sizing […]
Free CSA compressed air EnPI training available
One of the best ways to ensure a compressed air system is running efficiently is to monitor key energy performance indicators (EnPIs) to determine if the system is meeting expectations. In 2016, the Canadian Standards Association released C837-16, a document intended to assist companies with energy management programs to set up monitoring of compressed air […]
Compressed air fail: Dryer clog
An aerospace company installed a large desiccant dryer they had as surplus from a previous installation. The unit was a heatless style with onboard dew point controller that is designed to reduce the purge flow in proportion to the flow of air going through the dryer. The unit was oversized for the plant flow — […]