At a large machine shop in the Midwest, everything ran smoothly most of the year. The plant used a big, air-cooled screw compressor and a refrigerated air dryer to power tools, paint booths, and machines. During the cooler months, the system performed great. There were no complaints, and the maintenance crew didn’t pay much attention […]
Components
Compressed air fail: Not set and forget
Joe was the plant manager at a busy manufacturing facility. He had been in the job for a few years and thought he had a good handle on everything. One of the systems he never really worried about was the big industrial screw air compressor out in the utility room. It had always worked just […]
Compressed air fail: Blowdown broken
A compressed air auditor was surprised to see an air compressor under test was consuming excess power when unloaded. A check of the sump pressure (Fig. 1) showed the sump was not blowing down during unload cycles. And the installed flow meter showed the compressor was producing a small amount of air, even in the […]
Compressed air fail: Big/small comparison
During an audit, a compressed air professional noticed an interesting characteristic. While a 300-hp compressor was used to supply an average of 800 cfm during production activity, he noticed the compressed air flow to the plant fell to about 130 cfm during non-production times on weekends. He also noticed that the plant had a 75-hp […]
Save costs by managing “energy gobblers”
The Energy Services Act is a key piece of legislation in Germany that aligns with the EU Energy Efficiency Directive. It mandates that large enterprises conduct regular audits to improve energy efficiency and reduce overall consumption or potentially face fines up to €50,000. Such legislation drives technology innovation and increases the adoption of efficient machinery, […]
Compressor troubles? RFM is the answer!
Often during audits of compressed air system, we find that operating staff have no clue as to how their equipment works. This causes so much trouble regarding operation and maintenance. Many people who work with compressed air systems know how to turn the equipment on and off. But when it comes to really understanding how […]
Vacuum pump enables manufacturers to reduce emissions and energy costs
With its newest air-driven vacuum pump, the piClassic Neo, Piab has developed a design that minimizes manufacturers emissions and energy costs. Designed to meet the evolving demands of modern industries, the piClassic Neo variants combine efficiency, adaptability and sustainability. Building on the proven success of its predecessor, piClassic Neo offers the performance and reliability that Piab vacuum […]
Compressed air fail: Heat wasted
In cold climates, compressor rooms that draw 100% outside air for ventilation face a challenge: how do you prevent freezing temperatures from damaging equipment? The common solution is to install electric heaters. But while it seems simple, relying on electric resistance heating to temper a compressor room is often a costly mistake — especially when […]
What is compressed air heat recovery?
By Ron Marshall If you’re running air compressors in your facility, you might be sitting on a gold mine of wasted energy — literally. Up to 94% of the electrical energy used by an air compressor is converted into heat. The good news? Most of that heat is recoverable. The better news? You can turn […]
Clippard panel-mounted electronic and pneumatic pinch valves
For applications that require better access or enhanced cleanliness, Clippard pinch valves are also available with a convenient panel mount option. Panel-mounted pinch valves provide all the same benefits as Clippard’s standard pinch valves along with seamless integration and easy accessibility. Compared to standard manifold mounted pinch valves, panel mounting offers simplified installation, a cleaner […]
