Choosing the right location
12 Jun 2013
Mattei’s Andy Jones believes that the correct location for your compressor during installation can increase efficiency.
The Mattei engineer offered some hints that could maximise energy savings from any compressed air system.
Air flow in to a compressor should be as cool as possible, as the cooler the air, the denser it becomes, making the compression process more efficient.
The air used by the compressor should be reasonably clean and free from solid and gaseous impurities.
In applications where a compressor is sited on the factory floor, for example, the air drawn in may be polluted with dust particles and contaminants from other equipment, which will quickly block the compressor’s air filters and reduce efficiency.
Air flow should be unrestricted to the compressor, and where intake ducting is used it should have a sufficiently large cross sectional area to avoid excessive pressure drops. A pressure drop of 10 millibar reduces flow by 1%.
If it is not possible for the compressor to be sited adjacent to the point of use, consider the pipe work design carefully to ensure the maximum efficiency for the system is attained.
Additionally, a simple and cost-effective leak detection survey can easily identify and rectify leaks – this should be done before a new compressor is installed, and also on an annual basis as part of a regular maintenance schedule.
For more information, visit www.mattei.co.uk or call 01789 450577.
