Compressor upgrade bucks energy costs
19 Jan 2016
A UK-based engineering firm has upgraded its fixed-speed compressor.
Calderdale Engineering Services (CES) was established in Halifax, West Yorkshire in 1985 and specialises in the machining of medium-heavy castings, as well as fabrication and engineering services.
The company recently moved to new premises in Boothtown, which prompted a review of the operational efficiency of its existing compressor installation.
The compressor has required continuous running in order to supply air for workshop assembly tools, instrumentation and blow-down cleaning procedures, CES says.
However, CES found that its fixedspeed compressor was no longer fit for purpose and needed to be replaced with a new system and new pipework.
To undertake the work, CES called on local firm Pennine Pneumatic Services (PPS) - a distributor of Atlas Copco compressors - to recommend the optimum unit for the company’s specific needs.
As a result, a new Atlas Copco GA11VSD+ rotary screw compressor was supplied and installed to provide greater efficiency and help make energy savings.
“We have a mutually beneficial and long-standing relationship with CES going back 15 years and we were glad to be able to assist with this upgrade,” says Ian Harrison, director at PPS.
“Our priority is introducing energysaving initiatives that also save our customers money and we look forward to continuing to work closely with CES in the future,” Harrison adds.
Unlike CES’ original fixed-speed compressor, the GA from Atlas Copco features a variable speed drive designed to match compressed air supply to demand, which Atlas Copco says reduces run time and corresponding energy costs by as much as 50%.
When combined with the compressor’s iPM permanent magnet motor, companies can benefit from an average 37% reduction in lifecycle costs compared to that of a conventional fixed-speed compressor, Atlas Copco claims.
The system’s air ring main, constructed from Atlas Copco’s AIRnet modular air piping system, is also designed to save on costs.
Readily adaptable, it is made from robust, lightweight, powder-coated aluminium tube and designed for easy, low-cost installation with a selection of engineered polymer fittings.
AIRnet’s low friction, seamless pipework is corrosion free and therefore minimises pressure drop in the system and contributes to energy efficiency, Atlas Copco says.
“We have been logging the number of running hours on the new machine since our move in,” says CES owner John Pateman.
“For comparison, when we reached a figure of 300 hours, we estimated that the equivalent running time on our old system, which operated constantly during working hours, would have been in excess of 1,600 hours for the same period – and would have been less efficient in its operation.
“The new system includes useful features such as weekly runtime scheduling for normal working hours together with a useful one-button manual override, and the system comes up to pressure within minutes from standby,” Pateman adds.
