Is Your Compressed Air System Sustainable?

Posted on June 8th, 2022

The compressed air industry is under growing pressure to limit its environmental impact and improve performance and sustainability.

Reducing negative impact on the environment presents savings for business and future generations. The easiest way to decrease impact on the environment around us when using compressed air is to make sure that your system and equipment is running as effectively as possible. An efficient system will help reduce energy costs and in turn cut carbon emissions.

Monitor Compressed Air Energy Use

If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it!

It is important to monitor how much energy your system is using. By tracking energy usage you can quickly identify if you are wasting energy.

Carrying out an energy audit is an ideal way to start this process and identify areas where you can make improvements.

Check for Air Leaks

Leaks are the main cause of energy waste in compressed air systems. Estimates show that up to 20% of total compressed air consumption may be lost through leaks. For this reason, reducing air leaks can be the single biggest energy saving measure you can take.  Leaks near the compressor are usually the costliest due to the high-pressure environment. However, these leaks are thankfully rare. More common leaks occur at pipe joints, flanges, fittings, and condensation traps.

The most effective and reliable way to check for leaks is by using an ultrasonic acoustic detector. This type of detector picks up high-frequency noise waves that a leak makes. When a leak is present, the air no longer moves in the same direction and creates turbulent air inside pipes. An ultrasonic acoustic detector can interpret that noise and identify where the sound is coming from, even in very noisy environments.

If you don’t have one already, a formal leak management program will also help reduce costs and energy wastage. Involve production supervisors and operators, as well as your maintenance engineers, for best results identifying and repairing leaks. In-house training and awareness, along with making each department responsible for monitoring their own air usage can make this even more effective.

The Financial Cost of Sustainability

Energy costs make up more than half of a compressors total cost of ownership. So, optimizing air systems to use less energy can reduce both the production cost of compressed air and a company’s carbon footprint.

It is important to consider the composition of your compressed air system when calculating operating costs versus compressed air production rate. For example, poor piping design is often overlooked as a serious reason for pressure loss, despite certain layout options causing backpressure within the system. Ideally, there should be no pressure loss created by the piping system alone.

A common layout design in compressed air production is the installation of 90-degree tee connections. These connections create turbulence equal to 0.21 to 0.34 bar of pressure loss. Your system must work to make up for this added pressure, resulting in an extra £440 to £734 in energy expenses to maintain the desired system pressure. Implementing a 30-to-45-degree angle entry, instead of 90-degree, will reduce turbulence and, in turn, excess energy costs.

While certain components of the production line may suggest a specific operating pressure, it does not mean that this is the pressure required for the entire compressed air system. For this reason, it is important to know what the pressure rating of each component is to avoid wasting compressed air wastage and increased energy exertion.

Maintain your system

Bad practice and poor maintenance can contribute to excess wastage. Continual monitoring and maintenance is key to a sustainable and efficient compressed air system. You should regularly service and performance test all of your compressed air equipment. This includes regularly replacing filters and making sure all components are clean. Correctly maintained filters can help guarantee air quality and help prevent pressure drop.

View more tips for making your compressed air system more energy efficient.

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