PLANT MANAGEMENT
MONEY IN THE AIR? THROWING
Whether due to system leaks or outdated fi lter choices, ineffi cient compressed air delivery rubs even more salt into the wound of high energy prices. Fortunately, a fi nely tuned, optimised setup can produce signifi cant fi nancial savings.
A
fter recently completing 12 compressed air eff iciency projects at its facilities, Donaldson’s annual energy
demand has been reduced by an incredible 496MWh – approximately the same amount needed to power 220 electric cars for a year. As a supplier of fi lters that reduce
contamination from the moment air enters a compressor through to its point of use, the company enjoys obvious advantages when identifying where eff iciencies can be made. But if an expert in the fi eld is able to realise major savings in its own operations, imagine the possibilities that non- specialists, that rely heavily on compressed air, could unlock. Generating compressed air
accounts for up to 30% of a plant’s electricity costs, according to the US Department of Energy (DOE), but fortunately this can be infl uenced in a direct way. The onus is fi rmly on stopping leaks and the use of high-quality fi lters and components specifi cally designed to deliver the highest performance with the lowest pressure losses.
20
www.engineerlive.com
SAVINGS SCHEME With innovative fi lter media and fl ow-optimised fi lter housings, energy- saving potentials can be realised. So, with hundreds of thousands of fi lters in use worldwide to generate the high compressed air quality required by ISO 8573-1:2010, the potential for reducing CO2
pollution and creating
fi nancial savings is huge. Running a compressor with
minimised energy consumption requires three distinct quality fi lters to work in harmony, fi ltering particulates and separating oil mist from the airstream without being too restrictive for air moving through the system. Inlet air fi lters benefi t from
Donaldson’s Ultra-Web fi ne fi bre technology that can provide eff iciencies of 99.99% and a superior dust surface loading with a low pressure drop, contributing to energy savings. Donaldson’s advanced oil
fi lters, featuring resin-free Synteq XP technology, eff iciently trap contaminants to deliver superior performance. The air-oil separator, also using Synteq XP coalescing
media, ensures extended life, low pressure drop, and considerable energy savings compared to standard media, while helping to meet oil carryover requirements. This contributes to a reduced overall total cost of ownership (TCO). Following its departure from
the compressor, the compressed air typically undergoes a series of treatment stages before reaching its point of use. Here, the advanced
How fi lters deliver compressed air quality
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
