CAFM & IT THE KEY TO COMPRESS There are many smart technologies available that enhance operational
performance, especially those related to compressed air. And, despite what many professionals may think, they’re affordable and easy to implement, as Mark Whitmore, General Manager at BOGE explains.
Compressed air has long been considered an essential element for businesses, even earning the name ‘the fourth utility’. In recent years, with the development of smart technology, it’s become the element offering the biggest opportunity of optimisation. FM professionals have steady internet access to thank for that.
Good practice in compressed air system management aims to maximise efficiency, reliability and the quality of the compressed air delivered to the point of use; internet connectivity can help compressed air system users meet these goals provided they have the right tools.
For multiple compressor systems to work efficiently, the various elements of those systems have to communicate intelligently; for example, to decide which machines are brought online to meet demand peaks while at the same time minimising energy consumption and maximising the reliability and longevity of the equipment.
Networking capability should be a standard feature of compressed air system controllers, with an integrated fieldbus being the minimum provision. But if those controllers are to be Industry 4.0 ready, internet connectivity, too, is essential.
So how can such connectivity help compressed air consumers achieve better efficiency and reliability?
Monitoring machine demand Monitoring machines via the internet enables FM teams to maximise compressor performance and minimise overall system energy consumption. A controller can continually and automatically monitor a compressed air system to anticipate changes in demand, reacting quickly to activate the optimum combination of compressors and other components to fulfil that demand as efficiently as possible.
For example, BOGE's Airtelligence Provis 2.0 controller's internet connectivity allows system performance to be monitored remotely using a web browser or mobile app to keep that system performing efficiently. In one multi- compressor application, Provis independently determines a facility’s total network volume and trends to bring individual compressors online well before a demand peak is reached, thus maximising the efficiency of compressed air production.
Seizing connectivity opportunities Machine reliability can be improved by making greater use of internet connectivity to monitor performance. The latest BOGE compressors have the capability to use a secure internet link to share operating data with the company's central analytics centre in Germany. This link
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sends around 70 data points per second on pressure, temperatures, motor speeds and energy consumption collected from sensors around the machine.
This data is analysed using a 'learning' algorithm which builds a picture of normal operating conditions at a customer’s site. Any excursion is reviewed by an engineer who decides if it suggests an issue with the machine or with the wider system. He or she can also 'teach' the system to ignore repeat occurrences if they are deemed acceptable.
And as it builds its understanding of machine performance, the algorithm can update a machine's controller parameters so that the machine itself alerts on-site staff to a possible developing problem.
Sharper insights for better performance Industry 4.0 uses a wide range of monitoring and reporting tools, allowing system operators to see and understand energy consumption, system reliability and available capacity at the touch of a button and in real time. Machines connected to BOGE’s analysis system, for example, are given an annual report detailing the cost of compressed air system production, how demand varies over time and how the operating efficiency of the system is influenced by those demand variations.
The approaches described above are not tomorrow’s technology; they are real product and service offerings, driven by Industry 4.0, and are available today. By working with the right supplier, FMs can introduce smart technology that truly does improve performance both now and in the future.
https://uk.boge.com/en twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
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