ECO POWER


energy-saving operation must offer the best investment option, especially when coupled with the added benefit of government-driven energy efficiency incentive schemes. Not all businesses, however, are ready to


embrace the need for ‘going green’, and sceptical managements may still believe that green investments are prohibitively expensive. But, there is a wealth of evidence in the form of compressor-user case histories documenting annual running costs reductions of well over 30% and payback periods of less than two years. Going green is not just about buying a new


compressor. Aside from the return on investment, taking the right level of care of an established installation can also make a substantial contribution to the cost benefits of going green. Apart from the basic function of providing


an air supply to production processes, green compressor technology can contribute to comfortable workplace environments while at the same time achieving significant energy savings. That is its heat recovery role.


COMPRESSION HEAT Energy has a remarkable feature – it never diminishes but is transformed into other types of energy. Compressors generate heat, and most businesses allow this heat to dissipate as quickly as possible to keep the ambient temperature down. But there is a better way – heat recovery. Purchasing a compressor with integrated


energy recovery, or installing a heat recovery system between the compressor and the cooling- and heating circuits, will recover and re-use 70-94% of the energy required to run a compressor. The hot water, heated up to 90˚C and recovered from the compressed air system, can be used for sanitary purposes, and space heating but is particularly suitable for process- heating applications.


Recovering heat from compressed air reduces


the need for purchasing energy. It is this reduction that results in lower CO2


emissions


and operating costs. Due to the high cost of energy, these savings can be significant in terms of helping companies to meet their carbon reduction targets and improve manufacturing plant profitability.


STAYING GREEN: THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTENANCE AND CONTROL Optimising an existing compressed air network typically offers businesses more than one option to reduce their carbon footprint and the cost of compressed air. A compressed air system requires attention and care. Neglecting it invariably leads to inefficiencies that can prove to be quite costly. That is why a compressed air system should be


regularly maintained, continually monitored, and carefully controlled. While the support of the supplier’s scheduled maintenance plans should be mandatory, to ensure the system’s overall health and performance, the compressor user’s day to day operational vigilance is equally vital. A simple example is that of the working air


pressure. A higher pressure means increased energy use, which means higher production costs. An increase of just one extra bar of pressure results in an average of 7% more power required. That quickly adds up to a substantial increase. Operators should always be aware of how


much pressure they actually require and where their system may lose pressure. As a rule of thumb, the compressed air network should be designed so that the loss of pressure between the compressor and the most distant piece of equipment that consumes the air should be no greater than 0.1 bar. The best way to manage a compressed air


system is to install a state-of-the-art master control system that monitors its efficiency,


availability, and reliability. Not only can it detect problems, but it can automatically reduce the working pressure – and energy costs – when the air demand is low. The controller can also be paired with smart connectivity technology to monitor and optimise a compressed air system from a remote location. While pressure and flow can be readily


measured and controlled, it is equally important to ensure the quality of air supplied from a green system meets the required standard.


GUARANTEED COMPRESSED AIR QUALITY More and more companies are realising that ‘going green’ is not just the right thing to do but also makes sense financially. However, this often raises the question of whether switching to ecological equipment and production processes can ensure quality. For businesses where it is critical to meet


extremely high standards in their process air requirements, green technology should only be employed if it guarantees that final products are not compromised. It can be argued that for applications such as clean rooms in pharmaceutical production, food and beverage production, or electronics manufacturing, maintaining stringent quality standards is much more important than using the most environment-friendly equipment. That is why the compressed air industry’s offerings are subject to strict compliance with quality standards such as ISO 8573-1 and ISO 22000. In order to protect sensitive processes,


premium air treatment equipment, such as oil-free compressors that are ISO 8573-1 Class 0 certified, produce high air quality air that is free of oil vapours, aerosols, and other contaminants. Supplier companies that are ISO 22000-certified have demonstrated a commitment to provide clean and safe food production systems.


OTHER GOOD REASONS TO GO GREEN Governments not only try to meet their emissions targets through incentives but also through more stringent emission standards and other environmental regulations. Only investments in cutting-edge, green technology can ensure that compressor equipment will comply with new environmental rules for some time to come. Older compressors may soon no longer qualify under existing rules. Going green is the right thing to do. The


overwhelming majority of scientists, and study after study, tell us that the planet is warming at a rate that will radically change how we live on it. In fact, natural disasters like droughts, wildfires, floods, and storms are already gaining in strength. Even more reason for compressor manufacturers to innovate solutions that help customers become carbon free, and for production companies to embrace the material benefits of such green technology – and, together, fight against climate change.


Atlas Copco www.atlascopco.com


www.energymanagementmag.co.uk ENERGY MANAGEMENT - Summer 2021 23


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