Energy Efficiency: The Importance of Compressed Air System Assessments

What role does the distribution network play in compressed air systems? This is the question many people are asking in the field of electric air compressors. This question undoubtedly stems from the latest innovations in the sector and the introduction of new regulations and certifications that take energy saving into account. In fact, it was after the Kyoto Protocol that new certifications were introduced, such as ISO 50001, which directly addresses companies’ responsibility in terms of the energy efficiency of their systems. Companies were therefore invited to submit a detailed report on their machinery, plants, and production processes, in order to create a sort of collective ‘zero point’ from which to start thinking about a new and shared energy efficiency program. From here, it was possible to define, among the various interventions, the one concerning the distribution network. From the parameters collected, the item ‘distribution’ now appears for the first time, thus considered one of the main phases of the process. Parameters such as ‘inlet pressure, operating pressure, pressure at the furthest point, layout, etc.’ now become fundamental in order to accurately characterize the functioning of the distribution network. From this perspective and based on the new parameters collected, and for the purpose of optimizing energy consumption, we find that, as far as compressed air generation is concerned, variable speed compressors and heat recovery have been taken into consideration. On the user side, increasingly faster devices or those that consume less air at lower pressures are being considered.