Energy Saving Assessment

What are the parameters for evaluating the energy consumption of industrial compressors and thus gaining a clear idea of the energy absorbed? As always—and as is now mandatory—one of the focal points of the production chain remains energy saving. This is an important issue that must be given the attention it deserves today. And as proof of how important the issue of energy saving is in relation to compressed air, we can see the great commitment on the part of manufacturers to provide increasingly accurate and comprehensive data on the energy assessment of compressors. So let’s find out what parameters are adopted by manufacturers, i.e., those that need to be taken into account in order to compare the power of the compressor terminals and the power measured at the shaft. There is a first fundamental step: first of all, we must consider the efficiency of the coupling (the mechanical coupling) between the compressor shaft and the drive shaft. In most cases, the mechanical coupling is achieved by means of an electric motor. And it is precisely on the efficiency of the electric motor that the second step of energy assessment by manufacturers focuses. By acquiring this parameter, it is possible to determine the power—i.e., the energy—at the terminals required to drive the compressor mechanisms. Finally, there are other additional evaluation parameters that complement the two fundamental evaluations mentioned above. These parameters concern, for example, the sum of all the electrical equipment installed on the compressed air machine (which may be either necessary or optional). Or the evaluation of the type of compressor cooling, which helps to maintain the mechanical components at the correct operating temperatures (this can be air or water cooling). All the data collected on the energy consumption of the compressors is then organized into tables, so that the correct evaluation criteria can be immediately identified and, if necessary, action can be taken to make the compressed air systems increasingly energy efficient.