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• Reduce CO2 emission and power costs.

  

  Reduce CO2 emission and power costs.

  News Date: 18th Jan 10

  Reduce CO2 emission and power costs by properly maintaining your compressor system.
  

  The transport and automotive industries have long recognised the importance of proper servicing and maintenance to keep their vehicles running reliably and efficiently. Clogged filters can add significant fuel costs and used oils can reduce the life time of engines and other lubricated equipment. This principle is also true when it comes to compressed air systems and equipment, which are typically installed in every transport depot and workshop.
  
  Let’s take a look at the parallels of transport equipment and compressed air systems by doing a comparison between what an air compressor has to do compared to a car, after all, they both have very similar components to wear or change, such as oil, oil filters, air filters, valving, electrics and drive systems etc.
  
  Just as with the transport and automotive industries, it is not uncommon for equipment users to think that one area where they can save money in a factory, is to reduce the servicing of air compressors or to extend the periods between services. Unfortunately, running costs as well as CO2 emissions will rise significantly if equipment is not properly maintained.
  
  Cars only need services every 15,000 kilometers. If you drove your car at an average speed of 80 km/hour, this would equal 187 hours of continual driving. By contrast, a compressor is serviced, on average every 2000 operating hours or the equivalent of 160,000 km.
  
  Volumes of air passing through a car air filter are very similar to air compressors with an equivalent kW rating. As in a car, air intake filter keep contaminants out of the compressor, to reduce wear and to reduce contaminants building up in the oil, filters, separator element and coolers.
  
  Can you imagine how clogged an engine intake filter and oil filter might get after 160,000kms? Can you imagine how worn out engine oil would be after 160,000?

  Whilst compressor filters and lubricants are designed to handle these long service intervals, extending them any further is false economy that leads to negative returns through high power costs. For example, as the compressor inlet filter becomes blocked, the pressure drop rises from 1-2kPa to 7-8Pa and beyond. Every pressure drop increase of 1kPa will reduce the output by 1%, thereby your power cost rises by 7%.
  
  Typically, the extra cost of electricity incurred is double the “savings” of deferring a service. In addition, the equipment will last a lot longer and be more reliable and less prone to break downs.