Reduce your Compressed Air Energy Consumption

The British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) has launched the 10% Taskforce, which is a call to UK businesses to take simple steps to reduce Compressed Air Energy Consumption by 10%.  Bearing in mind the current price increases for electricity, any help and advice to help save Electricity costs is always very welcome!

 

BCAS states that generating compressed air could be as much as 30% of a site’s electricity bill. What can you do to help your Compressed Air System to save energy?

Here are some ideas:

Fix leaks

Reducing air leaks is the single most important energy saving you can make. An ongoing leak test and repair programme will save you money in the long run.  For more information, please see our website https://www.air4ultd.co.uk/find-and-fix-that-leak/ 

Improve maintenance

Regular maintenance will ensure your equipment is reliable and works efficiently.  You could consider using energy efficient options are bought when replacing equipment, whether it is something as simple as new filter to a new compressor unit. You may wish to consider an Annual Service Contract which will resolve loss of production, random breakdowns, and high maintenance costs. Our website https://www.air4ultd.co.uk/maintenance/ explains how we can help. 

Reducing Pressure

You need enough pressure to provide sufficient force for your needs. If it is too high it can cause unnecessary wear, along with higher energy bills. Did you know that every one bar pressure reduction equals about 7% energy savings? Reducing pressure and switching off compressors when there is no demand for air can help reduce costs. A Data Logging Audit or Energy Audit would enable a Compressed Air Engineer to provide a bespoke solution for you. For more information, please see our website https://www.air4ultd.co.uk/pressure-and-capacity/

Recover and reuse heat

Did you know that 95% of the energy consumed by a Compressor is converted to heat and this could be wasted into the atmosphere? This could cause a Compressor to overheat if the space around it is not ventilated properly. The heat generated could be used to help heat your premises! Ductwork attached to the Compressor can be used to control the hot air expelled by it and directed away. It can be directed outside the building (which can help with overheating) or back into the premises to help with heating the building during the colder months. If you would like more information, please follow this link to send us an email: info@air4ultd.co.uk 

Manage air downstream

Compressed air can contain unwanted substances, for example, contaminant particles, water and oil, as well as dust. With the right treatment, such as filters and dryers, your Compressed Air System can be protected from these contaminants. Our blog https://www.air4ultd.co.uk/why-is-it-compressed-air-quality-important/ explains this in greater detail. 

Changing behaviours

Most of the above requires elements of maintenance or equipment/system upgrades. However, you can make substantial efficiency improvements by encouraging employees to use Compressed Air more safely and efficiently by introducing new processes and maintenance checks.

These ideas were taken from BCAS 10% Taskforce free download which can be found on https://taskforce10.bcas.org.uk/

Or you can follow this link to send us an email: info@air4ultd.co.uk and our team will be happy to help with any questions you may have.