Energy saving is 'centred' on compressed air
April 1st 2008 EnergAir's new generation of Metacentre air compressor control and management
systems is now available
Metacentre, the new
product family from
EnergAir includes machine
controllers, IO modules,
communication interface modules,
sensors, variable speed drives and
software.The new units are a direct
development of the tried-and-tested
Enercon systems that are installed in
process and manufacturing facilities
around the world. EnergAir
compressed air control and
monitoring systems are employed
on sites as varied as Walkers Snack
Foods, Britvic bottling plants,
International News print sites, car
plants and Tarmac production sites.
'EnergAir equipment is used all over the
world to operate multiple air
compressors as efficiently as possible,
while also improving process visibility,
reporting and maintenance scheduling.'
The new range comprises of six
compressed air controllers designed
to suit air systems ranging from one
to 24 compressors.
The base model S
Series controllers will
deliver fine pressure
control for up to four
compressors, while
the flagship XC system controller
can accommodate up to 24
compressors of different types and in
different locations throughout a site.
The more advanced controllers
such as the SX and XC models offer
'Energy control' software onboard.
'Energy control' software allows the
management controller to
distinguish between types of
compressor (e.g. fixed speed, variable
speed etc) and the sizes of available
compressors (e.g.50kW, 100kW etc).
With this information EnergAir's
Metacentre SX and XC models are
able to follow an intelligent 'optimal
energy' control strategy,making the
best energy savings possible from
the installed system.
Multiple variable speed drive
(VSD) control is another feature of
the more advanced Metacentre
controllers, allowing highly efficient
control of what would previously be
fixed-speed compressors. EnergAir
offer a full range of VSD units for
installation with the control systems.
The rest of the
Metacentre range
includes controllers
for vacuum systems,
replacement
compressor
controllers for old
compressors and a
huge range of interface and
communication modules which
allow for simple integration of
virtually any air compressor on the
market. All models are available with
a comprehensive installation kit.
For any company looking to
reduce manufacturing cost and its
carbon footprint, compressed air
should be close to the top of the list
for positive action. Not only are large
energy savings available by using an
intelligent compressed air control
system, but pay-off periods are short,
hence installed Metacentre products
will start to make significant
contributions to the bottom line of
the business very quickly.
So how does it work? Put simply –
on any site, demand for compressed
air fluctuates and as system pressure
decays or increases in response to
that demand,Metacentre
compressor management systems
ensure that site-wide compressors
and ancillary compressed air
equipment are harnessed 'as one' to
obtain an equilibrium where
efficiency, equipment utilisation and
system pressure are in perfect
balance. Maintaining that balance in
a managed compressed air systems
represents a significant energy and
cost saving opportunity. The more
complex the compressed air system,
the greater the opportunity for
savings.
For users that require detailed
reporting and live PC based
monitoring and control for a
Metacentre management system,a
PC Visualisation package is available.
EnergAir's software provides a tailor
made and ready-to-use solution for
control, monitoring, trending,
efficiency management and
reporting of key performance
indicators.The software is available in
all language fonts that the resident
PC's operating system supports.
Anyone interested in how much
energy can be saved on a given site,
(with any combination of compressors
and duty cycles),by a new Metacentre
system can find out instantly by using
EnergAir's online calculator at
www.energair.co.uk.The calculator will
also allow users to print-off a detailed
and highly accurate report. More articles from EnergAir Solutions Ltd.: | 
