Profit from thin air
April 1st 2008 Compressed air is a versatile source of energy, but one which is often taken for
granted. Its versatility can often lead to inefficient use and it is a very expensive
energy source to be wasting.Tim Sparkes of Maxaura talks about how
management can address these issues
As managers we have all
read the stories and seen
the figures, compressed air
can easily account for over 15% of
your factory energy costs and it is
one of the few power sources that
are generated on a 'users' site.Thus it
is, or should be one cost centre that
can be directly influenced by the
sites facilities management.
So why isn't better attention paid
to this potentially huge cost centre?
There are perhaps many reasons' the
obvious one, it must be said, is a lack
of awareness of the magnitude of
potential savings.Unfortunately the
compressors and their associated
equipment are viewed a bit like the
factory cat, it is always around, they
serve a purpose and demand
little…they have merged into the
every day familiar fabric of the work
place.
Unlike the factory cat, the
compressors consume considerable
amounts of food and unlike the cat
there are no visible signs that things
are going wrong. Our experience at
Maxaura indicates that the majority
of systems tend to evolve over their
lifetime and it is this very evolution
that contributes to the various facets
of inefficiency.
Compressed air efficiency is
therefore something that should be
high up the list of management
priorities. So how can this 'priority'
best be addressed?
Internal measures such as
reporting and rectifying air leaks are
a good start. Most compressor
manufacturers now offer a 'black box'
monitoring facility which will record
the load pattern of your compressors
and give you an appreciation of how
much this 'versatile'energy source is
costing you to generate.
However, this is only a small part of
the story. A review of your
production techniques is the first and
most important factor in any audit. Is
compressed air being used to its
maximum efficiency, can its use be
reduced or eliminated? Is it being
delivered to where it is needed
effectively, at the correct volume,
pressure and quality? These are the
first questions asked by specialist
compressed air auditor's Maxaura.
Yes, the efficiency of generation
equipment is important but let's start
by assessing how much air is actually
needed to fulfil your production
needs. Reduce this and the savings,
typically 23-42% will soon follow.
For further information on how
Maxaura's efficiency audit service can
benefit your company enquire below: | 
