Air Audits

A compressed air audit is an effective way to assess the efficiency of your system, identify your current energy usage and assess your compressed air requirements.

A data-logging unit is fixed to each compressor in your network for a set period, typically at least a week, once an initial inspection is carried out. The results of this logging will analyse your air pressure needs, flow rate and power consumption. This helps you to choose the right size and blend of fixed and regulated-speed compressors. The results can also be used to advise you on how to reduce leaks and save money. Compressed air audits make sure that your compressor network is running to its full potential.

Air systems have a supply side and a demand side. For optimum performance, we want the supply side compressors to produce and store air at the highest necessary pressure. On the demand side, we want to run at the lowest effective pressure on each process. A good compressed air management program looks at the entire system. It recognises interconnectivity to optimise compressed air energy cost to the corresponding productivity. Every aspect of the compressed air system needs to be checked to ensure all complications are identified – leaks, dust collection, rust, equipment misuse, poor piping and pressure issues. A comprehensive approach analyses the complete system from inlet filtration to point of use. If you follow the recommendations from the audit, then it can show a quick return on investment.

A frequently asked question is; “Is it important to conduct both a supply-side and a demand-side air audit?” In simple terms the answer is “yes”. A full system audit usually includes a range of in-depth audits on the various parts of the compressor system, from air measurement of the compressed air system demand to leak detection and air quality assessment. When inefficiencies are discovered and corrected on the supply side, the performance on the demand side can be better evaluated to make sure the system has the correct sized compressors to match the demand, as we mentioned earlier. Then, once corrections are made on the demand side, real savings can be realised.

So, in addition to optimising the efficiency of your system an air audit can save money, by reducing your energy consumption, trying to maintain the operation of an inefficient system. This in turn will lower your carbon footprint, often a requirement of your customers in an environmentally conscious time and prolong the lifespan of your equipment. To book an air audit with Harrier Pneumatics, please get in touch.

Categorised in: Uncategorized

This post was written by Harrier Pneumatics