Energy saving is 'centred' on compressed air
January 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 printoff
a detailed and highly accurate report. More articles from EnergAir Solutions Ltd.: | 
