Good device communication can improve maintenance and energy efficiency
November 1st 2007

Good device communication can improve Control of compressors is as important as having the right compressor in the first place. Alec Elliot, UK service director from CompAir spoke to Tim McManan-Smith about how machine to machine communication devices can aid maintenance and efficiency.

There are a variety of levels of compressor control depending on the customer's needs such as electro-mechanical control of machinery, cascade systems and pressure switches. CompAir's Smartair system for instance is able to operate a group of compressors in a master/slave configuration using modbus. This enables the machines to be cut in and out as and when they are needed. If the master fails then it will allow the compressor to revert to its own integral control system.

The SmartAir system deals with parameters such as set-up pressure, order of start-up and so on. A compressor is able to be up and running to maximum pressure within 12s. The system looks at the rate of rise and fall of pressure demanded by the system. The intelligence in the system enables it to calculate trends and compare against similar scenarios.

Naturally sites can be monitored remotely, with alarms sent by SMS to an engineer's mobile phone. "In the future, systems will be web-based, where a compressor will have its own website for monitoring," comments Elliot.

With regard to communication between separate devices Elliot says that there are "interface boards that change the language for compatibility. There is always a way around the problem of noncompatibility, but it begs the question when will a truly common language come about? It's individual manufacturers bloody mindedness. That's the goal, to have one common platform."

Data taken from the compressors can be utilised for the purposes of condition monitoring. For instance, if the air/oil temperature rises and the ambient temperature is known then it could indicate that the filter is blocking up prematurely.

The use of such information allows routine maintenance procedures to be cut down, freeing up time for the in-house staff.

To achieve efficiency when running a compressed air system in both maintenance and energy requires control. The easier it is to achieve the more likely people are to implement efficient processes.

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