A new dawn on efficiency

BCAS was established in 1930, at the request of UK government, with the intention to promote the use of safe and reliable power, as well as to help members to develop both their own professional competencies and to share business experiences. As part of its structure BCAS has various permanent committees, of which there are currently five open to BCAS members: 

•   Compressors & Vacuum 

•   Industrial & Contractors Tools 

•   Pneumatic Control & Air Treatment 

•   Distributors 

•   Education & Training 

Focusing in on the Compressors and Vacuum committee, it is a forum for manufacturer members to discuss technical issues, legislation and standards relating to the manufacture of compressors, blowers and vacuum pumps. While the format and frequency of the meetings has changed over the last few decades its purpose to inform and to share information remains the same. In November 2011, I was appointed a member of the BCAS board with the brief to set about rejuvenating this committee which I now chair. 

Following its re-launch in April 2012, the committee now meets every six months and there has been a positive increase in attendance during this time. The committee has also evolved and following an expression from members, a new working group for blowers and low pressure applications has been established. The first of these meetings was held in April 2013 and was chaired by Matthew Morey, managing director of Aerzen Machines. 

Commenting on the newly formed blowers and low pressure working group, Matthew Morey said: "Of all compressors sold each year, low pressure systems and blowers make up a significant percentage of total machine sales, yet a detailed knowledge of them and their applications within the wider market is weak. Low pressure products – those below 4 barG – have an equally important part to play in delivering energy efficient air to users.

"As chair of the group, it is my remit to oversee the implementation of a programme to boost awareness and understanding of low pressure products and encourage more people within the industry to specify them in applications where they would be more suitable. 

"It is not uncommon for us to see high pressure compressors used for low pressure duties with excess pressurised air vented away to atmosphere in an entirely wasteful exercise.

Not only is this a waste of energy to initially compress the air to levels higher than are required but along with that come issues of increased maintenance and installed power as well as a higher overall capital cost.

"Blowers differ greatly from high pressure compressors in that they are designed to deliver high volumes at low pressure in an oil-free design. This includes positive displacement rotary lobe machines, low pressure single stage screw compressors and the new ‘hybrid screw-blowers’ on the market designed to discharge at pressures around 1.5 barG or lower in an energy efficient way. 

"With the implementation of the ISO 11011 standard expected later this year, the time is right to highlight the need for the compressed air industry to better understand the products available and provide solutions that match the requirements of applications and users.   

"What the compressed air industry really needs to establish is a coherent offering to customers, supported by a strong network of trust, understanding and cross-referral, to ensure that product recommendations are made on the basis of what is right for the application and what is in the best interests of the client to maximise energy and cost savings.”