Joint approach to air issues

Experts from Atlas Copco will help Maintec visitors identify and protect against common causes of performance loss, not only with regard to the compressor itself but throughout the compressed air system, including the pipework. Among the products displayed on the stand will be AIRnet piping, which is designed to minimise pressure drop and is resistant to the corrosion that can cause leakages in older piping.

Leakages are the biggest source of energy waste in compressed air systems, with a leakage point as small as 5mm costing an estimated £3800 in wasted energy over the course of a full year.

Energy efficiency is also an important facet of ongoing maintenance and compressed air users can benefit from an EPC assessment or a more detailed AIRscan audit to help ensure the six stages of optimisation are followed on an ongoing basis. Following the completion of the AIRScan audit, customers are provided with a detailed report that recommends system improvements. These can include replacement of equipment, detection and repair of leakages, improved control of pressure levels and closer alignment of output with demand. Furthermore, SmartLink technology enables remote monitoring of compressor performance, with real-time data transmitted to a PC or mobile device.

Overall energy costs can be further reduced with the adoption of compressor energy recovery, whereby excess thermal energy from the compressor system is recovered and reused in other manufacturing processes, or for general heating and hot water purposes within the building. Stand M10G.