Quest for greater energy efficiency
July 01st 2010 Welcome to the 2010/11 edition of airUser – Your Guide to Air Powered Systems. It is the official journal of the British Compressed Air Society and provides a wealth of information for users, distributors and manufacturers of compressed air equipment.
This is the fourteenth edition of AirUser and, while its longevity is testament to the esteem with which it is held in the industry, a mere 14 years fades into insignificance alongside the achievement of the British Compressed Air Society which, this year, celebrates its 80th anniversary and still has a few of its original member companies, albeit under a different name or ownership.
In the foreword to this guide, Martin Wright, president of BCAS, touches briefly on the changes the organisation has gone through. Chris Dee, executive director, expands on these in a two-page article that charts the development of BCAS since its formation in 1930.
Still on a historical note, Colin Mander of CompAir UK outlines some of the technological developments that have occurred in the compressed air industry over the last 80 years.
Back to the present and David Burton comments on what he believes are the key concerns for compressed air users trying to maximise efficiency in the challenging economic climate of 2010 – investment costs and running costs. Reducing energy consumption is a high priority for most companies today and, not surprisingly, is a recurrent theme throughout the guide.
Andy Jones of Mattei explains the benefits of datalogging: it can help identify whether there is a variable need for compressed air and can be used to influence the decision on whether or not to invest in new equipment.
The Carbon Trust’s 0% business loan scheme is still available to help companies with the purchase of new, energy-saving equipment. However, the eligibility criteria have changed. Chris Dee of BCAS provides an update.
The Carbon Trust will not approve a loan unless it is sure that energy savings are achievable. AirUser features a case study that outlines how Astrum in Durham has secured a prestigious £400,000 loan. Teseo Air Systems’ aluminium extruded piping played a key role in helping the company satisfy its energy efficiency requirements.
Energy features in an article by Richard Moore at Parker’s domnick hunter industrial division. He focuses on a new generation of energy efficient air dryers that allow businesses to cut operating costs and remain environmentally responsible while providing high quality compressed air.
It’s energy again in a filtration article contributed by Donaldson. The company makes the point that while filtration technology plays a critical role in the purification of compressed air, it is also an area where significant energy saving potential exists.
For anyone wanting more information on energy matters, The Energy Event 2010 takes place on the 8th and 9th September at the Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham and focuses on energy management, efficiency and procurement. AirUser’s preview page has details of the topical seminars which are combined with an extensive exhibition.
While energy issues seem to dominate a company’s agenda, health and safety remains a key issue. With the Government-instigated review into health and safety underway, Greg Bordiak at BCAS reviews current legislation and suggests that while, on the whole, it is beneficial, where it falls down is when it is over-zealously applied.
In the Guide’s maintenance and lubrication section, we have an article from Beko technologies on an alternative method of producing oil-free compressed air using a Bekomat system based on the catalytic converter method. The first unit to be installed is in a food factory in Yorkshire and has been running for more than year with zero maintenance costs.
Maintenance, of course, remains key to ensuring efficient production with minimum downtime. Cutting corners may prove very expensive as an article by Atlas Copco on the benefits of specialist distributors highlights. A Cambridgeshire manufacturing company moved its fixed price preventative maintenance contract for compressors to a company offering to do it for half the price of the specialist distributor. A recurring fault then cost the company £17,000 plus six days lost production. Eventually, the specialist distributor was called back and found a relatively straightforward problem that a trained person would have rectified immediately.
So, how can you be sure the company you are dealing with is reputable? BCAS offers a solution in the form of its AirSAFE Register. Working with Referenceline, it developed an online customer satisfaction programme. All BCAS members are listed, together with the views (good and bad) of existing customers. This represents just one of the many projects initiated by BCAS over its 80 year history to help its members in their day-to-day activities.
We hope that AirUser 2010/11 will prove a useful reference tool – both for sourcing equipment and services and for advice on helping you to run your systems as safely, reliably and energy efficiently as possible. Quest for greater energy efficiency
Val Kealey - Editor
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