Understanding your system
Combining experience and monitoring techniques UAP can help you understand your specific demand profile and efficiency. UAP ASA (Advanced System Analytics) is a fact based and logical analysis of your compressed air system to identify areas for improvement. It can also help implement a cost effective strategy to improve efficiency and reduce air consumption.
Change behaviours
Many actions will require elements of maintenance or equipment/system upgrade, but the human element should not be overlooked. You can make substantial efficiency improvements by implementing new processes and encouraging staff to use compressed air more efficiently and safely. UAP offers consultancy and group training to highlight the importance of energy saving from the shop floor.
Specify correctly
If you are considering upgrading your existing compressed air system, BCAS recommends using one of their members. UAP have been a continuous member of BCAS since 2001 and can advise on the best equipment and system for your needs. UAP will help you analyse equipment comparisons, assessing the efficiency and reliability, to ensure the system selected provides the greatest return on investment. This could include incorporating fixed and variable-speed drives or a combination of both as well as efficient downstream equipment. Where suitable, sophisticated control systems can help proactively manage the supply of air.
Fix leaks
Reducing air leaks is the single most important energy saving measure you can make. An ongoing leak test and repair programme will save you money. Just one 3mm hole could cost over £600 a year in wasted energy. A leak survey can help you to size the issue – and to tackle the largest leaks first. UAP offer leak detection and management services, to help implement a leak repair program specific to your site.
Recover heat
As much as 95 per cent of the energy consumed by a compressor is converted to heat and, unless captured, will be wasted to the atmosphere. Many manufacturers offer heat recovery systems, which can often be retrofitted. This allows you to recycle this excess heat; re-directing the hot oil to an oil-to-water heat exchanger. UAP can offer a turnkey solution including identifying potential applications to design and install complete heat recovery systems.
Design a system
A compressed air system is just that; a system, and every element of it impacts on its energy consumption. When discussing efficiency and the potential savings that could be realised, it is important to take a full, system approach – from generation to air treatment to distribution and finally, the point of use. At UAP we recognise the importance of installing the right system for your organisation. By using our ASA and considering your specific operating practices UAP can tailor a high-performance solution that will achieve greater efficiencies and savings for your organisatation. Using the latest 3D modelling software UAP can provide a complete 3D drawing of your system design to help visualise the proposed layout.
Better system control
Reducing pressure at the point of use, switching off compressors when there is no demand for air and installing energy management systems can all help you identify wastage and take action. BCAS state that controlling your compressed air systems can really pay dividends when it comes to cutting your electricity bills. UAP can design, supply and install a full range of monitoring and control systems specifically tailored to meet your site requirements.
Air quality
Treating air to remove dirt, water and oil is necessary but can use a lot of energy. Your process is likely to only need a proportion of the compressed air to be treated to a very high purity. Whether it is food grade, pharmaceutical or breathing air UAP can assess your current air quality requirements and implement solutions that ensure you meet the correct air quality classification whilst maintaining the efficiency of the system.
Improve maintenance
BCAS believe that an effective compressed air system maintenance regime can help to lower your costs. UAP not only take into account the manufacturer recommended service frequency schedules, but we also consider carefully the operating conditions and demand profile when drafting a maintenance schedule. UAPs preventative conditioning monitoring and maintenance (PCM) is a strategy focussed on prolonging the operational life of your equipment. By combining advanced condition-based techniques along with the skill set of our experienced technicians, we can ensure that the best possible outcome is achieved when determining the overall health of your equipment.
For more information on the BCAS 10% taskforce see: https://taskforce10.bcas.org.uk/
