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That around 10% of the world’s energy is used for compressing gas is a remarkable fact, especially considering saving energy has never been more important. On the one hand, because energy prices are extremely high in many parts of the world, saving energy importantly saves money. On the other hand, saving energy is the right thing to do for the environment.
Below are seven recommendations on cutting energy use when compressing gas.
1. The Atlas Copco Gas and Process Aftermarket Solutions team estimates that compressors have an average efficiency improvement potential of 10%. This might not seem much, but the results quickly add up. Therefore, it’s important to frequently evaluate your system and plant requirements for over-capacity and other potential savings.
2. Up to 5% of compressor energy is lost via blow-off-losses that are down to small but increased leaks within your machinery. Think of it as money vanishing into the air. Eliminate gas leakages and losses and make constant monitoring a top priority.
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3. Make full use of what you have, such as combining two independent processes. Don´t waste your pressure let-down applications potential. Expanding pressure is a great energy source if combined with compressors – no matter if the source is small or large: every kW counts when saving energy.
4. Optimize your compressor environment by making sure that you run your compressors in clean, cool, and well-ventilated environments. Keep room air free from dust and moisture contamination to minimize aftercooler, dryer and filter treatment. For every reduction of 5°C in ambient temperature, you can achieve energy savings of 1.5%.
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5. Perform regular preventative maintenance, regular check-ups and energy audits to not only extend the lifespan of compressor and expander equipment but also improve efficiencies. Maintenance optimizes the performance of the entire system, reducing the amount of energy consumed. A great example is periodic inspections and regularly replacing wearing parts to reduce leaks.
6. Compressing gas not only consumes a lot of energy, but it also generates a lot of (normally waste) heat. Recover heat by reusing the power consumed during the compression process for applications, such as heating water, replacing furnaces or in drying processes, greatly reducing energy bills. Simply connecting the intercooler water outlet or the compressor discharge to a heating system in winter is a great example.
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7. Compressors require power so try to use green energy, whether through solar panels or wind turbines, to power your production (this recommendation is obviously not limited to your compressor equipment). And as with all of the above, using green energy is not just a sensible investment, it lowers costs in the long run and reduces CO2 output.
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