If you are looking for ways to cut your compressed air energy usage and costs...here
are seven very effective and relatively easy steps you can take to bring more profit to the bottom line.
1. Find and fix your air leaks
A small leak - no larger than 1/16" can cost an extra $523 a year.* Add a few other small leaks here and there until you have leaks equal to a 1/4" opening...and now that "small leak" can cost you over $8,000 a year.* It is easy to see that what seems like a small leak comes with a very high price tag over time.
Click here to see how to estimate what percent of your CFMs are air leaks.
*Costs calculated using electricity rate of $0.05 per kilowatt-hour, assuming constant operation and an efficient compressor.
2. Lower Air Pressure
A 2 psig change in pressure equals 1% change in horsepower.
Click here to see a chart for AIR FLOW THROUGH ORIFICES and see how dropping pressure can change the amount of CFM used and youll save all that energy needed to make that CFM. Check to see what CFM your equipment actually needs to run efficiently and adjust your pressure to save energy yet still provide the CFM required.
3. Use Synthetic Air Compressor Oil and you can reduce AMP draw an average of 8%.
4. Turn off your air compressor when it is not in use.
This seems pretty obviousbut not often followed in many cases. When your air compressor is not running you will be saving energy!
5. Eliminate any compressed air flow restriction
Make sure your air line filters are clean.
Make sure your piping is not too small.
6. Use ZERO AIR LOSS DRAINS
This prevents wasting compressed air
7. Keep compressor inlet filter clean
If your Compressor cannot suck in air- then it cannot blow out the air you need.