5. Select the right compressor
It is important to invest in the right compressor when replacing equipment or buying new.
Research the best technology which fits your application, pressure and capacity needs. But you can also consider what suits your energy savings strategy.
Fixed speed compressors produce a fixed amount of compressed air per minute. The design ‘runs on’ in an ‘unloaded’ condition after the air pressure has been reached. It’s very rare that the amount of compressed air generated matches the need exactly. So the compressor will be frequently turning over. In an unloaded condition, the air compressor is still using between 25% and 50% of the energy it is using when creating compressed air.
Variable speed compressors rotate more slowly, produce less air and absorb less energy. The air compressor slows its rotation speed to produce exactly the amount of compressed air used by the downstream equipment. This means it doesn’t have to run unloaded and saves significant amounts of energy.
On average a variable speed compressor will save 30% of the energy used by a fixed speed, especially when not running permanently at full load.
There are many cost-saving practices you can build into your business plan and maintenance schedule. The larger your compressed air system, the greater the opportunity for cutting costs can be.