Hello! My name is Rob and I live in a small town which is located about 50 miles outside of Sydney. Now and again, I like to visit my brother who works at an industrial plant in the city. When I visit him, my brother lets me into his office and gives me tours around the plant. They produce all kinds of cool things using the tools they have there. However, I recently learnt they didn't always own the things they needed to complete the job and would instead hire them. I learnt all kinds of cool things about hiring industrial equipment. Although I don't work in the industry, I wanted to share what I had learnt with the rest of the world.
A compressor is vitally important to the overall industrial chilling system. That said, compressed air, commonly known as the fourth utility, is one of the most expensive utilities in any industrial plant. As such, efficiency of the system shouldn't be ignored because a poorly looked after compressor will produce poor performance and cost you more money to run and drive operations. To help keep your air compressor in top shape, consider the following two key steps involved in the process.
Monitor Energy Use
When working with an air compressor system, what you and your employees don't know will hurt you. The last thing you want is to learn the huge amount of money you are using to run your system and how little mechanical energy you are receiving in return for your expenditure. Compressors consume a big chunk of electrical energy to keep your industrial chilling system running. Some type of measurement system to monitor said consumption will tell you how efficient your system is. You want to measure the amount of power that goes into your compressor per given flow of compressed air out. A better understanding of energy use and output will help you identify excessive energy use and variation in system efficiency, and you will be able to determine which compressor or compressors are satisfying demand.
Perform Compressor System Overhaul
Air compressors are designed to run non-stop for years on end. This form of continuous use leads to the wear of crucial internal parts, affecting flow rates, energy costs and output. As such, your air compressor will need to be overhauled to prevent impending failure. Compressor overhauls usually entail inspection and replacement of worn-out parts, such as pistons, liners, rods, and bearings. A rebuild approach to overhauling is usually a good preference because the overhaul takes place at the compressor's site. Typically, an overhaul should occur after operating your compressor for a number of years or hours as specified by your user manual. Depending on your specific circumstances, a compressor overhaul will include checking discharge pressure and vibrations levels and inspecting for leaks. A successful overhaul should restore your compressor's rated capacity to meet equipment standards and ability to discharge pressure with 'as new' efficiency. Make sure to test your compressor after an overhaul to guarantee it meets original quality benchmarks.
In a current industrial climate where reliability, complete availability, and efficiency are key attributes of operator demand, you should make sure that you extend the life of your compressor through proper maintenance and overhauls when necessary.