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Renew Energy Partners Fixes Variable Demand on a Large Campus

By Troy Dreier, Senior Editor, Compressed Air Best Practices® Magazine

An aerospace manufacturer worked with Renew Energy Partners to address energy waste caused by variable compressed air demand across a 30-building campus. By upgrading to a variable-speed drive compressor, repairing leaks, and improving air drying under an energy-as-a-service model, the project reduced energy use by more than 270,000 kWh annually while supporting long-term decarbonization goals.

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Sizing Compressed Air Piping to Manage Pressure, Flow and Velocity

By Ryan Freymuller, Sales Director, Manufacturers Distributor, Inc.

Efficient compressed air distribution depends on proper piping design to balance flow, pressure and velocity. This article explains how modular aluminum piping systems improve performance by reducing friction, minimizing pressure drop and maintaining laminar flow. With smooth interiors, full-bore fittings and leak-free connections, these systems help lower energy consumption and extend equipment life. A real-world case study shows how an optimized design reduced material and installation costs while maintaining performance. The result is a more adaptable, efficient and reliable compressed air network for modern industrial facilities.
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Aeronautics Giant Evaluates Oil-Free and Oil-Flooded Air Compressors

By Troy Dreier, Senior Editor, Compressed Air Best Practices® Magazine

A leading aerospace engineering firm, sought a quote for a compressed air system for its new manufacturing plant. This firm, which already operates seven existing systems across its campus, was planning its eighth and turned to its longtime partner for a solution.
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Remote Monitoring Takes Off for Aerospace Manufacturer

By Nicolas De Deken, President, ENERGAIR

In the absence of the control system, the air compressors were loading and unloading according to pre-set pressure bands, which forced the system to operate at higher pressures and run inefficient combinations of compressors in order to effectively match air demand. When switched on, irrespective of air demand, the control system was able to control all compressors on a single, tight pressure band and efficiently match output with demand.
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New York City Transit Authority Reduces Energy Use with Compressed Air Heat Recovery System

By Bruce Williams, HydroThrift Corporation

When the New York City Transit Authority (NYCT) set out to comply with local regulations calling for reductions in energy usage, it leveraged new air compressors for use in transit bus maintenance and repair – and took things to another level by recovering air compressor waste heat to provide hot potable water for the bus depot. The air compressor and heat recovery system, installed in spring 2017, is on its way to helping NYCT achieve the best energy savings possible.
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Power Supply Industries Helps Alton & Southern Get Back on Track

By Compressed Air Best Practices® Magazine

Their job is to brake the cars by gripping the wheels. They are operated either pneumatically or hydraulically, with Alton & Southern Railway’s system using the former. Considering much of Alton & Southern Railway’s compressed air piping system dated back to its 1960’s installation date, there were leaks. As of 2012, it was determined one and a half compressors were running at 100% capacity just to maintain leaks. This equated to about 1,500 cfm at a cost of roughly $180,000 in electricity annually.
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ELGi Compressors USA at HAECO Americas

By Compressed Air Best Practices® Magazine

In aerospace manufacturing, tiny details matter most. For instance, if proper torque is not applied to the screws and bolts fastening an aircraft fuselage, catastrophic failures can result. Compressed air is used to power the tools needed to apply that torque, making the compressed air system a critical part of the facility, though it largely stays behind the scene.
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Boeing Canada Winnipeg Recognized for Compressed Air Project

By Ron Marshall for Compressed Air Challenge®

Boeing Canada Winnipeg (BCW) has been recognized with the best improvement project of 2013 within the Boeing enterprise worldwide. A cross-functional project team including BCW staff, Manitoba Hydro technical support, and design engineers from Alliance Engineering Services, Inc. used innovative high-pressure storage to reduce the required size of their air compressors and save substantial utility energy and demand charges.
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Natural Gas Dehydration and Conditioning for NGV Refueling and Field Gas Upgrading

By Kurt Sorschak (President and CEO) and Guy Couturier (Applications Manager) from Xebec Adsorption, Inc.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is an alternative fuel source (to diesel and gasoline) with far-reaching benefits to North America. Strategically important benefits include energy independence, improved air quality, job creation, and lower and more stable fuel prices. This article discusses natural gas desiccant dryer requirements in Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) refueling stations, compares deliquescent to desiccant dryers and reviews two on-site field gas upgrading examples in displacing diesel fuel.
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Smith Electric Trucks Complement CNG

Compressed Air Best Practices® Magazine interviewed Bryan Hansel (CEO), and Edward Anculle, (Associate Mechanical Engineer - R&D) of Smith Electric Vehicles.

Smith is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of all-electric commercial vehicles, which are zero-emission and less expensive to own and operate when compared with traditional diesel trucks. The company produces trucks for multiple industries, including food & beverage, utility, telecommunications, retail, grocery, parcel and postal delivery, school transportation, military and government. Smith’s customers include many of the world’s largest fleet operators, including PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division, FedEx, Staples, TNT, Sainsbury’s, Coca-Cola, DHL, and the U.S. Military.
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Universal Air & Gas Products Engineers NGV Refueling Stations

Compressed Air Best Practices® Magazine interviewed Kurt Kondas (President), Steve Davis (VP Sales), and John Haslam (Branch Manager - Charlotte) from Universal Air & Gas Products Corporation.

When a submarine docks for maintenance, the Navy requires a high-pressure, dockside, pier-power air compressor ready to be used in an explosion-proof environment. We have technicians working on military ships and submarines worldwide. For this, both UAPC and some of our technicians have been prequalified and have different secrecy clearances depending upon the project. In addition to our rental air compressors, we also have a fleet of CNG compressors available for long-term rent for the CNG refueling market.
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How to Avoid the Most Common Bus/Coach Kneeling Failures

By Paxton Augustine, Product Marketing Manager, Parker Hannifin Corporation

Kneeling modules are quickly becoming the centerpiece of accessible vehicle equipment. This trend began with passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1991. Prior to the ADA, about 40% of all transportation vehicles were accessible to persons with disabilities.
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Audit of Transit-Bus Manufacturing

By Ron Marshall, CET, CIM, Manitoba Hydro

New Flyer Industries is a Winnipeg based heavy duty bus manufacturer, supplying vehicles to the US and Canadian markets. The company specializes in vehicles with†alternative-fuel drives such as electric trolleys, gasoline-electric and diesel-electric hybrid vehicles; as well as standard diesel buses.
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Audit Savings for Motor Coach Industries

By Ron Marshall for the Compressed Air Challenge®

Motor Coach Industries, headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois, is the largest manufacturer of intercity tour coaches for the tour, charter, line-haul, scheduled service, commuter transit and conversion markets in the U.S. and Canada. The company operates a four screw-type air compressor system at its Clarence Avenue plant in Winnipeg. To maintain adequate system pressure at the plant, Motor Coach was forced to run all four compressors 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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Class Zero Air Measures Race Car Performance

By Rod Smith, Compressed Air Best Practices® Magazine

A four thousand, five hundred and fifty pound (4550 lbs.) race car is running at 170 mph and facing wind resistance of 150 mph. The car then enters a curve creating a three-degree “yaw” (the change in angle from the direction the car is headed and the airstream). The car struggles to maintain speed as the yaw changes and the dynamic downforce load on the car changes. Suddenly, the driver-less car comes to a stop on the stainless-steel track...
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