Industrial Utility Efficiency

Air Compressors

Best Practices 2024 EXPO & Conference Show Report

By Troy Dreier, Senior Editor, and Brooke Jones, Digital Content Editor, Compressed Air Best Practices® Magazine 

From October 29-31, 2024, professionals who operate, maintain and design industrial compressed air, vacuum, blower, nitrogen generation, process cooling and HVAC systems gathered at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, GA, for the 6th annual Best Practices 2024 EXPO & Conference. The event featured two tracks of conference presentations and panels.

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IPS Advises Midwest Industry on Compressed Air Efficiency

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

IPS supplies compressed air to a lot of machinery running outdoors, such as dust collectors and feed mills on grain elevators, as well as to other equipment in environments lower than 32°F (0°C). Temperatures that low require desiccant dryers. Hoffman helps his customers sort out their options and determine which type of desiccant dryer – heatless, heated purge, heated blower purge – is ideal for their needs.
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The Effect of Increased Storage Capacity on Load/No Load Air Compressors

By Frank A. Melch, Vice President of Sales & Marketing (ret.), Zorn Compressor & Equipment

Fixed speed, lubricated, rotary screw air compressors offer three different part-load control methods: inlet modulation, load/no load and variable displacement. Over the years, load/no load has become the predominant control method offered by fixed-speed air compressor manufacturers. 
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New ABB Super Premium Motors Bring Energy Efficiency Gains

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

SP4 motors provide the high efficiency and reliability required for air compressors which operate under demanding and variable-load conditions. The reduced energy losses and cooler operating temperatures mean a lower total cost of ownership for manufacturers. Additionally, the NEMA Super Premium efficiency level ensures compliance with stringent energy regulations, making this a future-proof investment.
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New DOE Air Compressor Regulations

By Bruce McFee, President, Sullivan-Palatek

The U.S. Department of Energy has initiated the efficiency regulation of oil-flooded rotary air compressors. This has the potential to cause a big change for the air compressor industry, as models from 35-1,250 cfm with pressures ranging from 75-200 psi (5.2-13.8 bar) will need to meet a minimum isentropic efficiency. 
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Compressed Air Scoping Tool Teaches Energy Efficiency Best Practices

By Alex Botts, R&D Associate, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Department of Energy’s Better Plants program created the Compressed Air Scoping Tool with the most up-to-date best practices in the industry. It can be used as a nonbiased, one-stop shop for best practice recommendations. The Excel-based tool is designed to be an initial step in understanding the operation of a compressed air system, a baselining tool enabling users to comprehend various aspects of a facility’s system from the production of compressed air to its application by end users. 
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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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Best Practices 2024 EXPO & Conference: Day 2 Highlights

By Troy Dreier and Brooke Jones, Compressed Air Best Practices® Magazine

Day 2 of the Best Practices 2024 EXPO & Conference began with high-level learning sessions. For some attendees, the most important session of the conference was the expert panel on designing compressed air systems compliant with the ASHRAE 90.1 standard, which now includes compressed air systems.
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Best Practices 2024 EXPO & Conference: Day 1 Highlights

By Troy Dreier and Brooke Jones, Compressed Air Best Practices® Magazine

Day 1 of the Best Practices 2024 EXPO & Conference saw the annual event’s highest attendance yet, with a record number of manufacturing plants, distributors and engineering firms. The event started yesterday, October 29th, at the Cobb Galleria in Atlanta, GA, and runs until Thursday.
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4 Tips for Selecting a Compressed Air System Provider

By Paul Edwards, President, Compressed Air Consultants, and Mauricio Uribe, Head, European Operations, Compressed Air Consultants

An air compressor, no matter its renown, is merely one leg of a four-legged stool. To stay upright, to support your business effectively, it needs the stability provided by the other three legs: system design, service provider and manufacturer. Overlook one in favor of brand and you add risk. 
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IWF 2024 Highlights Compressed Air and Vacuum Systems for Woodworkers

By Troy Dreier, Compressed Air Best Practices® Magazine 

In early August, the International Woodworking Fair (IWF) took place in Atlanta, Georgia, bringing together woodworking companies of all sizes to promote new and innovative technologies. In all, 26,000 attendees visited with nearly 1,100 exhibitors. Air compressor system companies were in attendance, as their products are widely used to power hand tools or apply spray finishings. Likewise, the top vacuum pump manufacturers were there to talk to OEMs about integrating their products in CNC router boards, and to talk to business owners about upgrading the vacuum pumps that came with their CNC router boards. 
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