Mattei urges specifiers to take advice from compressor specialists to improve energy efficiency
22/04/2013 Mattei Compressors Ltd
When it comes to ensuring that a new compressor installation is as energy efficient as possible, Mattei recommends seeking the advice of a compressed air specialist. General manager Andy Jones says:"With energy prices remaining volatile and carbon reduction targets being critical, energy efficiency is a top priority for manufacturers. However, not all businesses realise that compressors can have a big impact on their utility bills and carbon emissions.
"Some businesses have a misconception that compressed air is 'free' once they have invested in the equipment, but the main cost will always be the energy required to produce the compressed air, with the initial purchase price actually making up a very small part of the total lifetime costs of a compressor.
"Unfortunately this is frequently overlooked during the specification process, because very often the person responsible for specifying the machine is not a compressor specialist.
"Time and time again we see purchasing decisions being made not on actual requirements, but on a like-for-like replacement basis, or on the recommendation of a general consultant who is not actually experienced in compressor technology.
"And because the purchaser - or one of their general consultants - believes they already know what they need, we often find specifications being written incorrectly. Sometimes this is based around a specific manufacturer's compressor, or what is already in place.
"Compressed air users should be aware that this approach can result in an unsuitable compressor being selected, which won't be efficient for the application in question.
"Replacing like-for-like doesn't mean the new compressor will be automatically right; it could be that a business has had an inefficient system for some time, either because of process or production changes or simply because it was wrongly specified in the first place. We recently found that one company running a 75kW compressor could actually fulfil its compressed air requirements with a 45kW machine, with estimated savings being in the region of £10,000 a year.
"We also see variable speed compressors being purchased when fixed speed machines would be more appropriate, and costly 'oil-free' and 'class zero' air being specified without legitimate reason.
"Compressor specialists don't even need huge amounts of information to determine what equipment is required. For example, to make a recommendation on an existing system, all Mattei may require is a basic site audit, an air usage figure (which can be obtained through a seven-day data logging exercise) and the class of air required in accordance with ISO 8573-1:2010.
"Replacing a compressor presents an ideal opportunity to improve energy efficiency - so we would strongly urge businesses to seek the advice of a specialist and where possible invest in a data logging exercise before a detailed specification is written."
As well as offering a range of energy efficient compressors, Mattei aims to raise awareness about related, cost-effective services that could improve efficiency without the need to finance a new compressor. For further information visit www.mattei.co.uk or call 01789 450577.
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