Setting the standard for environmentally responsible yet profitable operations
18/04/2011 Parker domnick hunter
Richard Moore, Marketing Services Manager for Parker Hannifin's domnick hunter Industrial Division, looks at how the requirements of ISO 14001 are affecting compressed air users and explains the steps that can be taken to ensure compressed air systems function at maximum efficiency.First published in 1996, ISO 14001 is rapidly becoming an established standard, often being seen as the cornerstone of the ISO 14000 series, and, increasingly, is being stipulated as a requirement by many companies when choosing suppliers. Specifying the necessary elements for implementing, maintaining or improving an environmental management system (EMS), this benchmark has been introduced to help organisations ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations by minimising the negative effects that their operations have on the environment.
Similar to the quality management standard ISO 9000, ISO 14001 pertains to the process of how a product is manufactured, as opposed to the finished product itself. Although it covers many different aspects of environmental control, including policies, planning and implementation of objectives, system monitoring and the reduction of waste energy, its ultimate goal is to prevent adverse changes in air, water and land quality.
This standard is applicable to a diverse range of organisations in the process and control industries wishing to operate in an environmentally responsible manner, while complying with their own internal policies in addition to governmental laws and regulations. For the many that use compressed air in their facilities, one of ISO 14001's focal requirements is the disposal of condensate, and as such it gives guidance for the safe and responsible removal of this unwanted by-product.
However, the disposal of condensate has not always been straightforward, particularly due to the rate at which it can accumulate. For example, even a small 2.83 m³/min compressor and refrigeration dryer package running for 4,000 hours can produce over 10,160 litres (2,235 UK galls) of this oily and acidic mixture, with this volume increasing significantly with larger compressors and in warm and humid climates. This rate of production means that compressed air users are left with a substantial volume of condensate to dispose of if they are to avoid the rapid wear it causes in tools and pneumatic machinery, blocking valves and orifices, and the corrosion it leads to in piping, which can often result in high maintenance costs and spoiled end products, as well as to eliminate the effect it can have on the environment.
The problem is made all the more significant by the fact that it is also prohibited to dispose of condensate in public drains. As a result, condensate has traditionally been stored on site and then periodically removed by specialist contractors. However, the cost of this mode of disposal has risen dramatically in recent years, mainly due to the need for expensive containment vessels and increasingly complex procedures, leading many companies to seek alternative and much more cost effective options.
One method that is proving particularly favourable is the use of oil/water separators. These devices are installed as part of the compressed air system and reduce the oil concentration in the discharged condensate to an acceptable level, allowing a large volume of clean water, sometimes as much as 99.9% of the total condensate, to be discharged safely into the foul sewer. The remaining small volume of concentrated oil is then disposed of economically at a much lower cost than was previously possible.
There are, however, a number of factors to be considered when adopting such a method of disposal. For example, it is important to understand the concentration level of oily condensate that can be legally discharged. Legislation around the world varies from country to country and even sometimes between different local governing bodies within a particular area. As a result, it is vital to contact the appropriate authorities to determine the permitted discharge limit, but as a general point, oil in water levels of around 25mg/l or less is typically the norm.
To help meet the various global requirements of oil in water limits the latest separators have been developed to achieve extremely low levels, with this often being independently verified by the local public analyst. For example, Parker domnick hunter's ES2000 series of oil/water separators can be selected to provide a maximum outlet of 25mg/l and down to as little as 5mg/l of oil in water.
It is also essential to understand and manage the various factors that can affect the quality of water from an oil/water separator. For example, the ambient temperature and relative humidity at the installation, the compressor and lubricant used, system pressure and drainage method, as well as the inclusion of a refrigeration dryer in the system, can all have a dramatic impact on the level of oil in water. Accordingly, it is vital to take this climatic and system data into consideration when specifying a product if you are to achieve optimum performance. It is also essential to carry out regular monitoring of the outlet water once the oil/water separator has been installed to ensure that replacement adsorption filters can be fitted before permitted limits are exceeded.
Seen as a natural progression from ISO 9000 standards, compliance with ISO 14001 is now commonplace, with more and more companies conforming to the standard in order to remain competitive in the marketplace. Indeed, the implementation of this standard does a lot to improve an organisation's corporate image by demonstrating its commitment to environmental concerns, something which many people are now demanding when selecting suppliers. Just as importantly, it is also helping businesses realise other significant commercial benefits, including reductions in the cost of waste management, as well as savings in energy consumption and raw material expenses, translating to improved profitability.
For more information, visit the company's web site at www.domnickhunter.com
Parker Hannifin Ltd, domnick hunter Industrial Division
Dukesway, Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear,
NE11 0PZ, England. Phone +44 (0)191 4029000, Fax +44 (0) 191 482 6296
Email: dhindsales@parker.com
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