Compressed Air Piping Materials Require Careful Installation and Maintenance

Proper installation and maintenance are essential when it comes to compressed air piping design applications. Working with a knowledgable provider can ensure that you are getting the most for your money. Given that so many businesses use compressed air piping design in at least someway, it should come as no surprise that they are many providers. The best in the business, however, understand the basics and the most advanced uses of this technology:

• 70% of manufacturers have some kind of compressed air distribution system.
• Air compressor piping systems leaks can be costly. In fact, even a 1/8 inch diameter hole in a 100 psi system can cost a company as much as $1,200 a year in wasted energy. Because of this cost, it is worth the cost and time of maintenance to fix all sizable leaks.
• 80% to 90% of the electrical energy used by an air compressor is actually converted to heat.
• The most efficient heat recovery units can recover 50% to 90% of this heat for heating water or air.
• 50% of compressed air systems at small to medium sized industrial facilities have low cost energy conservation risks, according to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) energy audits.
• Properly designed systems will have less than 10% of the compressor?s discharge pressure. These numbers are determined and measured by a gage on the compressor outlet.
• Compressed air system that do not have an air receiver tank should have one added to buffer short-term demand changes and reduce the on and off compressor cycling. Tank size is determined by the power needed for the compressor. For example, a 50 horse power air compressor needs approximately a 50-gallon air receiver tank.

It is often difficult to determine and to budget for energy costs in today’s changing economy. What can be determined, however, is the efficiency of a manufacturing company’s compressed air piping design products. Making sure that these systems are properly installed and maintained can provide a substantial savings to companies of all size. The fact that as many as 70% of all manufacturing plants make use of this technology in some way means that efficient use of compressed air piping design technology benefits many aspects of the American economy.