Once you have the size of the air compressor figured out, the next thing to do is to decide on the type of compresor you will need for your
application - piston, rotary screw compressor etc. Let us take a look at two of the most popular options available.
When choosing the right type of compressor, you should ask yourself the following questions:
What is the application
How much flow does my facility/workshop use
What pressure is needed within the facility
Do I need clean/dry air (use of dryer and filters)
How many hours per year does my compressor operate
How many shifts do I run per day
Is there fluctuation in flow demand between shifts (if so, a VSD compressor could be a good option and offer great savings)
Are there any plans for future expansion
The piston compressor
The most economical and least expensive air compressor available is the piston compressor? This is a very simple and robust air compressor
that is used in many small shops. You can often times find the piston compressor in small work and machine shops, body shops,
tire shops and small manufacturing facilities. Piston compressors are relatively easy to maintain and as previously mentioned
require minimum investment. Considering that piston compressors are economical, there are some drawbacks that should be taken
into account before making a decision.
Piston compressors are only meant for intermittent use, meaning that the compressor can only work at about 50-60% of its duty cycle. This means
it will run 30 to 35 minutes, every hour during its duty cycle. These units require proper cooling time between cycles, otherwise they will
overheat and or fail.
It is also important to understand that piston compressors put out a lot of oil downstream and if not treated properly they can
damage the machines that utilize the compressed air. Lastly, piston compressors tend to be very loud when in operation, which can
be hard on the employees working in close proximity to the compressor.
The rotary screw compressor
If your operation requires constant compressed air supply, you should consider a rotary screw air compressor. Unlike the piston compressor,
rotary screw air compressors are used for any operations that require up to a 100% continuous duty cycle and are built for long
lifetime of reliable operation. Rotary screw air compressors are a great alternative fot the piston units and there are various
available, depending on your needs and budget. One of those options is the ability to integrate a dryer into the package, which
is ideal for the applications that require clean and dry air.
Furthermore, smaller screw compressors can be tank mounted allowing for additional storage capacity which, coupled with an integrated dryer, allows
for plug and play installation. This makes it ideal if you have limited space at your facility and if you want to save on installation
costs. Depending on your budget, there is a screw compressor for everyone, ranging from basic design, usually available on
smaller kW/HP ranges, all the way to Variable Speed (Frequency) Drive (VSD) units. Those are more expensive but typically make
up for the initial cost with energy savings.
Variable Speed Drive compressors are a great option for any facilities that have fluctuation in their flow demand. This is especially true if your facility
operates multiple shifts during the day and where flow demand increases and decreases throughout the day. Considering that compressed air usage can
be costly, as it accounts for over 70% of Total Cost of Ownership in electricity costs, utilizing VSD technology can help you achieve
savings of 35-50%.
Depending on size of the compressor, the savings can range from $100s to $10,000s annually or more. VSD air compressors match the output to
the demand that is needed. In simpler terms, the compressor can sense how much flow is being used and adjusts its speed accordingly, to
only allow the output that is needed. On slower production days, during second or third (skeleton shifts?) the VSD technology comes
especially handy, as it eliminates the waste of electricity and therefore saving money. VSD air compressors are becoming the norm rather
than the exception, with many customers enjoying the annual energy savings and having the ability to reinvest the money into other
assets.
Do you have an idea for our #expertcorner? Let
us know!
Who we are and how Ash Air can help your business!
Ash Air has been around in New Zealand since 1979, and we’ve grown into a nationwide company with international support and a
reputation for quality and reliability.We look after all things compressed air for your business!
Reciprocating, Screw, air compressors
Vacuum pumps
Nitrogen
An extensive line of air treatment components
Ash Air's range of Chicago Pneumatic, Alup, Pneumatech, and Quincy compressors are used extensively around the world in industries
ranging from oil and gas to food, automotive and farming, and we bring you these world class compressors here in the land of the long white
cloud.Our technicians are compressed air equipment experts and are dedicated to addressing customer needs. Supported by a 13 locations
nationwide, Ash Air offers one of the widest selections of compressed air equipment and parts available today in New Zealand.
Reliability and Efficiency
With Ash Air compressors, you can count on reliability and high performance for even the most demanding applications. We focus our
efforts on the following:
Your company purchased an air dryer for your compressor, now where should you install it? One of the most common things we see in the
industry are air dryers being stored on top of the compressors. Seems like a wasted space not being used on top of the compressor, right?
Wrong.
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When using air compressors, there are many variables that are integral to the quality and effectiveness of your compressed air. When dryer
air is necessary, being able to constantly and accurately monitor dew points can be a critical factor to your operation.
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Compressed air plays an integral role in breweries both large and small around the world. From start to finish, all details in the brewing
process are managed in fine detail and having the right air compressor is no exception.
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