General

Compressed air is the “fourth utility” for manufacturers—and by far the most expensive. But there are ways to reduce the cost of compressed air. Increasing the efficiency of your compressed air system could save thousands on your energy bills every year. Here are the top five opportunities for compressed air savings.  1. Find and fix leaks.  Compressed air leaks may start small, but they can quickly add up to a big problem. Leaks in your compressed air system can increase the energy costs for your compressed air system by 30% or more. How much does a compressed air leak cost? … Read more »

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Chicago-area injection molding company Intec Group, LLC. is saving thousands on their annual energy bill by upgrading to a VSD compressor and VSD dryer from PneuTech. Thanks to energy incentives from ComEd, they saved thousands more on their purchase. Their new compressor allows them to ramp up production when needed while reducing energy consumption, maintenance costs, and compressor wear and tear.   Pete Bardgett, the Business Development Manager for Intec Group, says, “These cost savings helps Intec continue to be more competitive in the marketplace when quoting new opportunities; this directly offsets the continued increases of electricity. If our competition is not… Read more »

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Management guru Peter Drucker famously said, “You can’t manage what you don’t measure.” That’s true for nearly everything—including your compressed air system. Data logging can help you measure—and manage—compressed air system performance. By understanding how and when your compressed air system is using energy, you can discover opportunities for energy savings and optimization. What is Data Logging for Compressed Air Systems? What is data logging? Very simply, it is the practice of measuring system performance by attaching meters, gauges, or sensors to a system for an extended time while it is in operation. Unlike spot checks, such as a single… Read more »

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What size piping do you need for your compressed air system? Understanding how to properly size pipes for compressed air can improve the overall efficiency of your system. Correctly sized compressed air piping will help you save money and ensure that you always have the PSI you need to run machines and tools at the ends of your lines. Here’s how to determine the right diameter compressed air pipes for your system. How Pipe Size Impacts Compressed Air System Performance  Sizing air compressor piping comes down to two factors: how much air are you trying to move? And how far… Read more »

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There is really only one key difference between fixed speed and variable speed drive ; Variable speed drive (VSD) rotary screw air compressors are an increasingly popular choice for companies seeking to reduce energy costs and qualify for energy company incentives. How do you know if a VSD air compressor is right for you? Learn the benefits of VSD, when to use a VSD vs. a fixed speed compressor, and why you may want to consider using both. What is a Variable Speed Drive Air Compressor? A variable speed drive (VSD) controls the frequency supplied to the drive motor on the air… Read more »

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By Derrick Taylor, Director, Fluid-Aire Dynamics What is the best pipe material to use for a compressed air system? Manufacturers have many options when it comes to compressed air piping materials. As with most decisions, the choice in piping material comes down to tradeoffs between cost, performance, longevity and aesthetics. Here are some of the most common materials used for compressed air piping and the pros and cons of each. Plastic Pipe Plastic compressed air piping is cheap, lightweight, easy to install and non-corrosive. However, not all plastics are the same. If you are using plastic piping, it is important… Read more »

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Buy Now, Deduct Entire Equipment Purchase in 2022 Are you considering a major fixed equipment purchase soon? Thanks to Section 179, there’s never been a better time to purchase capital equipment. If you install a new compressed air system in December, you could possibly deduct 100% of your purchase for the 2022 tax year. Here’s how the Section 179 deduction works and how businesses can benefit. Note: We are not your tax advisor. Please check with your accountant to make sure your purchase qualifies. What Is Section 179—And Why Should You Care? Section 179 of the U.S. Tax Code allows… Read more »

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Air compressor preventative maintenance (PM) is essential for the safe and efficient operation of your compressed air system. But most facility maintenance technicians don’t know all the ins and outs of proper air compressor equipment maintenance. Here’s what building managers and maintenance staff should know—and how you can reduce the burden of compressed air system PMs. Why Air Compressor Maintenance Matters A poorly maintained air compressor will end up costing your company money, both directly and indirectly. Some of these costs include: Higher energy costs due to overloaded filters, blockages, inadequate lubrication, and other problems that cause your air compressor… Read more »

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Are You Letting Money Escape Into Thin Air? If your compressed air system has unrepaired leaks, the answer is yes. Leaks in your compressed air system may be increasing your compressed air energy bills by more than 30%. Since compressed air is usually one of the largest energy expenses for a manufacturer using air-powered equipment, that represents a significant opportunity for energy savings. Fortunately, finding and fixing compressed air leaks is a relatively simple and cost-effective process. Thanks to energy incentives provided by most energy suppliers—including ComEd in Northern Illinois—you may even be able to get compressed air leaks fixed… Read more »

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Is the PSI of your compressed air system too high? As many as 80% of manufacturers are running their systems at a higher PSI than necessary for their production processes. Reducing the PSI of your plant may be your largest—and easiest—an opportunity for energy savings. Best of all? Many of the things you can do to reduce your plant pressure are very inexpensive — or even free!

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Do you need an oil-water separator for your compressed air system? The answer is probably yes. An external oil-water separator is essential for proper maintenance of your compressed air system and compliance with environmental regulations for disposal of compressed air condensate.   What Is an Oil/Water Separator?  An oil-water separator (sometimes called a condensate separator) is exactly what it sounds like: a device that separates oils and lubricants from liquid water. The oil-water separator collects condensate from your air compressor, tank, filters, and dryer, and removes the oil from the water prior to putting it down the drain. It also eliminates… Read more »

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Do you know how to calculate dew point and relative humidity for your compressed air system? Understanding these measures and how they are related will help you maintain your compressed air system at optimal performance. To minimize condensation problems in your system, it is important to know how much moisture is in the air vs. how much moisture the air is capable of holding. Measuring or calculating your dew point and relative humidity (RH) can help you avoid problems with your compressed air system and production applications. Here’s how to know if your pressure dew point is too high—and what… Read more »

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If you are using PVC or CPVC for your compressed air system, you may be putting people and property at risk. PVC is not a safe or approved material for compressed air piping. In fact, the use of PVC piping for compressed air can lead to dangerous or deadly explosions. Here, we’ll explain the problems with PVC, why it should never be used to conduct compressed air, and what you should do if your current system contains PVC.   Why PVC Pipe Should Not Be Used for Compressed Air Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and its cousin, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), are… Read more »

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New Role Positions Compressed Air Leader for Growth, Market Expansion  Fluid-Aire Dynamics, a leader in the compressed air industry, is pleased to welcome a new sales powerhouse to their team. Jeremy Gaitsch has been named National Sales Director. In this newly created role, he will lead a team of Sales Engineers and Business Development specialists and oversee the company’s growth strategy in their primary markets of Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and now Detroit. Fluid-Aire Dynamics specializes in design, sales, installation, maintenance, repair and parts for rotary screw air compressors, serving manufacturers and other industrial compressed air users in their core markets…. Read more »

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Wisconsin manufacturers can save energy and optimize their compressed air systems with the help of rebate programs and financial incentives from Focus on Energ®. Focus on Energy can help manufacturers save thousands of dollars in energy bills by improving the efficiency of their compressed air systems—often at a minimal cost. When you partner with Fluid-Aire Dynamics on a Focus on Energy project, you only pay the costs over and above the incentive, keeping your up-front costs to a minimum. What is Focus on Energy? Focus on Energy is Wisconsin’s statewide program serving the customers of the 107 participating Wisconsin electric… Read more »

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Draining excess water from your compressed air system is very important to maintain the longevity of your system and keep moisture out of your compressed air supply. Fortunately, draining condensate from your compressed air system is easy with either manual or automatic drain valves. Learn why draining your air compressor, air dryers, receiver tanks and other components of your compressed air system is important, what kind of drains you need, and how often to drain your air system components. Why do I need to drain water from my compressed air system? Draining the condensate that builds up inside your compressed… Read more »

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How do you adjust the pressure of your compressed air for downstream tools and applications? A compressed air regulator allows you to control the pressure of air going into your air-powered equipment. Regulating the pressure (PSI) of the compressed air at the point-of-use can be important to protect pneumatic equipment and ensure the safety and efficiency of your operations. Here’s what you need to know about the air compressor regulator.  What is an air compressor regulator? The air compressor regulator is, as its name implies, a device that regulates pressure (PSI) for your compressed air needs. It controls airflow from… Read more »

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