Compressed air is a clean utility that is used in many different ways, and it is much safer than electrical or hydraulic systems. But most people think that compressed air is free, and it is most certainly not. Because of the expense, compressed air is considered to be a fourth utility in manufacturing plants. I did write a blog earlier titled, “Basics of Compressors”. There are two main types of speeds for air compressors; fixed and variable. In this blog, I will cover the Variable Speed Drive (VSD) Air Compressors.
The VSD Air Compressor controls the speed of the electrical motor by supplying different frequencies and voltages. It can range from around 20% capacity to 100% capacity depending on the system requirement. With most systems, the amount of air flow fluctuates throughout the day. With a VSD Air Compressor, it can run at lesser horsepower ratings for lower demands. If your plant operates at different compressed air demand levels, the VSD air compressor can help cut the electrical cost.
As an example, let’s say you have a 20-horsepower air compressor which can produce roughly 100 SCFM of compressed air. If the demand drops to 20 SCFM, then the VSD can change the ratio of the electric motor to run like a 4-horsepower compressor. And a 4-horsepower compressor uses much less electricity to generate compressed air.
Overall, the VSD does offer better efficiency if there are fluctuations on the demand side. To go even further, EXAIR has been manufacturing Intelligent Compressed Air Products since 1983. We are able to save you money by reducing the use of compressed air on the demand side. Together with a VSD air compressor, our products will help a compressor system to operate at much lower electrical power, saving you money. If you need alternative ways to use your compressed air, an Application Engineer at EXAIR will be happy to help you.
John Ball
Application Engineer
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @EXAIR_jb
Photo: Technical Illustration of a portable single-stage air compressor by Brain S. Elliot. Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
