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Air compressor loading and unloading gas supply energy consumption

Author : Runningway

Update time : 2021-12-13 16:37:36

Air compressor loading and unloading gas supply energy consumption analysis: Air compressors generally have two processes of loading and unloading during operation. Below we will analyze the professional knowledge of air compressors:

1. Energy consumption analysis
Generally speaking, the loading and unloading control method makes the pressure of the compressed gas change between Pmin and Pmax. Pmin is the pressure that can ensure the normal work of the user. The conversion relationship between Pmax and Pmin is like this formula: Pmax=(1＋δ)Pmin

The parameter δ is a percentage between 10% and 25%. When we use variable frequency speed regulation technology to achieve continuous adjustment of the air supply, the pressure of the pipe network will always be maintained near the lowest pressure value Pmin. Through this information, we can know that the air compressor under the control mode of loading and unloading air supply is compared with the air compressor under the control of the frequency conversion system.

The air compressor mainly produces energy waste in 2 parts:

(1) When the air compressor is compressing air, the pressure of the compressed air exceeds the pressure value, which is the energy consumed by Pmin. After the pressure of the compressed air reaches Pmin, the original control method causes the pressure to continue to rise to Pmax. Then this process will release a lot of energy to the outside world, resulting in a lot of energy loss.

When the gas higher than Pmin enters the pneumatic components, the pressure will be reduced to a position close to Pmin after the pressure is reduced by the pressure reducing valve. This process also consumes energy.

(2) During the unloading process, the energy consumed due to the incorrect pressure regulation method

Generally speaking, when the pressure reaches the highest pressure value Pmax, the air compressor mainly uses the following method to depressurize and unload: close the intake valve to make the motor in an idling state, and at the same time vent the excess compressed air in the separation tank. This method causes a lot of waste of compressed air, which will cause a lot of energy waste. Closing the intake valve to make the motor idling can make the air compressor no longer need to perform work, but the air compressor is still driving the screw to rotate in the idling state. In this way, the energy consumption of the air compressor when unloading probably accounts for the air compressor 15%～20% when running at full load. In short, the air compressor is idle 15% of the time, doing useless work. Therefore, we know that when the air compressor is in the loading and unloading air supply control mode, the air compressor motor still has huge energy-saving potential, and this can be optimized and developed in the future when the air compressor is developing energy-saving.

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