Saving Energy Through Tank Storage
Case of Installing a Tank Receiver
While there is no easy way to calculate how much you can save by purchasing a larger receiver, the logic is simple. A receiver tank's key advantage is its zero energy consumption and low maintenance.
Switching Load to Idle
Kaeser or another fixed-speed compressor will use its maximum motor horsepower and kilowatt draw when it is fully loaded. Once the machine reaches your set pressure, it will receive a signal to turn from load to idle. The machine's power consumption drops by 60% when it is in idle.
Let's show you how it works by using a Kaeser 75 horsepower CSD compressor.
- 75 horsepower is equivalent to 55 kW
- 55 kW is the consumption of a Kaeser compressor 75 HP at full load. It uses 22 kW in idle.
- If the plant is operated for 8,000 hours per annum, its power consumption will be $57,200 (55kWx 8,000 hours x $0.13)
- There are 20600 hours of loaded time without the use of a receiver tank.
- The total number of hours that can be run without a tank receiver is 31,000.
- This indicates that the loaded power has been reduced by 60% (when the load is switched to idle for around 32 percent of its time).
Increasing Tack Size
You can save even more energy by increasing the tank size. An example: A 660-gallon tank could be increased from a 1,060-gallon to 1,060-gallon tank. This would result in a 62% increase in idle time.
The above example shows a fixed-speed compressor. Although the compressors are more efficient than the tank, the idle time will be higher.
Additional Benefits
You can add a receiver tank to your compressed air system for additional benefits beyond idle time.
The factory-set, 4-minute run-out period begins when a Kaeser compressor goes into idle. If the compressor is idle for more than four minutes, it will stop and consume zero energy. It is important to keep the compressor at the right time. That's why we never say that you can have enough storage.
Additionally, the tank serves as a buffer for compressor control valving. This prevents the machine from cycling too fast and causes premature wear of the valves. It also reduces maintenance costs.
The tank reduces air velocity and creates a cycle of motion as air flows through it. This reduces oil/water condensate loads on downstream clean-air treatment filters and dryers, further reducing maintenance costs.
That's the cost-benefit analysis to increase or decrease the size of a receiver tank. We at Air Solutions Canada are happy to answer any questions. We are happy to conduct a site visit to your location and offer recommendations to help optimize your compressed-air system and lower your total cost of ownership.
Air Solutions Canada
29 Innovation Dr,
Dundas, ON L9H 7L8
+1-647-691-5694
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