Planning and Overseeing a Compressed Air Audit

Preparing for a compressed air audit? Remember the following.

A compressed air audit is designed to deal with facts and numbers. In doing this it is possible to project, and then verify, energy savings from a reconfigured air system. For most audits, one objective is to lower your cost of producing/ using compressed air.

Auditing involves data logging of information about the compressor system. Ideally, you want to log actual power (kW), pressure (PSI) and air flow (CFM) with logging equipment, rather than calculating these variables from measurements of the others. You can make calculations when necessary if you are careful and follow the correct procedures.

You are trying to set up an efficient compressed air system, not just buy or operate an efficient compressor. A system goes well beyond the compressor into the air dryers, filters, piping and more. System efficiency is what determines what you will pay for air, thus the entire system must be evaluated.

You want good data, but it needs to be supported with great analysis. Great analysis is what will identify big opportunities. A “canned” solution that is the recommended fix for every audit performed is a big red flag—run the opposite direction as fast as possible and find a new auditor.

Solution modeling can be quite complex. If it looks good on paper, take the “trust but verify” approach. Make sure that you are getting in actual performance what the model projected. This will allow you to take dollars to the bank.

And finally, remember...

That no audit at all is better than a poor audit. With the information presented here and some diligence, a compressed air audit, along with the corresponding air system changes, might just be one of the most profitable activities you tackle this year.