Central Controller Helps to Save 10% Energy in Compressor Rooms

Atlas Copco (UK) Compressors have recently launched a new central controller designed to be connected up to sixteen compressors. The ES 16 can offer one control point for a compressed air network retrieving and relaying information from compressors, dryers and other measurement equipment. This network can save on average 10% of energy use in one compressor room.

Tamas Bakos, Product Marketing Manager, Oil-free Air division, commented on the energy saving benefits of the new ES 16 controller: “Customers want to continuously reduce their production costs without jeopardising the availability of compressed air. Moreover, environmental awareness calls upon industrial facilities to limit CO2 emissions by reducing their energy consumption.” He continued: “Even the most efficient machines can perform much better with the management of Atlas Copco central controllers.”

Compressors and dryers can be connected to the ES 16 controller by means of a widely used CAN network. This device can store and manage all data for up to one week. Users can access graphs and view trends for analysis on the ES user interface or for a longer period and can also be consulted through the internet.

With its optional control feature, the ES 16 controller regulates air net pressure by starting/stopping the different sizes of machines and selecting their optimal operating points. Furthermore, it helps to keep air net pressure at the lowest possible level in order to gain additional energy savings. For example: lowering air net pressure by 1 bar not only reduces energy consumption by 7% but also air leakages by 13%. Atlas Copco also calculates energy savings of 10% can be achieved on average for Turbo compressors and compressors fitted with variable speed drives (VSD).

As an option the ES 16 also offers increased control of ancillaries in a compressor room like pumps, valves and vents with Program Logic Functionality based on complex conditions and external data and signals. The addition of up to six analog inputs allows for the integration of flow meters and dew point meters to help ensure users that their compressed air production continuously provides the required amount of quality air with high efficiency and reliability.
In addition to the ES 16, Atlas Copco Compressors offers a wide range of central controllers, from the ES 4 which can connect four compressors, up to the ES 360 which can connect 30 compressors and 30 dryers.