Recover Your Energy
Here is another great way to save energy and money even though it requires an initial investment: energy recovery.
As you now know, it takes a lot of energy to compress air. During that process, most of that energy is converted into heat. Now you have two options. One is that you allow that heat to dissipate. In other words, you just let it disappear.
But that’s a terrible waste.
Fortunately, there is a second, better option that can help you lower your energy bill significantly: You can harness this heat. Essentially, you find another use for the energy that was needed for compressing the air.
And with the right technology, you can recover more than 90% of that waste heat. With so many potential savings, it is obvious why an energy recovery system very quickly pays for itself.
Energy recovery is possible with air- and water-cooled compressors. With an air-cooled compressor, the process is straightforward. In the case of a water-cooled unit, things are a bit more complicated and could involve additional equipment, such as a heat exchanger or pumps.
Once you have captured the waste heat from the compression process, you can use it elsewhere in your facility. In the case of air-cooled compressors, the most obvious application is to use it for heating buildings.
The hot water or steam from a water-cooled model, however, can be used for a variety of production processes ranging from pasteurizing food to sterilizing a cleanroom.
Now you may be asking yourself how much money you can actually save. After all, an energy recovery system is an expense.
Well, it depends on a variety of factors, such as the types and sizes of your compressor(s), how much you use them, and the cooling technology.
However, this investment will almost always pay off very quickly… sometimes even within half a year.
Contact an expert
And here is one more tip: Because energy recovery systems are considered a sustainable investment, you may even qualify for a government subsidy if you install one (depending on where you do business).
