There are several factors that influence the choice between one large centralized or several smaller decentralized compressors to meet a given compressed air requirement. Factors that are taken into consideration include the cost of a production shut-down, guaranteed availability of electrical power, loading variations, costs of the compressed air system and the available floor space.
A system with several decentralized compressors can also be the preferred choice for certain applications. It involves a smaller, simpler compressed air distribution system. A disadvantage of decentralized compressors lies in the difficulty of inter-regulating the compressed air supply and in maintaining a reserve capacity. Modern compressors with fully-integrated compressed air conditioning equipment (dryers, filters etc.) and with high-performance silencing measures can be installed at the worksite, thus reducing compressed air distribution costs and eliminating the need for a separate building or an extension to the separate compressor room. Decentralized compressors can be utilized to maintain the pressure in a system with a large pressure drop if the intermediate processes temporarily draw too much air. An alternative with extremely short peaks of air consumption is to solve the problem by positioning buffers (air receiver) in strategic locations. A unit or building normally supplied from a compressed air plant and which is the sole consumer of compressed air during specific periods can be sectioned off and supplied with its own decentralized compressor. The advantage of this layout is that it avoids "feeding" any leakage in the remaining part of the system and that the localized compressor may be adapted to the smaller requirement.
Read more on the different aspects of dimensioning compressor installations below.
31 May, 2022
Installing a compressor system is easier than it used to be. There are still a few things to keep in mind though, most importantly where to place the compressor and how to organise the room around the compressor. Learn more here.
20 December, 2022
A number of decisions must be made when designing and dimensioning a compressed air distribution network. Learn more about it here.
30 June, 2022
Discover how energy from waste heat is recovered in water-cooled or air-cooled compressed air systems. We will take a look at the recovery potential and the different methods of energy recovery.
