Compressors are an essential piece of equipment for countless industrial operations. However, they are not fun machines to be around. Your average compressor is loud and emits exhaust heat. That makes compressor rooms the last place you want to be in a factory. And this is precisely why an air compressor monitoring system is so important.
It lets you keep an eye on your compressed air system without being physically present. This has many benefits. First of all, you can monitor the performance of your compressor continuously. Instead of occasionally stopping by in your compressor room to check the readings, the necessary data is always at your fingertips.
But the right air compressor monitoring system does much more.
Instead of merely displaying the information, it will visualize the data in a manner that makes it easier to optimize compressor performance. This increases the efficiency of the compressed air system, reduces carbon emissions and saves money.
Remote monitoring also enhances the compressor’s reliability by identifying potential problems before they occur. This kind of analysis is not something you could do by simply checking on your equipment in a compressor room.
Picking the air compressor monitoring system that is right for you
You can choose between two types of systems with distinct benefits.
First, there is a cloud-based system. At Atlas Copco, it is called SMARTLINK - and it lives up to its name. It allows you to check in on your compressor and its performance from anywhere. All you need is a smartphone or a tablet.
For security reasons, this system only allows you to monitor your equipment remotely, but not to control it.
Smart technology getting smarter
Did you know that one of the benefits of a smart air compressor monitoring system is that it gets more intelligent over time? SMARTLINK, for example, collects millions of data points every hour. And each of them helps make the system more effective for you.
Then there is a monitoring system that uses a local area network (LAN). At Atlas Copco, it is called SMARTVIEW. Connected to a central controller, SMARTVIEW enables the advanced technical visualization of compressor data. This can greatly enhance the efficiency of the compressed air system. At times of high energy prices, this is an especially valuable tool.
It offers the same monitoring options as SMARTLINK and also sends alerts to notify you of potential issues.
Finally, there are also ways to connect your compressor to your facility’s SCADA system. Atlas Copco’s SMART2SCADA software, for example, allows you to share your compressor information with your SCADA system via Modbus TCP, Ethernet IP, OPC UA and Profinet.
The importance of central controllers
So, what are central controllers? For operations with multiple compressors, it is crucial to look beyond operating each machine individually. A central controller does just that. It forms the backbone of an optimized air system by managing multiple compressors.
Depending on your priorities, the central controller can maximize your efficiency or ensure that each individual machine lasts as long as possible.
For example, the Optimizer 4.0 from Atlas Copco will match the air supply to the current demand. This is important because few air systems operate at full load all the time. The Optimizer will also make sure that the machines run at their most efficient operating point/speed and not at full load or minimum load for a long time.
By adjusting the supply, and at the same time keeping the pressure stable, a central controller can save energy and money. In addition, it can also prioritize the use of your most efficient compressors, such as those with variable speed drive technology.
If you are looking to optimize your system’s reliability, a central controller can help as well. The Optimizer can evenly distribute the workload among all compressors and ensure their running hours stay the same.
A central controller also means there is no need for production shutdowns when maintenance is needed. You can simply take one compressor offline and work on it while the others keep your operation going.
Atlas Copco – your air compressor monitoring system specialist
There is one way to ensure that you always know what’s going on in your compressor room. Reach out to Atlas Copco.
We offer remote and LAN-based air compressor monitoring systems. Individually and together, they allow you to check the performance of your equipment at any time and from anywhere.
Our central controllers help you visualize that performance and take the necessary steps to optimize it. In addition, when you get a notification about a potential problem, so can we. A team of experts is working around the clock to make sure a minor issue does not grow into a major headache.
We also offer different service plans. They let you to take your efficiency and reliability to the next level – and head and shoulders above your competition.
