Investment-Grade Compressed Air System Audit, Analysis, and Upgrade in a Pulp and Paper Mill

Abstract

An investment-grade compressed air audit, analysis, design, and upgrade in an industrial facility requires a thorough understudying of original design basis, current problem definition, goal settings, load assessment, base case model development, and an ability to conduct unlimited "what if' analysis to determine the cost-effective efficiency improvement measures. Most successful projects are justified using energy savings and non-energy benefits. A life-cycle cost analysis will help the customer focus on cost of owning, operating, and maintaining the compressed air motor system over it's useful life. A software application that easily integrates and calculates interactive impact of process and mechanical variables on electric power use would be of immense help in conducting such "systems analysis" of motor systems. This article presents a real-life successful project, with an investment of about $0.75 million dollars, documented energy savings of 2,935,000 kWh/year, and other non-energy benefits that eventually justified the project.