Compressed Air Energy Savings: SAV-AIR Monitor and Control System and the PNW Compressed Air Challenge

Abstract

This paper presents the results from two compressed air programs supported by the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (Alliance) over the last five years. In 1997 the Alliance funded the Northwest regional version of the Compressed Air Challenge (CAC), a national collaborative that develops and provides resources to educate industrial plant operating staff on ways to increase net profits through compressed air system optimization. CAC has trained about 400 facility people and documented six case studies that saved 4.5 million kWh annually in the PNW. SAV-AIR, LLC provides integrated compressed air management, including real-time monitoring and control. In 1998 the Alliance partly funded six compressed air systems. These plus seven customer funded systems averaged a reduction of 35% in electrical energy use. SAV-AIR's system also increased reliability, stabilized pressure control, decreased operating costs, and provided on-going management information to help these facilities avoid capital upgrades. As of the end of 2002 the program has saved 16 million kWh annually and by 2010 the region expects to save 320 million kWh a year.