Follow the air
Compressed air passes through generation, treatment, storage and distribution before it reaches the equipment using it. Looking at those stages together helps frame an investigation. Record the pressure required at the point of use and how demand changes during a normal operating cycle.
Measure before changing
A pressure complaint does not identify its own cause. Restrictions, leaks and demand changes are among the issues a system review may examine. Gather operating information before choosing more compressor capacity. The U.S. Department of Energy sourcebook outlines a system approach to performance improvement and the information an assessment can collect.
Ask better questions
Useful questions for a supplier include how the proposed equipment handles changing demand, what air quality the application needs and what maintenance the treatment equipment requires. Compare solutions against the same operating assumptions. The accompanying photograph shows compressor mechanisms on display, not an installed complete air system.
