Optimising Energy Efficiency in Compressed Air Systems
The Challenge
The University of Hertfordshire required a compressed air system for its new School of Physics Engineering and Computer Science (SPECS) building. The system needed to span across 4 floors and provide clean, dry air through 120 outlet points, adhering to ISO 8573-1:2010 standards. The initial design specified a uniform 10 bar outlet pressure for all points, but this would result in excessive energy consumption.
The Solution
Maziak, after reviewing the design, determined that only one piece of equipment—the Autoclave unit, used once or twice a week—required the 10 bar pressure. They recommended installing a dedicated compressor specifically for the Autoclave at 10 bar. For the other outlets, Maziak proposed reducing the pressure to 6-7 bar. This design adjustment allowed for more efficient energy use, reducing unnecessary pressure generation.
The Results
By lowering the pressure for most outlets and running the main system at a reduced pressure, the University achieved approximately 7% energy savings for each 1 bar reduction. The overall reduction of 3 bars resulted in significant energy savings, benefiting both the university’s operational costs and environmental impact.
