Compressor Efficiency

In a world plagued by environmental and ecological uncertainty, there has never been a more crucial time to act. With the impacts of global warming and climate change showing themselves at an increasingly fast rate, sustainability is becoming even more critical. Whilst compressed air itself doesn’t generate CO₂, the process of air compression contributes to climate change through its energy consumption and leakage. With it estimated that compressing air produces millions of tonnes of carbon emissions annually, changes must be made to promote a more sustainable future.

Previously, oil-lubricated compressors have been considered equally as able to achieve high-quality air and energy savings, due to high-performance filtration. However, as environmental concerns grow and air quality standards get stricter, oil-free compressors in many cases are deemed the more sustainable option. This is mainly because they eliminate the need for oil disposal, which is a process which poses many environmental risks, such as spillages and leaks. They are also deemed more energy-efficient due to their oil-less design, which also ensures lower maintenance requirements. For example, Ingersoll Rand’s E-Series and ES-Series of oil-free rotary screw compressors, are renowned for their energy efficiency. Now with the option of heat recovery built in, further energy and sustainability-related savings have been unlocked!

2. Selecting The Correct Machinery

An easy way to operate more sustainably is to ensure that the equipment you are using matches your compressed air and your application needs. Equipment that is too large may consume more energy than necessary, and equipment that is not suitable for its intended purpose will have to work overtime. Either way, your energy consumption will increase, resulting in higher carbon emissions and a greater environmental impact.

4. Air Treatment

While ensuring a continuous flow of clean, dry, and oil-free air, air treatment also has environmental benefits, as it ensures contaminant-free air enters the atmosphere. Air treatment equipment also ensures that any contaminants are disposed of in a more environmentally friendly manner, for example, through the use of condensate management units.

6. Heat Recovery

We all know that heat is a natural by-product of compressing air. But did you know that up to 94% of this heat can be recovered and reutilised? Repurposed heat can have a multitude of functions around your facility, including heating water, pre-heating for steam generation, sanitation and ambient air heating. This way, you can lower your energy costs by reusing energy you’ve already consumed, rather than paying for more. You’d also be reducing your CO₂ emissions and your ecological footprint. The good news is, as mentioned, Ingersoll Rand’s E-Series and ES-Series have the optional addition of heat recovery built in. You can also benefit from other heat recovery solutions such as our , and .