Improvement of temperature in compressor room to reduce the energy consumption of compressed air system

Abstract

This research aims to study the effect of temperature at compressor room on the energy consumption of compressed air system at Panasonic Manufacturing (Thailand) co. ltd Khon Kaen branch. The data was recorded for three periods. First period was pre and post compressed air system improvement to reduce temperature. The improvement was done by changing the exhaust fan capacity from 1,060 to 1,700 m3/min, and relocate installing position of vacuum suction from above the compressor to compressor exhaust. Then, the data including the temperature around machine and inside room, power consumption and air flow rate were measured by thermo logger, ECD power metter and flow rate meter, respectively. The results founded that an average temperature inside room was decreased from 38 to 33 °C, efficiency of the compressor was increased from 6.63 kW/m3/min to 6.4 kW/m3/min, and energy was decreased from 5,846 to 5,704 kWh/day. In addition, this improvement can reduce amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) for 27 tons per year. For second and third periods the results were observed when outside temperature was changed. The second period, there was energy consumption of 5,688 kWh/day when an average outside temperature was 31 °C. In addition, outside temperature at 36 °C, there was energy consumption of 5,737 kWh/day in the third period. From the results showed that it was the change of outside temperature does not affect on temperature at compressor room, but obtained from heat of machines. Therefore, temperature reduction can increase the efficiency of the compressor, resulting to save the energy as a production cost.