SavingS through technology

compressed air Savings SummaryFollow these four steps to optimize your compressed air system:

Inefficient systems typically use 20 to 50% more electricity than necessary

optimize your compressed air system

• Determine whether your system is a candidate for energy savings.

• Symptoms of inefficiency include: air leaks, shortages of air, excess maintenance and moisture carryover.

• Simply adding an extra air compressor to meet air demand requirements is rarely the best option.

• Contact Toronto Hydro to discuss your system and initiate an application for incentive funding.

• You may qualify for up to 100 per cent funding to hire an expert to do a system audit.

• The audit report will identify opportunities for savings, and help make a business case for improvements.

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• Implement equipment improvements.

• You may also qualify for an incentive of up to 70 per cent of eligible capital costs to implement energy-efficiency changes.

• Capital equipment such as efficient compressors, zero loss drains, piping modifications and other changes may qualify.

• Commission the updated equipment and operate it for peak performance.

• Continue to monitor and repair air leaks and reduce system pressure where feasible.

• Develop a baseline and monitor the energy consumption and airflow for ongoing cost savings.

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Use outdoor intakes for cooler air to improve compressor efficiency

Zero loss drains get rid of moisture and not air

Use a system controller for multiple compressors to save electricity through staging

Receiver tanks can help with short term demand

Fixing a 1/16" diameter air leak saves about $200 per year, per shift (based on 100 psig system pressure)

Reducing air pressure by 2 pounds (psig) delivers about 1% in electricity savings

A variable speed compressor helps with part load flows

Redesign undersized piping as it wastes electricity due to high pressure drops

Repair air leaks – they can waste 20 to 40% of the total electricity used. Typically, payback is less than a year.

Typical manufacturing operations in Ontario spend between 5 and 20 per cent of their electricity bills on compressed air. Through routine maintenance, most facilities can easily save 10 – 20 per cent of their compressed air electricity costs.

Get greater savings by choosing better compressor control strategies, adding storage receiver capacity and upgrading air dryers and filters.

Finding the right savings solution isn’t always obviousToronto Hydro can help. Start with an energy audit or engineering study by a qualified professional. Depending on size and operating patterns, there are three potential paths to have your system audited:

1. For compressed air systems that have the potential to save 350 MWh/year, 100 per cent funding up to $50,000 is available through the Detailed engineering Study program.

2. For compressed air systems that have the potential to save 100 MWh/year, 100 per cent funding up to $10,000 is available through the Preliminary engineering Study program.

3. Under the auDit FunDing program, you can qualify for incentives of up to 50 per cent of the cost of the audit to a maximum of $5,000.

The study will pinpoint ways to boost efficiency and identify cost benefits and priorities for implementation.

Subject to additional terms and conditions found at torontohydro.com/technology. Subject to change without notice. Funded by the Ontario Power Authority and offered by Toronto Hydro. OMOfficial Mark of the Ontario Power Authority. Used under licence. The star design is a trade-mark of Toronto Hydro Corporation. Used under licence. ‘Toronto Hydro’ means Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited.

contact us today to start your savings

torontohydro.com/technologyt: 416.542.3388 e: cdm@torontohydro.com

compressed air isn’t free, yet it’s often taken for granted

COMPRESSOR SIZE

1 SHIFT (2,250 HOURS)

2 SHIFTS(4,250 HOURS)

3 SHIFTS(8,400 HOURS)

10 HP $ 1,720 $ 3,250 $ 6,430

15 HP $ 2,580 $ 4,880 $ 9,640

25 HP $ 4,300 $ 8,130 $ 16,060

50 HP $ 8,600 $ 17,260 $ 32,130

100 HP $ 17,120 $ 32,330 $ 63,900

Implementation incentivesThe energy study or audit reports can then be used to support your application for either the ProceSS anD SySteMS upgrade program or retroFit PrograM. These programs provide financial incentives of up to 70 per cent of eligible project costs to replace or upgrade inefficient equipment with high-efficiency equipment.

Our Technical Consultants are here to guide you through the application

ToronTo Hydro Is Here To Help

Talk to your Toronto Hydro representative. We’ll work with you to apply for the incentive programs and help you through the pre-approval process to get your project moving as quickly as possible.

Remember that your application for incentive funding for studies, audits or implementation must be approved before any work has started.

Based on $0.10/kWh

eStiMate your annual energy coSt For coMPreSSeD air