Compressed air - Hannover Messe 2017 follow up

Compressed air - Hannover Messe 2017 follow up

Compressed-Air-and-Heat-System

As a partner of leading global industry fair Hannover Messe, we are always spending a few days at the fair to "scout" some relevant technology and service solutions. This year we will showcase findings from compressed air over vacuum pump systems to smart IT or IoT solutions.

Let´s start with "Compressed Air". Or even more precise with a CAHS which stands for "compressed air and heat system".

Almost every company depends on the generation of compressed air as it is the 2nd most important industrial energy source besides electricity. Advantages are rather obvious: fast reaction times, constant performance and a high level of occupational safety, especially for potentially explosive environments.

Looking on the cost side, one exhibitor mentioned that for compressed air systems, 50% of LCC (life Cycle Costs) are energy costs. Well, it seems fairly reasonable to look for solutions to get energy costs down.

A solution

When compressing air, 100% of the mechanical energy is converted into thermal energy. According to company altAIRnative, CAHS, a system which produces compressed air as a by-product of the heat generation, can reach (theoretically) 100% effectiveness.

Here the related energy flow diagram

This solution is not only meaningful for many industrial processes across many sectors (see overview below : share of heat demand by temperature), but it also benefits from the price differnece between electricity and gas as the latter is used for the "by-production" of compressed air. In other words short pay-back periods.

Overview share of heat demand by temperature

We are obvious eager to hear about similar or alternative solutions. Please feel free to contact me anytime under juergen.ritzek(at)ee-ip.org

Last but not least
Thanks to Michael Portwich from altAIRnative for input.

And that´s a snapshot of our last one