How to Save 3,500 kWh Annually and Reduce Total Cost of Ownership

For a Chinese beverage company that produces more than 150 types of food and drink, strict control of raw materials and stringent standards for equipment and suppliers keeps their operation up and running. The company has been using oil-free air compressors since 1998 for their compressed air system that includes approximately 600 compressors.

Food safety is a primary concern for the company, and they seek to eliminate all food safety risks during production. Since compressed air is used during the production of PET bottles, the air must be 100 percent oil free to prevent the contamination of the end product.

What does it really mean to be oil free?

An oil-free screw compressor virtually eliminates the need for in-line oil filtration and in most cases will eliminate the risk of oil contamination completely. The need for costly filter replacements, large sump tank oil changes and ongoing maintenance due to oil residue is eliminated and can result in substantial compounded savings over the life of the compressor. The result is life cycle savings that are much greater than the initial cost of choosing oil-free over oil-injected compressors.

If contamination were to occur, manufacturing operations would have to be slowed or stopped altogether, resulting in downtime, product waste, loss of productivity and a damaged reputation if product recalls become necessary.

How to Achieve Energy Savings and Lower Total Cost of Ownership

The company’s compressors are also equipped with heat of the compression dryers, which provide the company with exceptional energy savings and a lower total cost of ownership. Additionally, the company utilizes six sets of energy recovery units to recover the waste heat from compression; the heat is then used to preheat water for cleaning and sterilizing during the production process.

The results are impressive: the energy recovery system cuts steam consumption by more than 5,000 tons annually, saving 3,500 kWh of electricity and nearly $190,000. As a result of the increased energy savings, the company recovered its investment in the energy recovery units in just 18 months.

Get Started with Oil-free Air and Energy Recovery Today

Are you looking for ways to eliminate contamination risks in your critical process while increasing energy savings? Simply fill out our Request a Quote form and an Atlas Copco representative will be in touch with you shortly.