Real Time Energy Performance Control for Industrial Compressed Air Systems: Methodology and Applications

Miriam Benedetti, Francesca Bonfà, Vito Introna, Annalisa Santolamazza and Stefano Ubertini
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Miriam Benedetti: Energy, New Technology and Environment Agency (ENEA), Rome 00123, Italy
Francesca Bonfà: Energy, New Technology and Environment Agency (ENEA), Rome 00123, Italy
Vito Introna: Department of Enterprise Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome 00133, Italy
Annalisa Santolamazza: Department of Enterprise Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome 00133, Italy
Stefano Ubertini: DEIM School of Engineering, University of Tuscia, Viterbo 01100, Italy

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 20, 1-28

Abstract: Most manufacturing and process industries require compressed air to such an extent that in Europe, for instance, about 10% of the total electrical energy consumption of industries is due to compressed air systems (CAS). However, energy efficiency in compressed air production and handling is often ignored or underestimated, mainly because of the lack of awareness about its energy consumption, caused by the absence of proper measurements on CAS in most industrial plants. Therefore, any effective energy saving intervention on generation, distribution and transformation of compressed air requires proper energy information management. In this paper we demonstrate the importance of monitoring and controlling energy performance in compressed air generation and use, to enable energy saving practices, to enhance the outcomes of energy management projects, and to obtain additional benefits for non-energy-related activities, such as operations, maintenance management and energy accounting. In particular, we propose a novel methodology based on measured data, and baseline definition through statistical modelling and control charts. The proposed methodology is tested on a real compressed air system of a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in order to verify its effectiveness and applicability.

Keywords: energy efficiency; compressed air systems; energy data analysis; energy measures; performance control; operations; maintenance; energy accounting (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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