Reducing your dense-phase pneumatic conveying system's demand on plant compressed air
The goal for any plant compressed-air system is to supply air at the right pressure for all air-powered applications in the plant. But a dense-phase pneumatic conveying system's short-term, high-volume demands on the air system can cause the air pressure to fluctuate and lead to plantwide problems -- low production throughput, frequent downtime for air-powered equipment, and poor product quality, not to mention higher energy costs when a standby air compressor has to kick in. This article outlines ways you can reduce your dense-phase conveying system's use of plant compressed air. The article ends with general advice for improving plant air system performance by stabilizing the system's pressure level.
Compressed air is produced by taking a given mass of air, which occupies a given volume of space, and compressing it into a smaller space. The greater air mass in this smaller space produces greater pressure, which becomes stored energy. Compressed air can perform work as it returns to its original volume, releasing the stored energy. This work is used to power pneumatic equipment in manufacturing plants.