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Air Compressor Efficiency FAQs

Q: How can I improve the energy efficiency of my rotary screw compressor?

A: The most efficient rotary compressor is one that is fully loaded, providing the maximum flow per brake horsepower. When an application has long periods of little or no demand for compressed air, you should have a compressor that can shut itself off.

Q: Can I really recover energy from my compressed air system?

A: As much as 80-93 percent of the electrical energy used by an industrial air compressor is converted into heat. In many cases, a properly designed heat recovery unit can recover anywhere from 50 to 90 percent of this available thermal energy and put it to useful work heating air or water. In the winter, you can supplement your building's heating system with temperature controlled, heated make-up air from your compressor. During the summer, you can isolate the waste heat from your building's comfort conditioning system. The amount of energy that you can save through recovery is a function of your current heating system efficiency.