AMS on high-speed
filling machine
A LITTLE SAVING CAN
Traditionally, end users look at their operations holistically. They are not concerned with the day-today
operations of just one machine but rather with how the factory operates - as a whole.
Compressed air is
typically consumed
in these factories in
large amounts, across
various applications and machinery.
When looking to deploy efficient air
management systems, just where
do you start?
This is where SMC comes in says
Bill Blyth, energy conservation
group manager.
SMC’s AirMaS Technology and the
Air Management System (AMS)
can be the right tool to provide you
the compressed air efficiencies
on existing plant machinery and
processes, that you require.
“We take into consideration the two
elements of compressed air energy.
Namely, pressure and flow. This
improved air management can be
installed on existing lines to assist
with controlling energy,” adds Bill.
SMC Corporation ANZ has a team
of engineers who works with
customers to establish firstly how
much air is being used, the profile
of energy consumption and what
target they would like to achieve.
Bill and the team will then install
GO A LONG WAY
EFFICIENT AIR MANAGEMENT
monitoring and reapply more
efficient compressed air energy
using various standard SMC
componentry and technology to get
as close as possible to the desired
target across each application.
AN AMS SUCCESS STORY
One such success story is that
of a food producer in Victoria.
They made use of a high-speed
filling and case packing machine
which required large volumes of
air consumption. Upon analysis,
an ananlysis of the current air flow
and pressure energy was taken by
installing pressure, flow and power
monitoring.
It must be emphasized that these
tests were conducted during
actual production and as such, the
results were in ‘real time’ without
affecting site operation. Typically,
the technology is initially introduced
would alongside the existing air
control to ensure that there is no
interruption to production whilst
SMC commissions the applications
for optimum results.
“When you analyse the air
consumption profile graphs it
becomes very obvious where the
inefficiencies lie and where you are
using much more than you need,”
says Bill. Typically, your readings will
indicate:
• Excessive flow rate
• Artificial demand
• Rapidly changing flows
• High pressure drops
• Non-productive consumption
This result identified to the
customer an excessive
consumption and demonstrated the
ability to reduce the existing 700kPa
(pressure) to a target of 500kPa and
reduce the flowrate by around 30%.
“Using standard SMC componentry,
correctly applied and configured to
provide the AMS delivers value and
a wealth of data to the customer.
Data which helps them to achieve
and (importantly) retain the saving
and reduce bottom line when it
comes to compressed air energy
usage.”
A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
There are a few standard
components which need to be
in place says Bill. “These include
strategically placed monitoring
and compressed air pressure
and volume control devices and
technology. This forms the basic
bones of the AMS system.
“From here, we test the compressed
air profiles and through adjustments
we are able to accurately match
the most efficient air profile using
standard componentry to the
existing system to deliver the
desired outcome.”
Bill highlights the key factors
that energy conservation team
considers during this process to
establish a healthy system is:
• Controlled flow and Pressure
• Most Efficient Demand Profile
• Eliminate Artificial Demand
• Continual Waste (Leakage)
Monitoring
By running the live trials with the
customer, an Air Management
System was configured (from
standard components) to suit the
factory and machine layout. SMC
is encouraging customers to get
in touch to assess their current air
consumption and look at ways to
improve their savings.
“A little goes a long way and we are
here to assist every step of the way,”
says Bill.
28 June 2020
W O R K S H O P