SMC develops compressed air leakage analyser to help save energy

Australia’s SMC Energy Conservation Group has developed the portable Compressed Air Leakage Analyser, which has now been exported to a global food manufacturer in Dubai.

The analyser was developed with direction from Bill Blyth (Energy Conservation Group Manager ANZ) and members of the Sydney-based team, including Alex Bonella (Project Engineer) and Tim Ho (Mechanical Engineer).

SMC has long focused on reducing the energy costs associated with compressed air applications. With the global formation of the SMC Energy Conservation Group in 2015, the company has a team of experts dedicated to developing and integrating technologies to reduce energy usage (and costs) for its customers.

Designed and built in Australia, the portable compressed air leakage analyser does not require ‘host’ machine reprogramming.

“This latest product development is another example of how SMC helps our customers to realise real energy (cost) savings,” said Blyth.

Finding and assessing individual leakage in a compressed air system can be costly and time-consuming. The analyser uses SMC monitoring technology to identify the location and volume for individual leaks: both static and dynamic. It also has the ability to perform consumption and usage profile analysis for the machine during operation — without the need to reprogram the host machine or process, which can provide savings on time and labour requirements.

The analyser is designed to help users make informed decisions about their compressed air management. The plug-and-play solution can be easily installed and is used to manage and monitor the host machine whilst calculating air consumption for the predetermined pneumatic application.

“This truly is a game changer for manufacturers. It allows the machine owners (our customers) to make informed decisions about easily identifying and prioritising when there is need to repair a leak and what the real value is to your business,” Blyth said.

The analyser will develop and provide a file detailing all measured leaks and other relevant compressed air data and costs — allowing detailed machine maintenance analysis.

The Compressed Air Leakage Analyser is now available for both local and global applications and can be tailored to suit the many valve control protocols, including serial and parallel connected platforms.

Image caption: The SMC Energy Conservation Group — Mechanical Engineer Tim Ho and Project Engineer Alex Bonella.