Supply, Demand, and the Hidden Waste in Compressed Air Systems

Mauricio Uribe from Compressed Air Consultant discussed the focus of their audits, which is to minimize air consumption and optimize the supply side. They work with various industries and provide a holistic approach to audits, addressing both the demand and supply side. Mauricio also shared a significant opportunity where they were able to reduce air consumption by half for a specific application, resulting in massive energy savings. He also highlighted the importance of listening to the reasons behind decisions made by the plant personnel and finding solutions that benefit both energy and process requirements.The discussion focused on understanding the demand profile and optimizing the compressor room operations. It was highlighted that involving operators in the process can lead to easy fixes that make a significant difference in minimizing air waste. The conversation also touched on the potential use of artificial intelligence and algorithms for optimizing compressor configurations, with the consensus that educated guesses and operator input are crucial for successful optimization.