When Efficiency Matters. Energy Savings Solutions For Compressed Air

Gardner-Denver Recommends Sierra for Measuring Compressed Air

Sierra Instruments, Inc.: For Air Compressor Supply, Inc. (ACS), energy efficiency matters. ACS, located in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has grown into one of the leaders in specifying and selling compressed air equipment to the manufacturing and general process industries and is an authorized dealer for Gardner-Denver, one of the world's largest air compressor manufacturers. In this era of rising energy costs, ACS offers businesses a very tangible way to cut costs, in terms of lowering their amperage output and optimizing their energy efficiency.

Both ACS and Gardner-Denver strongly recommend using Sierra's meters to accurately measure the mass flow rates of compressed air for their customers.

Taking the Guess Work Out of the Bottom Line
In 2002, Cary Carlisle, a seasoned ACS technician, took Gardner-Denver's advice and partnered with Sierra. When he assesses the compressed air efficiency of a plant, he always begins a compressed air audit with the Fast-Flow® Model 620S.

"Our competitors often ’assume’ or estimate flow rates, but with Sierra’s products and ACS’ field auditing services, we take the guess work out of something as important as our customer’s bottom line,” explains Carlisle.

With his Model 620S in hand, Carlisle discovered that one plant was using 30% more compressed air than the other at essentially the same production level. He translated these mass flow rates and amperage usage rates into KW usage, and then dollarized the energy needed to produce the compressed air. With this data, Carlisle proved that one factory was less energy efficient and cost more money to operate than the other.

For Carlisle, conducting these compressed air audits is easy. He simply walks up to his test factory, “installs the Model 620S in-line with their air system”, without even shutting the system down. Carlisle has been so pleased with Sierra’s performance that he has three meters of his own. He is also interested in the upgrade, "Sierra makes the same flow meter with digital capability with a LED display and remote monitor."

For Cary Carlisle, the 620S Tells the Right Story
It's not by accident that Sierra works so well as a selling tool for Cary Carlisle and for other compressed air applications. With its patented Dry-Sensor Technology, made with no organic materials like cements or epoxies, the sensor will not shift or crack overtime. According to Carlisle, if a sensor drifts, compressed air measurements will tell the wrong story, and the proposed compressed air solution offered to the customer will be in error. But the Model 620S sensor is extremely stable.

Scott Rouse, Sierra’s Industrial Product Manager, adds that with careful calibration, thermal meters can be made virtually independent of temperature swings and can maintain their accuracy over a very wide range. This is a major advantage over volumetric or non-compensate meters, in which even a small change in operating temperature causes a 5-10% reduction in accuracy. Carlisle also appreciates the validation feature. Sierra’s Smart Interface Software gives customers actual verification that the Model 620S has not drifted over time.

Cary Carlisle Reports a 7,500 to 44,00 Savings on Compressed Air Costs to His Customers
Carlisle has reported to his various customers a $7,500 to $44,000 annually savings through improved compressed air system management and/or replacing their compressors with more energy efficient units —a substantial cost-cutting investment with relatively short-term payback.

Air may be free...but compressed air certainly isn’t. The Sierra Model 620S tells you exactly how many dollars per day are leaking away and deflating your bottom line. With Sierra’s help, companies around the globe are putting a price tag on compressed air and making educated choices leading to cost savings.

To Carlisle’s surprise, many of his customers want to keep his Fast-Flow® Model 620S Smart Insertion Thermal Mass Flow Meter in-line even after his air audit is completed. He hopes to go into the side-business of selling Sierra meters.