2010-07-21 - Assess the efficiency of pneumatic valve positioners with ABB’s new online calculator
Users of pneumatic valve positioners can now assess the energy efficiency of their valve installations with a new calculator from ABB. Based on the amount of compressed air consumed by conventional positioners, the calculator shows how using the latest smart positioner technology can help operators to dramatically reduce their energy costs.
The calculator uses details including the number of pneumatic positioners on site, air cost per standard cubic foot and the percentage of time spent at a steady state to calculate the user's current compressed air energy costs. These costs are then compared to the potential savings that could be achieved using ABB's TZID-C intelligent positioners, where compressed air is only consumed when required.
Next to steam, compressed air represents one of the most expensive utilities on industrial sites. With around 90% of the energy consumed by a compressor ending up as waste heat, compressed air is effectively ten times more expensive than electricity.
With conventional valve positioners typically consuming compressed air even when not operational, many sites could be racking up thousands of pounds in wasted energy. As an example, consider a positioner which spends 50% of its operational time in a steady state position (steady set-point). Assuming a compressed air cost of 1p per scfm (standard cubic feet per minute), the cost of this wasted energy, in the worst case, can be as much as £2,106.78 per year.
Replacing this positioner with a smart positioner could save between £500 and £1,200 per year per positioner through reduced compressed air consumption.
ABB's TZID-C digital intelligent positioners offer high resistance to shocks and vibration from 10g to 80Hz, enabling them to offer reliable operation in even the harshest environments.