The following is an excerpt from my recent article on air blower best practices to ensure long and reliable aeration blower performance. The full version can be read online or in the July issue of Treatment Plant Operator. Blowers are integral to the wastewater treatment process, providing oxygen t

On June 28, Blower & Vacuum Best Practices hosted a webinar on how to maximize benefits of Variable Speed Drive (VSD) vacuum pumps. Industry experts including Compression Engineering Corporation’s Tim Dugan shared valuable tips on the fundamentals of vacuum, determining vacuum and flow requireme

The culture of wine dates back as far as 7000 BC when it was consumed for religious rituals and medicinal purposes. Its production and consumption became more widespread in the 15th century during the European expansion. Eventually, wine made its way to the U.S. around 1562 by way of the French Hugu

In a multiple compressor setup, the central controller is responsible for orchestrating multiple compressors to match variable demand by choosing the best combination of machines. The controller links all compressors and dryers, and regulates system pressure through starting/stopping compressors and

When you’re thinking of Italian cuisine, pasta is likely one of the first things that comes to mind. For Italians, it’s a sacred dish that was brought over to Italy by Marco Polo in the 13th century. It is now enjoyed across all regions of the country where there thousands of types of pasta. The wor

Over the last century, computers and automated technologies have transformed the automotive industry. The addition of compressed air to assembly lines and auto body shops has proven to be an indispensable utility, helping to keep production moving.   Compressed air in auto assembly 

The concept of connected devices has technically been around for several decades. It wasn’t until the late 1990’s that the term – the Internet of Things (IoT) – was coined by Kevin Ashton of Procter & Gamble. Today, IoT is a huge buzzword that includes GPS-based location sensing, security camera

Vacuum pumps have long been used to remove oxygen from plastic packaging in order to extend the shelf life of food products. The vacuum packaging helps protect flavor and eliminate or reduce exposure to bacteria and other elements that may alter the food’s taste and quality. Traditionally, food pac

Like most industrial sectors, the compressed air industry follows regulations and standards defined by legislation in addition to optional recommendations. Sometimes these regulations become binding when they come into force through legislation. For instance, if a standard is quoted in a commercial

Many plants are guilty of running their compressors after work hours and using several independently controlled compressors that run at different pressure settings and loads. Without proper control of compressor resources, users can waste substantial amounts of energy. Central controllers Luckily, t

Pressure drop is used to characterize the reduction in air pressure from the compressor discharge to the actual point of use. Pressure drop occurs as the compressed air travels through the treatment and distribution system. A properly designed system should have a pressure loss of less than 10 perce

If you live in the Charlotte area, you’re probably familiar with Old Mecklenburg Brewery (OMB), Charlotte’s oldest and largest craft beer producer. The brewery specializes in German style beers made from only four ingredients – water, malt, hops and yeast. With no funky flavors or added colors, OMB

Pressure losses due to inadequate piping and accessories will result in increased energy costs, variations in system pressure and adverse effects on production. Therefore, it’s important to keep these tips in mind when selecting piping and accessories:  Use full-size piping whenever practical

In 2011, Transport for London worked with Taylor Woodrow and BAM Nuttall Ltd. to upgrade London’s Tottenham Court Road underground station. The estimated £500 million project resulted in a much larger Crossrail ticket hall, new station entrances, additional escalators and elevators, and more access

Have you ever thought about the importance of planning for the future? Maybe you’re planning to buy a new car, go on vacation or renovate the house. These future plans probably have you thinking about a timeline and the costs associated with each endeavor. In the same way you’re anticipating future

Modern Woodcrafts creates architectural interiors for a variety of retail, institutional, corporate and hospitality spaces. Their recent projects include renovating the Tiffany & Co stores in the Bal Harbor Florida shops, and furnishing and installing the perimeter fixtures and custom showcases

The rise of craft beer continues to draw the masses, and it’s no different in Music City. Nashville beer aficionados can drink their way through 21 breweries across the city to find a personal favorite — double IPAs, unfiltered brews, fruity sours or barrel-aged beers. If you ask a typical beer drin

Compressed air leaks can easily become a significant source of wasted energy in an industrial facility, sometimes wasting 20 to 30 percent of a compressor’s output. But if you can’t see leaks, how do you detect them? Most experts agree that the use of an ultrasonic acoustic detector is the best way

An average industrial facility spends anywhere from 10 to  over 40 percent of its electricity consumption on compressed air, which makes it one of the plant’s most expensive sources of energy. Many of these compressed air systems are wasting unnecessary energy by running at full capacity despit

Each year, millions of Americans become sick with foodborne illnesses caused by food and water contamination. If you’ve skimmed the news, you may be familiar with some of the most common foodborne germs – Norovirus, Salmonella and Staph. These bacteria and viruses cause all sorts of unpleasant sympt