{"id":1283,"date":"2016-09-25T18:14:56","date_gmt":"2016-09-25T18:14:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/msrbeta\/en\/?p=1283"},"modified":"2020-06-23T14:52:53","modified_gmt":"2020-06-23T14:52:53","slug":"data-logger-for-flow-rate-measurements-and-record-pressure-values-for-festo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.msr.ch\/en\/data-logger-for-flow-rate-measurements-and-record-pressure-values-for-festo\/","title":{"rendered":"Hot on the trail of energy loss in compressed air systems"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/span> \"MSR145<\/a>
\n \"In<\/a>
\n \"Festo\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

Recording measured data using MSR Data Loggers:<\/h2>\n

Authors: Dipl.-Ing. J\u00fcrgen Billep, Service Portfolio Management Energy Savings Services, Festo, Dipl.-Ing. Uwe Hessmer, MSR Electronics GmbH<\/p>\n

Small but mighty: The all-round talents of mini data loggers are being increasingly recognised by the manufacturing industry, and not without good reason. As the present user report regarding MSR data loggers at Festo\u2019s Energy Saving Services shows, these small data recording devices are able to do much more than has been known to date with respect to their typical applications, such as monitoring transport, climatic and process conditions.<\/p>\n

Dipl.-Ing. J\u00fcrgen Billep<\/h3>\n

\"Dipl.-Ing.<\/a> Studied mechanical engineering in Bogota, sales engineer at Festo for 14 years, responsible for the development and product management of Energy Saving Services for 7 years.<\/p>\n

The Energy Saving division of Festo<\/a>, the leading global automation company, offers compressed air users customised services to determine and tap compressed air savings potentials. According to Dipl.-Ing. (graduate engineer) J\u00fcrgen Billep, auditor at Festo\u2019s Energy Saving Services, the demand for energy analyses has consistently increased in recent years. This is because many companies are looking for savings potentials within their production in order to survive fierce competition, states the engineer. Such potentials are often found in their compressed air systems and units, which have, in most cases, been in existence for many years already.<\/p>\n

Reducing energy costs in compressed air systems by up to 60 %<\/h3>\n

Compressed air is relatively expensive: A cubic metre currently costs approximately 1.8 cents. Therefore, compressed air is eight to ten times more expensive than the electric direct drive of machines and tools (source: HS Esslingen – Esslingen University of Applied Sciences). For units with few hours of operating service, the electricity costs account for an estimated 20 % of the operating costs, whereas for systems running 24\/7, this may be up to 80 % (source: energie.ch<\/a>). \"Systems<\/a> Hence, it is worthwhile taking a closer look at the compressed air consumption in order to increase the energy efficiency in a process or manufacturing environment and to reduce the costs. However, to do so, a company\u2019s compressed air system must be looked at in its entirety. Therefore, Festo\u2019s analysis ranges from the compressed air generation and\/or treatment, through the distribution of compressed air with leak detection, to the pneumatic application itself. The compressed air energy efficiency analyses performed by Festo\u2019s specialists are carried out in accordance with ISO 11011 and are T\u00dcV S\u00dcD certified. \u201cWe strive towards a holistic, independent pneumatic system engineering to benefit the customer. We are proud that we have been able to achieve up to 60 % savings for our customers, despite increasing productivity,\u201d reports J\u00fcrgen Billep. \u201cThe MSR145 data loggers with analogue inputs<\/a> for connecting our external pressure sensors provide Festo with significant support in these tasks,\u201d states the engineer.<\/p>\n

Identifying cost savings by means of pressure value measurements<\/h3>\n

Festo uses the data loggers of the Swiss measurement technology company MSR Electronics GmbH for flow rate measurements on the one hand and for recording pressure values on the other hand. In order to record pressure values, engineer Billep positions at minimum three time-synchronised MSR145 data loggers \u2013 at the pressure generator, after the compressed air treatment and at the furthest point of the compressed air system. The loggers are used to measure and record the condition of the environment (pressure, temperature and humidity) and the actually generated air pressure. Further measuring points can be provided for the analysis of the applications themselves.<\/p>\n

\"Savings<\/a> A pressure loss of greater than 0.6 bar after the compressed air treatment and distribution, for example, must already be classified as negative, a pressure loss of 1.0 bar in the subsequent compressed air system as dramatic. If the system operator is able to reduce, for instance, a 2.1 bar pressure loss in his\/her overall system, this alone facilitates a cost saving of more than 10 % in the compressed air generation.<\/p>\n

Yet, Festo\u2019s specialists not only identify such savings potentials, but also conceptual improvements, for example with respect to the pipeline design, the compressed air quality, filter load and efficient application deployment.<\/p>\n

Flow rate measurements using integrated MSR Data Logger<\/h3>\n

Festo uses flow rate measurements in the customer\u2019s system in order to identify the standby power dissipation and therefore leaks within the system, which are inspected by means of a check analysis after having been repaired.<\/p>\n

\"Chart<\/a> The flow rate measurements and the identification of the leaks are also carried out using MSR145 data loggers. Festo\u2019s test box has an integrated MSR145 logger with two analogue inputs for 0…10.0 V. Within a measurement period of a few hours, the test box provides the auditors with a detailed overview of the system\u2019s status, enabling them to present the customer with a differentiated as is\/to be analysis and forecast of the savings potential, as well as a ranking of the action required. \u201cThe intuitive and clear software, which is available with the MSR data loggers, makes it much easier for us to analyse the data, not least because the functionality of the software is being continuously extended by MSR,\u201d explains J\u00fcrgen Billep. \u201cIt is very easy for us to integrate the relevant measured curves of the individual data loggers into one representation, thus obtaining the results for our analysis.\u201d The MSR PC software<\/a> can also be used to mathematically calculate and chart various measured values for advanced analyses.<\/p>\n

Data Loggers overcome metrological challenges at manageable cost<\/h3>\n

\"Examples<\/a> Festo primarily selected the MSR145 data loggers as they are very small and at the same time highly multifunctional. In addition, they stood out due to their high level of flexibility, for instance in terms of the sampling rate, the engineer explains. A high sampling rate is required for the actual pressure measurements, as the air can move at up to 20 m\/s inside the pipe, resulting in significant pressure fluctuations within a short time. The MSR data loggers can therefore provide accurate information regarding the pressure ratios and pressure patterns for each time unit and, in particular, monitor the pressure loss. The manageable cost was one of the reasons for purchasing MSR data loggers.<\/p>\n

MSR Data Loggers: All-rounders in measurement technology<\/h3>\n

The mini data loggers are developed and manufactured with Swiss precision by MSR Electronics GmbH, based in Seuzach, near Winterthur. The relatively young company \u2013 which arose from a management buy-out in 2006 \u2013 specialises in miniaturised universal data loggers that can be used autonomously. Using high-speed sensors, the MSR loggers record almost any physical and electrical measured data, such as temperature, humidity, pressure, light intensity, vibrations, as well as externally supplied voltage values. As CEO Wendelin Egli mentions with a smile, his data loggers are by now used globally \u201cfrom upon high \u2013 transportation monitoring in NASA space shuttles \u2013 to deep down \u2013 for measurements in offshore installations in the Atlantic\u201d. In addition to the development of its own products, MSR Electronics GmbH also works on customer-specific orders and projects \u2013 like in the present case study of Festo. Egli is particularly proud of Festo\u2019s contract. Being able to work for the number 1 in automation, explains the CEO, is not only good for the reputation, but the exchange and the fertile co-operation also ensures that his future innovations will comply with his customers\u2019 wishes and requirements.<\/p>\n

Can we also help you with your measuring tasks? We would be pleased to advise you!<\/a><\/p>\n

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