Will reducing the inlet air temperature to a compressor increase its efficiency? In a world of sound bites, people become obsessed with simple, easy answers. The oft-quoted rule about inlet air temperature goes something like this: Each 5°F reduction in inlet air temperature nets a 1% gain in efficiency. How many times have you heard statements like this? Others include:
• Install the air intake on the north side in the shade.
• Pre-cooling the inlet air always increases efficiency.
The unvarnished truth is this: The temperature rule holds true for some compressors, but not all compressors.
To read the rest of this Plant Services article, visit: http://www.plantservices.com/articles/2009/011.html.