Nihon Sanki Shinbun
September 2, 2002

Denso Adopts SMC Blow Gun For Energy Saving Pneumatic System

Nations worldwide are setting target values of CO₂ reduction to combat against global warming and have started to work out specific procedures. In Japan they are initiating the program: Scheme to Promote Measures Against Global Warming designed in March, 2002. The program has established a 7% target of CO₂ exhaust reduction for the year 2010 compared with the amount exhausted in 1990.

This can be a new commercial opportunity to promote further development and utilization of energy saving technology and equipment, though the target value seems substantially severe for Japanese companies that have been leading the world’s energy saving technology.

For industries, which see cost cut as their supreme mission, this movement will serve to achieve two purposes at a time by aiming to make the most efficient use of direct consumption of oil and electricity to achieve CO₂ reduction. For this reason, energy saving equipment is regarded as promising future products.

Currently, energy consumption is under review in every industry, including one involving pneumatic systems. Japan Fluid Power Association, an industrial group, is active in campaign for education because “pneumatics is one of the remaining mines for energy saving.” Since conventional solutions only dealt with equipment directly utilizing electricity, pneumatics has not made a large contribution to energy saving effects.


                                                    

It was SMC, the leading company in the industry, that turned attention to this point. In recommending energy saving measures for a pneumatic system, the company proposed promoting awareness of energy saving (cost saving) in the field by finding and controlling each volume of air consumed in the existing system.

According to SMC’s analysis, electricity consumed at a typical plant consists of 20% consumption for pneumatics (compressors), 30% for coolant and 50% for other purposes. The consumption for pneumatics can be further divided into 70% for air blow, 20% for air leakage and 10% for actuators. Therefore, the reduction of air blow and air leakage is considered to be the first step in energy conservation at a plant.

In this case, what proved effective here was a blow gun developed by SMC. This is an important strategic product with reduced air loss, large working force and small air consumption. Conventionally, the actual condition of air blow consumption, which accounts for 70%, was not properly recognized by users. They merely wanted air output and considered: “The larger the hole and the higher the air flow rate, the better.” This product could change consumer's mind to an idea that would suit the company’s energy saving plans: “What is required of an air blow is not a flow rate but a force. Thus it is better to achieve a high pressure with a small flow rate.”

One of SMC’s major users has successfully reduced air consumption to half without affecting the supply pressure. According to a simulation, in case of a plant using 100 units of blow guns, a cost reduction of 4.77 million yen per year can be achieved (assuming 3 yen/m² for compressed air, 0.5 MPa pressure and 8-hours/day operation time). For example, Denso has cut 40% of yearly electric consumption and received Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award.

SMC is sponsoring and proceeding with energy saving seminars for users and distributors in major cities and has already seen some distributors producing sales results as a priority product.