01
Compressor sequencing
Run the right machines together, at the right time.
The approach · Step 03
Optimizations — cut your compressed air costs
Cut your compressed air costs: sequencing, pressure band, heat recovery, VSD. Optimizations prioritized and costed by Onyx M3.
1 What we target
The optimizations
An à la carte menu. Based on your system’s profile, we keep the most cost-effective levers — from a pressure adjustment to a subsidy-backed equipment replacement.
02
Operating pressure bands
~1% energy per 2 psi. Every psi counts.
03
Eliminating inappropriate uses
Blowing, cooling, agitation… often replaceable.
04
Heat recovery
Reclaim compressor heat — space heating, water, process.
05
Variable-speed drives (VSD)
Match output to real demand, continuously.
06
Equipment replacement
With Hydro-Québec financial incentives where eligible.
07
Obsolete, energy-hungry accessories
Filtration and distribution brought up to standard.
08
Eliminating over-maintenance
Stop paying for work that adds nothing.
09
Maintenance routes
Optimize service frequencies and routes.
10
Condensate treatment
Oil-water separation, environmental compliance.
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And more
The levers we choose depend on your system’s real profile.
2 Concrete ballpark figures
Savings examples
Three classic levers, costed on Québec assumptions. Indicative — your actual gains depend on your installation.
Lowering pressure by 10 psi (~0.7 bar) on 200 HP of compressors — 8,000 h/yr, $0.08/kWh
≈ $5,100/yr
~64,000 kWh — rule of thumb: ~1% per 2 psi
Eliminating 3,000 h of unloaded running on a 100 HP compressor — $0.08/kWh
≈ $4,800/yr
~60,000 kWh — unloaded ≈ 25% of full load
Shutting down a 75 HP compressor running 8,000 h/yr — $0.08/kWh
≈ $38,400/yr
~480,000 kWh — at full load
Indicative estimates. Assumptions: ~0.8 kW/HP at full load, unloaded ≈ 25% of full load, ~1% energy per 2 psi. Actual savings vary by system.
3 Interactive tool
Estimate your leak cost — and the savings within reach
Three inputs are all it takes. The simulator applies industry statistics (U.S. DOE) to put a dollar figure on your leaks and on what you can recover quickly.
01 · Your system
Add up the nameplate HP of the compressors in service (e.g., 2 × 100 HP = 200).
HP
Hours during which at least one compressor is running.
Not sure? Leave $0.08 — a typical industrial rate in Québec.
$/kWh
Without a recent survey, most plants lose 20–30% of their compressed air to leaks (U.S. DOE). Pick the closest profile.
What it means
Savings within quick reach
$12,800 /yr
≈ half of all leaks, fixed without major investment.
Annual loss to leaks $25,600
Lost flow — the equivalent of a 50 HP compressor running for nothing 200 SCFM
Annual compressed air cost $102,400
Get your leaks measured (audit) Assumptions: ~0.8 kW/HP at full load; ~4 SCFM/HP at ~100 psi. Leak statistics: U.S. DOE / Compressed Air Challenge — a plant without a repair program typically loses 20–30% of its compressed air to leaks; a well-managed system stays under 10%; about half of all leaks (couplers, hoses, drains) can be fixed without major investment. Leak repair is a maintenance activity: it is not eligible for Hydro-Québec incentives (which target energy-efficiency projects). Indicative estimates; actual results vary.
Let’s talk about your compressed air system
A free consultation to pinpoint your fastest wins.