Air Compressors

July 2022

Technical bulletin on developing the standards and test procedures

On April 1, 2022, the Office of Energy Efficiency at Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) updated its Forward Regulatory Plan which identifies its intention to amend Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations (the Regulations) to introduce air compressors as a new energy-using product, including energy efficiency and testing standards. The intent is to align with energy efficiency and testing standards in the United States (U.S.).

This technical bulletin has been released to initiate the consultation process and to collect stakeholder views on the requirements being considered for air compressors.

Input received during this stage of the process will inform the development of the next amendments considered. In addition, NRCan will undertake a cost-benefit analysis using the best available Canadian market data to assess the economic and environmental impacts of these new standards and to ensure Canadian consumers and businesses benefit from their implementation.

The Government of Canada intends to pre-publish a regulatory proposal in the Canada Gazette, Part I, in 2023.

Background

Air compressors are not currently defined as an energy-using product in the Regulations.

Efficiency standards for air compressors would save energy and reduce overall costs for Canadians. The efficiency standards would also reduce energy-related greenhouse gas emissions and encourage manufacturers to adopt efficient product designs.

In 2018, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and the United States Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Regarding the Canada–United States Regulatory Cooperation Council was signed to move forward on energy efficiency and foster alignment of federal regulations where feasible and appropriate. More recently, in 2021, NRCan and the United States Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) signed the Memorandum of Understanding Between the Department of Natural Resources of Canada and the Department of Energy of the United States of America Concerning Cooperation on Energy, which acknowledges that both countries will collaborate on new and updated energy efficiency and testing standards.

On January 10, 2020, the U.S. DOE published a final rule in the Federal Register pertaining to air compressors, which established new energy efficiency standards (85 FR 1504). This U.S. rule will become mandatory on January 10, 2025.

NRCan is considering amending the Regulations to align with the energy efficiency standards, the testing standards and the manufacturing dates in effect in the U.S.

Product description

Compressor means a machine or apparatus that converts different types of energy into the potential energy of gas pressure for displacement and compression of gaseous media to any higher pressure values above atmospheric pressure and has a pressure ratio at full-load operating pressure greater than 1.3.

Air compressor means a compressor designed to compress air that has an inlet open to the atmosphere or other source of air and is made up of a compression element (bare compressor), driver(s), mechanical equipment to drive the compressor element, and any ancillary equipment.

A compressor means an air compressor that:

is a rotary compressor;
is driven by a brushless electric motor;
is a lubricated compressor;
has a full-load operating pressure greater than or equal to (0.52 MPa) 75 pounds per square inch gauge (psig) and less than or equal to (1.38 MPa) 200 psig;
has full-load actual volume flow rate greater than or equal to 0.99 m3/min (35 cubic feet per minute (cfm)), or is with a compressor motor nominal power greater than or equal to 7.46 kW (10 horsepower (hp));
has a full-load actual volume flow rate less than or equal to 35.4 m3/min (1,250 cfm), or is distributed with a compressor motor nominal power less than or equal to 149.14 kW (200 hp);
is driven by a three-phase electric motor;
is manufactured alone or as a component of another piece of equipment; and
is in one of the equipment classes:

Rotary positive, fixed speed, lubricated, air cooled,
Rotary positive, fixed speed, lubricated, liquid cooled,
Rotary positive, variable speed, lubricated, air cooled and,
Rotary positive, variable speed, lubricated, liquid cooled.

It is not:

a liquid ring compressor;
designed and tested to the requirements of The American Petroleum Institute standard 619, ‘‘Rotary-Type Positive-Displacement Compressors for Petroleum, Petrochemical, and Natural Gas Industries,’’; or
a reciprocating compressor.

Testing standard

NRCan is considering referencing the following testing standard, using an ambulatory incorporation by reference:

Appendix A to Subpart T, Part 431 of Title 10to the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, entitled Uniform Test Method for Certain Air Compressors.

Energy efficiency standard

NRCan is considering aligning the energy efficiency standard, with those of 10 CFR 431 as summarized in the table below:

**Energy efficiency standards being considered for air compressors**
Equipment class	Minimum package isentropic efficiency	ηRegr (package isentropic efficiency reference curve)	d (Percentage loss reduction)
Rotary, lubricated, air-cooled, fixed-speed compressor	ηRegr + (1 − ηRegr) * (d/100)	−0.00928 * ln2(.4719 * V1) + 0.13911 * ln(.4719 * V1) + 0.27110	−15
Rotary, lubricated, air-cooled, variable-speed compressor	ηRegr + (1 − ηRegr) * (d/100)	−0.01549 * ln2(.4719 * V1) + 0.21573 * ln(.4719 * V1) + 0.00905	−10
Rotary, lubricated, liquid-cooled, fixed-speed compressor	0.02349 + ηRegr + (1 − ηRegr) * (d/100)	−0.00928 * ln2(.4719 * V1) + 0.13911 * ln(.4719 * V1) + 0.27110	−15
Rotary, lubricated, liquid-cooled, variable-speed compressor	0.02349 + ηRegr + (1 − ηRegr) * (d/100)	−0.01549 * ln2(.4719 * V1) + 0.21573 * ln(.4719 * V1) + 0.00905	−15

Text version

The table title is “Energy efficiency standards being considered for air compressors”. There are four vertical columns. The first column provides the equipment class. The second column provides the energy efficiency standard labelled as minimum isentropic efficiency. The third column provides the package isentropic efficiency (η subscript Regr) represented by regression equations. The V subscript 1, in the regression equation represents the compressor full-load actual volume flow rate, expressed in cubic feet per minute. The forth column provides loss reduction in percent labelled as d.

There are four product classes listed. The first equipment class is the rotary, lubricated, air-cooled, fixed-speed compressors with efficiency standard represented by an equation, η_Regr + (1 − η_Regr) * (d/100), which includes both the isentropic efficiency in the form of a second order logarithmic polynomial −0.00928 * ln²(0.4719 * V₁) + 0.13911 * ln(0.4719 * V₁) + 0.27110, involving the compressor full-load actual volume flow rate, expressed in cubic feet per minute and the loss reduction of 15%.

The second equipment class is the rotary, lubricated, air-cooled, variable-speed compressors with efficiency standard represented by an equation, η_Regr + (1 − η_Regr) * (d/100), which includes both the isentropic efficiency in the form of a second order logarithmic polynomial, −0.01549 * ln²(0.4719 * V₁) + 0.21573 * ln(0.4719 * V₁) + 0.00905, involving the compressor full-load actual volume flow rate, expressed in cubic feet per minute and the loss reduction of 10%.

The third equipment class is the rotary, lubricated, liquid-cooled, fixed-speed compressors with efficiency standard represented by an equation, 0.02349 + η_Regr + (1 − η_Regr) * (d/100), which includes a constant 0.02349, the isentropic efficiency in the form of a second order logarithmic polynomial, −0.00928 * ln²(0.4719 * V₁) + 0.13911 * ln(0.4719 * V₁) + 0.27110, involving the compressor full-load actual volume flow rate, expressed in cubic feet per minute and the loss reduction of 15%.

The fourth equipment class is the rotary, lubricated, liquid-cooled, variable-speed compressors with efficiency standard represented by an equation, 0.02349 + η_Regr + (1 − η_Regr) * (d/100), which includes a constant 0.02349, the isentropic efficiency in the form of a second order logarithmic polynomial, −0.01549 * ln²(0.4719 * V₁) + 0.21573 * ln(0.4719 * V₁) + 0.00905, involving the compressor full-load actual volume flow rate, expressed in cubic feet per minute and the loss reduction of 15%.

Instructions for the use of the table above:

To determine the standard level a compressor must meet, the correct equipment class must be identified. The descriptions are in the first column (“Equipment Class”).
The second column (“Minimum Package Isentropic Efficiency”) contains the applicable energy conservation standard level, provided in terms of package isentropic efficiency.
For “Fixed-speed compressor” equipment classes, the relevant Package Isentropic Efficiency is Full-load Package Isentropic Efficiency. For “Variable-speed compressor” equipment classes, the relevant Package Isentropic Efficiency is Part-load Package Isentropic Efficiency. Both Full- and Part-load Package Isentropic Efficiency are determined in accordance with the test standard.
The second column (“Minimum Package Isentropic Efficiency”) references the third column (“ηRegr”), also a function of full-load actual volume flow rate, and the fourth column (“d”). The equations are provided separately to maintain consistency with the language of the preamble and analysis.
The second and third columns contain the term V1, which denotes compressor full-load actual volume flow rate, given in terms of cubic feet per minute (“cfm”) and determined in accordance with the test procedure.

Important dates

These modifications to the Regulations would come into force six months after the date of publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II, and the considered requirements for air compressors would only apply to products manufactured on or after January 10, 2025.

This means that the requirements considered would only apply as of January 10, 2025, or later depending on the date of publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II.

Labelling requirements

NRCan is not considering a mandatory labelling requirement for air compressors.

Verification requirements

NRCan would require that air compressors carry a third party verification mark indicating that the product meets the energy efficiency standards and that information to be reported has been verified.

The verification mark is the mark of a Standards Council of Canada accredited certification body that operates an energy efficiency certification program for the product.

Reporting requirements

Energy efficiency report

The energy efficiency report for air compressors would include the following information:

Name of product (i.e. air compressor)
Brand name
Model number
Name of the manufacturer
Name of the certification body whose verification mark would be affixed to the product
Whether a mathematical model was used to generate any of the product specific information
Type of air compressor (rotary positive, fixed speed, lubricated, air cooled; rotary positive, fixed speed, lubricated, liquid cooled; rotary positive, variable speed, lubricated, air cooled or, rotary positive, variable speed, lubricated, liquid cooled)
Compressor motor nominal power, kW (horse-power)
Full-load package isentropic efficiency or part-load package isentropic efficiency, as applicable (dimensionless)
Full-load actual volume flow rate, m3/min (cubic feet per minute)
Full-load operating pressure, MPa (pounds per square inch, gauge).
Maximum full-flow operating pressure, MPa (pounds per square inch, gauge).
Pressure ratio at full-load operating pressure (dimensionless).
For any ancillary equipment that is installed for test, but is not part of the compressor package, the following must be reported:
- description of the ancillary equipment
- the manufacturer of the ancillary equipment
- the brand of the ancillary equipment (if different from the manufacturer)
- the model number of the ancillary equipment
- the serial number of the ancillary equipment (if applicable)
- the following electrical characteristics, if applicable:
  - input voltage
  - number of phases
  - input frequency

The Regulations apply to products imported or shipped inter-provincially for sale or lease in Canada. This report must be submitted, by the dealer, to NRCan before the product is imported into Canada or traded inter-provincially for the first time.

Import report

A dealer who imports these products into Canada would include the following information on the customs release document:

Name of product
Model number
Brand name
Address of the dealer importing the product
Purpose for which the product is being imported (i.e. for sale or lease in Canada without modification; for sale or lease in Canada after modification to comply with energy efficiency standards; or for use as a component in a product being exported from Canada)

Comments invited

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide stakeholders with the technical detail required to comment on the requirements under consideration for air compressors.

NRCan is specifically interested in getting feedback on:

The manufacturing and coming into force date under consideration, following publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II;
The capability and capacity of certification bodies to certify equipment to the U.S. DOE test standards;
The ability of manufacturers to procure a third-party energy efficiency verification within the specified timeline; and
Shipment and energy consumption data sets for air compressors.

It is important to NRCan that we engage the public and stakeholders on amendments to the Energy Efficiency Regulations. If you are aware of any dealer, manufacturer, importer, retailer, utility provider, small business, consumer group, organization, or representative of a specific group(s) of the population (including, but not limited to, women, 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, socio-economic status, residency, housing status, etc.), Indigenous peoples/communities, and/or other person or group that may be interested in participating in the amendment discussion and/or may be negatively impacted by this proposal, please forward them or the representative this bulletin. Please email equipment-equipement@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca to be added to the email distribution list (emails are used to notify stakeholders of upcoming amendments, technical bulletins, webinar registrations, and official publication in the Canada Gazette).

Additional information on Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations including a current list of Standards Council of Canada accredited certification bodies can be found on the Department’s website.

We welcome your comments by September 15, 2022. All correspondence should be forwarded to:

Natural Resources Canada
Office of Energy Efficiency
580 Booth Street
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0E4

E-mail: equipment-equipement@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

Email subject heading to be: Bulletin – Air Compressors – Compresseurs d'air – July 2022 juillet

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Date modified:: 2023-03-28

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