Is the term used in capacity / power planning that users may not know, but they do ask for it. What they ask is, “Can I safely add new compressed air user /line without overloading and potentially bringing down my facility? Or do I need to buy new compressor? Redundancy is a system design in which a biggest compressor is duplicated so if it fails there will be a backup. Redundancy has a negative connotation when the duplication is unnecessary or is simply the result of poor planning:
System redundancy = ((Total system capacity – System flow capacity) / Biggest compressor capacity) * 100%
How to read system redundancy:
- < 100% – unreliable system without enough backup
- 100% – system has backup capacity for biggest compressor
- 100 – 200% – well designed and reliable system
- 200% – system with overcapacity
- Some systems can have different redundancy requirements, like power plants they are aiming for 300%, pharmaceutical companies 200% …