This　article　optimized　the　energy　process　of　an　industrial　compressed　air　system　based　on　the　Total　Site　Integration　(TSI)　theory.　The　current　circumstance　of　air　compressors　in　China　and　their　relevant　improving　approaches　were　described.　A　global　optimization　method　was　subsequently　proposed　and　applied　to　analyze　the　integrated　energy　process　in　compressed　air　system.　Relationship　between　the　global　and　local　optimization　methods　was　also　discussed.　The　research　results　indicated　the　global　optimization　method　was　able　to　enhance　the　energy　performance　of　compressed　air　system,　which　would　further　reduce　the　share　of　energy　consumption　in　industrial　sector　and　substitute　the　carbon　intensive　fuels　worldwide.　©　The　author(s)　and/or　their　employer(s),　2013.