February 2021

Process, Controls & Plant Focus on: Compressed Air example, the tri-lobe rotors incorporated into the latest generation of low- noise, low-vibration, low-pulsation blowers are capable of sweeping nearly six times the volume of air in a single revolution compared to their belt-driven, twin-lobe predecessors. On average, this older technology experiences 5% - 7% more transmission losses. An important advantage of the direct-drive,?oil-free, rotary screw blowers?is wide turndown, especially on models with integrated inverter drives. This allows the units to match the airflows to the daily and seasonal variations in the effluent inflow, resulting in additional energy savings. In order to cope with fluctuations in air demand, screw blower technology can operate from 100% capacity to 25% with very little change in specific power requirement. The full picture of blower technology is a catalogue of comparative technical features and benefits that merit earnest consideration at the point of equipment replacement or site expansion decisions. The best solution will be one that ticks all the boxes on questions of the type of blower technology, its physical size and capacity, its level of energy efficiency, and total cost of ownership. There should be positive feedback too on issues such as whether it is designed for oil-free operation, minimum maintenance, and extended service intervals. The ultimate aim is for a blower system that provides total reliability, guaranteed continuity of process operations, and combines optimum performance with protection of the process, the environment and operational energy costs. Case study Rotary screw blowers: lower energy costs and quieter operation As a practical example of the rotary screw blower’s superior performance in industry, Frito Lay, an affiliate of PepsiCo Foods in Turkey, reinforced its leader position in environmental awareness by achieving an average of 30% energy efficiency, lower operating costs and minimum noise levels by installing Atlas Copco’s ZS screw blower technology within its water treatment facility. Installed back in 2010, there have been no unexpected shutdowns due to failure since the first operation of the blowers which operate for a minimum of 18 hours per day, seven days a week, depending on the need of the facility. Currently, no protection is necessary inside the treatment facility’s blower room, where it was once required to wear protective ear defenders. Noise level at one metre is as low as 70 dB(A). At the heart of the Atlas Copco ZS rotary screw blower system, state-of-the-art, close-tolerance screw elements incorporate years of experience and innovation to deliver 100% oil-free, pulsation-free air. Unique in the industry, they carry a 5-year warranty of reliability. As an additional benefit, all ZS+ blowers are complete with an Elektronikon operating system to provide control and enable smart remote monitoring of the overall system performance status, and to increase the blowers’ efficiency and reliability. Furthermore, dissolved oxygen (DO) meter feedback-based blower control not only supports the effective biological process in ETP but also saves energy. T: +44(0)1443 772500 E: sales@measuremonitorcontrol.com How Efficient Is Your Compressed Air Generation? Power Consumption and Free Air Delivery (FAD): S551 Compressed Air Analyser with S110-P Power Meter and S430 Flow Meter Why rely solely on electrical consumption to benchmark a compressor, when you can measure the flow at the same time? Particle, Dew Point and Residual Oil Vapour: S600 & S601 Compressed Air Purity Analysers Why calibrate 3 different instruments annually when one covers all 3 functions and is available for portable or fixed applications? Innovative Measurement Solutions from SUTO-iTEC GmbH