Not just a supplier of industrial air compressors, Airblast considers the
compressor as just one part of a system that incorporates
the compressor itself plus ancillary equipment i.e. receiver,
refrigerant drier, interconnecting pipe work plus planning
installation and after sales service.
Airblast
offers Ingersoll Rand's extensive range of compressors
The three basic types of air compressors generally available
include:
Reciprocating compressors
Rotary compressors
Centrifugal compressors
These
general types of compressors may be further divided into:
Single or
Multi (two, three, or
four) Stage
Packaged or
Non-Packaged
Air Cooled or
Water Cooled
Lubricated or
Non-Lubricated
Let's briefly review these three
basic types of air compressors.
Reciprocating air compressors are positive displacement
compressors. This means they are taking in successive
volumes of air which is confined within a closed space
and elevating this air to a higher pressure. The reciprocating
air compressor accomplishes this by using a piston within
a cylinder as the compressing and displacing element.
The reciprocating air compressor is considered single
acting when the compressing is accomplished using only
one side of the piston. A compressor using both sides
of the piston is considered double acting.
The reciprocating air compressor uses a number of automatic
spring loaded valves in each cylinder that open only when
the proper differential pressure exists across the valve.
Inlet valves open when the pressure in the cylinder is
slightly below the intake pressure. Discharge valves open
when the pressure in the cylinder is slightly above the
discharge pressure.
A compressor is considered to be single stage when the
entire compression is accomplished with a single cylinder
or a group of cylinders in parallel. Many applications
involve conditions beyond the practical capability of
a single compression stage. Too great a compression ration
(absolute discharge pressure/absolute intake pressure)
may cause excessive discharge temperature or other design
problems.
For practical purposes most plant air reciprocating air
compressors over 100 horsepower are built as multi-stage
units in which two or more steps of compression are grouped
in series. The air is normally cooled between the stages
to reduce the temperature and volume entering the following
stage.
Reciprocating air compressors are available either as
air-cooled or water-cooled in lubricated and non-lubricated
configurations, may be packaged, and provide a wide range
of pressure and capacity selections.
Rotary air compressors are positive displacement compressors.
The most common rotary air compressor is the single stage
helical or spiral lobe oil flooded screw air compressor.
These compressors consist of two rotors within a casing
where the rotors compress the air internally. There are
no valves. These units are basically oil cooled (with
air cooled or water cooled oil coolers) where the oil
seals the internal clearances.
Since the cooling takes place right inside the compressor,
the working parts never experience extreme operating temperatures.
The rotary compressor, therefore, is a continuous duty,
air-cooled or water cooled compressor package.
Because of the simple design and few wearing parts, rotary
screw air compressors are easy to maintain, operate and
provide great installation flexibility. Rotary air compressors
can be installed on any surface that will support the
static weight.
The two-stage oil flooded rotary screw air compressor
uses pairs of rotors in a combined airend assembly. Compression
is shared between the first and second stages flowing
in series. This increases the overall compression efficiency
up to fifteen percent of the total full load kilowatt
consumption. The two-stage rotary air compressor combines
the simplicity and flexibility of a rotary screw compressor
with the energy efficiency of a two stage double acting
reciprocating air compressor. Two stage rotary screw air
compressors are available air-cooled and water-cooled
and fully packages.
The oil free rotary screw air compressor utilizes specially
designed airends to compress air without oil in the compression
chamber yielding true oil free air. Oil free rotary screw
air compressors are available air-cooled and water-cooled
and provide the same flexibility as oil flooded rotaries
when oil free air is required.
As you can see, rotary screw air compressors are available
air cooled and water cooled, oil flooded and oil free,
single stage and two stage. There is a wide range of availability
in configuration and in pressure and capacity.
The centrifugal air compressor is a dynamic compressor
which depends on transfer of energy from a rotating impeller
to the air. The rotor accomplishes this by changing the
momentum and pressure of the air. This momentum is converted
to useful pressure by slowing the air down in a stationary
diffuser.
The centrifugal air compressor is an oil free compressor
by design. The oil lubricated running gear is separated
from the air by shaft seals and atmospheric vents.
The centrifugal is a continuous duty compressor, with
few moving parts, that is particularly suited to high
volume applications--especially where oil free air is
required.
Centrifugal air compressors are water-cooled and may be
packaged; typically the package includes the after cooler
and all controls.
Ingersoll-Rand
also offer a (60 month all inclusive parts and labour)
mechanical and electrical warranty on the complete compressor.
You must however have the equipment serviced according
to the manufacturers recommendations which stipulates
service intervals of 6 monthly or 2000 run hours whichever
occurs first.
This policy will give full package warranty up to and
including 60 months from machine commission date.
The AirCare 60 month warranty policy must be purchased
within 12 months from commission date, as it is based
on condition monitoring, using coolant checks and vibration
analysis (55kW – 350kW machines only) which commences
from the 150 hour service visit.
In addition to the new Ingersoll range Airblast offers
a reconditioned option. The compressors include re-wound
motor, re-bearinged air end plus a full service. It is
with this in mind that we are able to issue all such units
with a 12 month warranty.
Times have changed. It used to be maintaining, servicing,
and repairing your compressed air system was simply a
matter of committing a few labour hours each month. Today,
keeping your system operating at peak efficiency requires
thorough knowledge of the technology, and investment in
monitoring equipment and ongoing training. These are costs
that many industrial companies--even the biggest one--cannot
afford.
So, at Airblast, we assume that responsibility for our
customers. Our fully-trained service engineers represent
the industry's largest investments in ongoing training
and equipment. The result is responsive and flexible contract
maintenance programs, guaranteed to keep your compressed
air system running at peak performance.
A properly conducted audit of your compressed air system
provides you with the only sure way to manage the often
mysterious workings of your air system.
Benefits of a Correctly configured Compressed
Air System:
Reduced operating costs
Improved manufacturing
productivity
Reduced capital spending
 In
today’s pressurised global economy he economics of energy
saving make sound financial sense. International agreements
on global warming mean that companies have to undertake
energy saving measures as a matter of course if they are
not to suffer financially from legislation such as the
Climate Change Levy. However, what is not widely realised
is that the savings made, often at relatively low cost
to their ongoing value, are a direct profit contribution
to a company’s bottom line. That's where a professional
Air Audit can help by addressing the total process of
producing compressed air... not just the compressors.
It's about taking compressed air, looking at it as your
fourth utility, and making compressed air as dependable
as your electric, water and gas services.
Airblast Compressor Services have adopted 'EnergAir' technology,
in conjunction with our manufacturers' own audit systems
to enable the compressed air user to utilise the maximum
potential of their compressed air systems, putting in
place control and monitoring products that will make a
noticeable difference in a matter of days. This is important
because compressed air represents 10% of all industrial
electrical consumption and in many cases, companies use
their compressors inefficiently and have inadequate distribution
systems.
Your air system problems require total solutions. A professionally
conducted Air Audit will help you define system problems,
whether they are in demand, distribution or supply, allowing
you to develop cost-efficient solutions that meet your
return on investment goals.
Please call for more information |
