Lunching and learning about compressed air

Atlas Copco Compressors is furthering in-depth understanding of compressed air through its innovative 'lunch and learn' series of events. Engineers, technicians and energy managers can gain a valuable insight into every aspect of a compressed air system, such as energy-saving techniques, by attending one of the events which are held at their own organisation's site.

A typical example of a 'lunch and learn' event was held recently at the Sellafield Visitor Centre in Cumbria. It saw nearly fifty process and site services engineers from British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL) attend the morning and afternoon seminar sessions and enjoy a complimentary buffet lunch with the chance to speak, in detail, with specialists from Atlas Copco.

Delegates on this occasion were introduced to the benefits of compressed air system energy audits and leak detection, the savings made possible with variable speed drive equipment, the contribution of optimised control systems, and the utility of on-site nitrogen generation.

Refer to pictures on the right: Atlas Copco Compressors is furthering in-depth understanding of compressed air through its innovative 'lunch and learn' series of events, such as the one held at the Sellafield Visitor Centre in Cumbria.

Speaking about the events, John Forman, Communications Manager from Atlas Copco said, "The on-site location of the lunch and learn events makes them particularly effective. Attendees can make very efficient use of time as our compressed air specialists are able to provide application-specific information."

Atlas Copco Compressors in profile
Atlas Copco Compressors is a division of Atlas Copco United Kingdom and provides oil-free and oil-injected stationary air compressors, portable air compressors, gas and process compressors, turbo expanders, electric power generators, air treatment equipment (such as compressed air dryers, coolers, and filters) and air management systems. 

Atlas Copco Compressors' nationwide sales and distribution network means that specialist compressed air advice and customer service is always within easy reach. A team of 80 service engineers operates out of eight regional service centres across the country, to ensure maximum running efficiency and minimum downtime at its customers' sites. 

Atlas Copco in the United Kingdom handles the sales and marketing of, compressors, generators, construction and mining equipment, industrial power tools and assembly systems - all backed up by a nationwide sales, distribution, service and maintenance network.

If company's or individual engineers are interested in booking or attending a 'lunch and learn' event, e-mail: john.forman@uk.atlascopco.com

Engineers vote Atlas Copco compressor Best Product 2008 

A 6000-strong panel, consisting mainly of production and process engineers, has voted Atlas Copco Compressors' new GA 90-160 kW range its favourite new product of 2008. Atlas Copco's most energy-efficient oil-injected compressor range won the Best Product Award in the Pumps and Compressors category of the annual competition organised by P&A magazine in Germany. With a compressor package offering a Specific Energy Requirement (SER) as low as 350 Joule/litre, the GA features extremely energy efficient consumption which helped it to beat off competition from five other new compressors from other manufacturers.

A wide range of industries use oil-injected compressors: coal-fired power plants, mining, shipping and ship-building, as well as cement, glass and tyre manufacturing companies. Patrick Fradin, Head of Energy at Michelin's Avallon site in France, explains: "It is my objective to reduce energy costs per tonne of production. Together with Atlas Copco we have calculated that by replacing our four working compressors with two new GA 132 VSDs, we can save 736 400 kWh yearly. I was surprised when I saw the potential savings on the consumption. I also think that there will be a lot less maintenance to do."

For industry, an independent award such as this is a reliable way of knowing the best new products on the market today. "When companies see a product with the Best Product Award Winner's seal they know it's been vetted by a multitude of professionals," notes Reimund Scherff, Business Line Manager for Atlas Copco Oil-free Air in Germany. "These are the technical breakthroughs industry is talking about -- and the ones we all want to own."

Atlas Copco Compressors' new GA 90-160 kW range.

Scherff continues: "The award confirms our effort to develop technically excellent, innovative products that allow process industry users, for instance, to manufacture with greater productivity and energy efficiency."

The Specific Energy Requirement (SER) of the new Atlas Copco GA range (3.5 to 14 bar(e)) is world class, using up to 11% less electricity than the previous GA models. There is a GA compressor package with an integrated water separator at optimum Specific Energy Requirement (SER) of 350 Joule/litre according to ISO 1217 edition 3 annex C (1996).

According to a 2001 study financed by the European Commission, "Compressed air plays a very large part in the industrial energy consumption since it counts for approx. 12% of the current consumption... Motor driven systems account for approximately 50% of the electricity consumed in Europe." The authors claim that "even a small efficiency improvement can lead to relevant energy savings." (Source: http://www.leonardo-energy.org/drupal/files/2008/EE_Motors__ver0000B.pdf?download).

The new GA 160 VSD offers an exceptional free air delivery (FAD) turndown range from 100% to 17%. This oil-injected compressor range has pioneered the integration of the water separator into the compressed air cooling system. The new GA is Atlas Copco's first air compressor to offer VSD-controlled cooling fans, reducing overall consumption. Saver Cycle Control technology results in optimised energy use by the dryer. The GA is able to operate in ambient temperatures of up to 55 degrees centigrade, at a maximum noise level of 71 dBA. Oil filter and the air inlet filter lifetimes have been doubled, directly impacting on operating costs and compressor runtime.

For further information, e-mail: gba.info@uk.atlascopco.com or view website: www.atlascopco.co.uk     

New scroll compressor range from Atlas
Copco gives total flexibility and 100% oil-free air

Atlas Copco Compressors has launched a new range of oil-free scroll compressors which offer both flexibility and 100% oil-free air. The new SF 17-22 kW range has been designed specifically for sensitive, point-of-use, oil-free air applications in locations such as hospitals, laboratories, breweries, university departments or within the pharmaceuticals production environment. These innovative units represent the most significant achievements in increased application flexibility, reduced operating costs and improved ease of use.

The SF 17 and 22 oil-free multi-scroll compressors consist of up to four new 5.5 kW compressor element modules, making it possible to adapt the compressor to the required application air demand with increased flexibility in comparison to the previous 3.7 kW element and the SF 11 to 15 kW models.

These new element modules can be combined in two different ways: the SF multi-core and the SF multi-duplex. The cost-efficient SF multi-core configuration enables economic operation by combining several 5.5 kW elements within one canopy.  To save energy, one or more of the modules can be shut down whenever there is a reduction in air demand.  Equally, if there is a future increase in plant air demand, the SF 17 can be upgraded to an SF 22 kW with the aid of a simple kit.  This makes the SF 17-22 a very cost efficient source of oil-free air at a low initial investment both for current and foreseeable requirements.

The SF multi-duplex consists of 1 or 2 elements, backed up respectively by 1 or 2 additional elements, integrated within a sound-insulated enclosure. This SF multi-duplex design is compliant with all the stringent redundancy standards that apply within the medical sector.

In scroll compressors, air compression is achieved by the interaction of a fixed and an orbiting scroll. Air at inlet pressure enters the compression chamber at the exterior side of the scroll element and once the air is drawn in, the orbiting scroll seals off the inlet port. As the scroll continues to orbit, the air is progressively compressed into an increasingly smaller 'pocket'. A continuous flow of compressed air leaves the scroll element through the discharge port in the centre of the fixed scroll. This process is continuously repeated, resulting in the delivery of pulse-free, 100% oil-free compressed air.

Atlas Copco's 100% oil-free scroll compressor technology protects both the application/production process and the end product quality while fulfilling the most stringent requirements for pure and clean oil-free air.

By optimising cooling flow design, pressure drop and lower inlet air temperature, Atlas Copco has increased the compressors' reliability and performance levels.  This results in a free air delivery (FAD) up to 51% higher and specific energy requirements (SER) down 6% for the new SF 17-22 range in comparison to the previous multi-scroll models.

The compressors' integrated Energy Saver System (ESi) monitors and controls the running hours of each element module, and equalises wear so that service visits can be combined to assist in optimising application processes and minimising plant downtime.  To the same end, the compressor design provides convenient access to each of the element modules to expedite servicing operations.

The silenced enclosure, down to 65 dB(A), of the SF 17-22 means that the unit can be placed at the point of use. The integrated dryer, full-feature concept reduces installation costs and minimises pressure drops thereby saving energy. Equally, there is no increase in the compressor footprint requirement, even with the enhanced performance which these scroll units offer.

The introduction of the SF 17-22 further extends Atlas Copco's product portfolio of oil-free air compressors.  The SF 17-22 provides total flexibility in adapting to air demand while being an efficient, compact source of 100% oil-free compressed air.

For further information, e-mail: gba.info@uk.atlascopco.com or view website: www.atlascopco.co.uk    Refer to next page