Oil-free blowers protect Becker Underwood bio-process19 July 2012

Bio-products manufacturer Becker Underwood says it has protected the supply of oil- and contaminant-free air for key processes with Atlas Copco ZS low-pressure, oil-free blower technology.

John Godliman, Littlehampton site production manager, says that the plant's original installation - a direct-driven lobe blower supplying process air to the fermenters - was exhibiting oil carry-over and reliability problems.

That, he says, was risking the health of its nematode bio-organisms and contributing to excessive process costs.

"The bio-cultivation process is reliant upon a continuous supply of oil free, filtered and sterile air to aerate the contents of three 25,000 litre fermenters," explains Godliman.

"Oil carry-over would block the filters and restrict the airflow... If the air supply is interrupted for any reason, an entire batch of nematode organisms can perish within a few hours."

Hence the new compressors, which, he says, promised reliable, high quality, low-pressure, oil-free air, as well as reduced process energy costs.

Atlas Copco provided an integrated, oil-free, rotary screw displacement blower with variable speed drive and separate TD 650 after-cooler to reduce the temperature of the air before entering the fermenters.

Its ZS unit is housed in an ISO container to allow the unit to be installed outside and adjacent to the process area. The firm's screw technology requires no lubrication in the compression space, and, with the special seals setup, no rotor bearing oil can enter the compression chamber.

Intake air is compressed between the rotors and their housing and oil-free, pulsation-free air at pressures of 300—1,200 mbar is delivered at an output rate of between 259—1,145 m3/h.

Also, the blower's integrated frequency converter varies the motor speed to match changes in compressed air demand, so minimising energy consumption.

"Actions speak louder than words, and we have now ordered a second unit together with a centralised control system," states Godliman.

Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Atlas Copco UK Holdings Ltd

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