If you’ve been around the compressor block a time or two, you may have heard of Centrifugal air compressors before. These extra-large, energy-converting machines are well known for their efficiency and size.
If your facility production requires 500 HP or more, you should be considering a Centrifugal air compressor.
Efficiency meets power
Centrifugal air compressor horsepower ranges from 300 to 30,000. To put that into perspective, a typical highly efficient oil-flooded air compressor maxes out around 600 horsepower. That’s a huge difference.
Some facilities are using 10 or more 600 HP compressors to put out 6,000 HP of energy when they could condense their machinery down to one 6,000 HP centrifugal compressor or two 3,000 HP units.
And while centrifugals are already considered the most efficient means of compressing air, making a leap such as replacing multiple smaller machines with centrifugal compressors will result in significant energy savings. And who doesn’t want to find a cheaper way to achieve higher efficiency?
Reliable and low maintenance
One of the reasons centrifugal compressors are so cost-efficient is their generally low maintenance requirements. Besides routine check-ups, the occasional air filter, oil filter, and gear box lubrication, these giant machines stay efficient and reliable around the clock.
Speaking of compressor life, centrifugal compressors run 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-per-week and can last 40 years with proper maintenance. That’s over 350k hours of work time from one machine. That’s pretty impressive.
Oil Free, anyone?
Yep, Centrifugal compressors are entirely oil free. The only lubricant in the air stream will come from the surrounding atmosphere – which means centrifugals are appropriate for almost any application.
How can I control my Centrifugal Compressor?
While centrifugal compressors are very efficient, if not controlled properly, they can quickly become the opposite. Sullair centrifugal compressors have stainless steel inlet guide vanes that allow the compressor to efficiently turn back from 30 to 40% of the full load CFM.
Because air temperature and other factors can affect this ability, it is best to use a proven Allen Bradley control system by Case controls to ensure that you can always get the maximum turn down.
Is one Centrifugal equal to another?
The short answer is no. Just like other compressed air units, there are a multitude of Centrifugal brands and capabilities available. While the title of Centrifugal generally indicates a high horsepower machine, they are not all one-size-fits-all.
Sullair’s Centrifugal air compressors stands far above other brands when it comes to reliability and productivity. Apart from the reputation of the company, there are a few features about a Sullair brand Centrifugal compressor that stand out from other brands.
A few of these Sullair-specific designs include:
- Titanium impellers -Stronger allowing for longer life with more precision
- Air path epoxy lined – for protection from erosion and corrosion
- Once through coolers for easy cleaning
- Stainless steel inlet guide vanes for longer life
So, if you think you may be in the market for Centrifugal-produced air power, contact us and we’ll help you assess your best compressor options.