Selecting the Right Blower for Your Application

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Selecting The Right Blower For Your Application

• By Air Power Products

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Introduction

• There are several different types of blowers in
  the market. In many applications, air flow and
  pressure (or vacuum) level requirements may
  determine what type of blower should be used.
  There are many areas however, where there may be
  over-lapping in performance capabilities.
• It is those areas, this may require a more
  in-depth evaluation of blowers that could
  potentially be used. The performance ranges that
  are likely to require additional consideration
  are in the volumetric capacities up to 1000 CFM,
  pressures up to 8 PSIG, or vacuum levels to
  around 15 Hg.

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Introduction (contd.)

• Some of the common blower choices in these ranges
  may include
• Regenerative (side channel) blowers (single stage
  or 2-stage)
• Rotary Lobe Positive Displacement Blowers
• Multiple Stage Centrifugal Blowers
• High Speed Centrifugal/Turbine-type blowers
• Rotary Vane Blowers
• Liquid Ring Compressors/Vacuum Pumps
• Rotary Claw Pumps

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When Applying Any of These Blower Types, Some of
The Considerations May be

• Mechanical Efficiency. (which blower will do the
  job for the least energy?)
• Maintenance requirements affecting long term
  operating cost.
• Operating noise levels.
• Compatibility of materials of construction with
  air borne or ingested gases that may exist in the
  installation environment.
• Space limitations.
• Initial Capital cost.
• Installation requirements and cost.
• Reliability.
• Is the supplier of the product a reliable source
  for future parts requirements or replacement of
  the product.

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Single Stage Regenerative Blowers
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Single Stage Regenerative Blowers

• Performance range
• Single Stage Regenerative Blowers pressure range
  is of 1-5 PSIG in the 200 to 700 CFM range.
  Pressures up to 4 PSIG under 100 CFM.
• Benefits
• Lowest initial capital cost
• Low installation cost
• Most Compact
• Least Maintenance (totally dry pump, bearings are
  the main wear item)
• Low noise levels
• Reliable under normal operating conditions

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Single Stage Regenerative Blowers (contd.)

• Disadvantages
• Limited to smaller flows as shown above. In the
  high end of the pressure range, mechanical
  efficiencies may be lower than other blower
  types.
• Not usually available in special materials of
  construction, so not always suitable for
  corrosive/harsh environments.
• Not suitable where water or particulate may be
  ingested.

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2-Stage Regenerative Blowers
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2-stage Regenerative Blowers

• Performance range
• 2-Stage Regenerative Blowers pressure range of
  3-6 PSIG UP TO 100 CFM range. Pressure range of
  4-8 PSIG from 100 to 700 CFM range.
• Benefits and Disadvantages are same as Single
  Stage Regenerative Blowers.

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Rotary Lobe Blowers
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Rotary Lobe Blowers

• Performance range
• Rotary Lobe Blowers pressure range up to 15 PSIG,
  approximately 20 CFM and up.
• Benefits
• Mid-range initial capital cost
• Mid-range installation cost
• Larger footprint requires more space.
• Available in various materials of construction so
  may be adapted to applications with
  corrosive/harsh environments.
• Good mechanical efficiency when driven at
  conservative speeds.
• Adapts well to variable frequency drives for
  control or flow.

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Rotary Lobe Blowers (contd.)

• Disadvantages
• Higher noise levels especially when driven at
  higher speeds.
• Many versions are belt driven requiring more
  maintenance. Some models may be direct driven at
  motor speeds through a flexible coupling. For
  those models, take into consideration the sound
  levels at the higher speeds.
• Require more space than some other types.
• Requires changing of gear oil at required
  intervals

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Multi-Stage Centrifugal
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Multi-Stage Centrifugal Blowers

• Performance Range
• Multi-Stage Centrifugal is best suited for larger
  volumes (over 700 CFM) and for pressures up to
  approximately 20 PSIG.
• Benefits
• Higher capacities and pressure/vacuum
  capabilities
• Mostly direct driven
• Low maintenance
• Disadvantages
• Higher capital costs
• Less compact at lower end of the performance
  range
• Not always well suited for variable speed drives
  due to surging.

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Rotary Vane Dry Vane Type
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Rotary Vane Dry Vane Type

• Performance Range
• Rotary Vane Dry Vane type for lower volumes up
  to approximately 200 CFM, and for higher pressure
  or vacuum levels.
• Best suited for vacuums to approximately 20-25
  Hg. or for small volumes to pressures up to 15
  PSIG. Most popular for smaller systems requiring
  under 50 CFM flow.
• Benefits
• Low initial capital cost.
• Most are direct driven, so no vee belt
  maintenance.
• Compact and well suited for mounting on process
  equipment.
• Low noise levels.

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Rotary Vane Dry Vane Type (Contd.)

• Disadvantages
• Carbon composite vanes require replacement at
  specified Intervals, in addition to bearings and
  seals.
• Limited in volumetric performance range.
• Usually require outlet filter to capture carbon
  residue from vanes.

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Liquid Ring Pumps
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Liquid Ring Pumps

• Performance Range
• Liquid Ring Pumps have very broad range and
  suitable for pressures vacuum levels to
  approximately 100 PSIG and 29.5 Hg. They are
  available in single and 2-stage pumps enter
  into the compressor performance pressure range.
• More suited to vacuum applications, but can be
  used for specialty pressure applications where
  corrosive gases may be a factor, and special
  materials of construction may be needed.
• Benefits
• Special materials of constructions to suit
  corrosive applications.
• Quiet Operation
• Simple design, relatively low maintenance.
• Usually direct driven, so no vee belt
  maintenance.
• As compressors, air discharge temperature is
  maintained at a low level due to the contact with
  the water ring, so no after-cooling is required.
• As vacuum pumps, some solid particles,
  condensable vapors and gases can be flushed
  through the pump without damaging effects.

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Liquid Ring Pumps(Contd.)

• Disadvantages
• Require water or other seal liquid. If a once
  through water system is used, operating costs
  will be high. Although water may be partially
  recovered, the system will require more control
  features.
• As a compressor, pumps are inefficient operating
  at higher pressures, and will be more suitable
  for lower pressure applications (under 20-30
  PSIG).
• When water is used as the seal liquid, calcium
  deposits may build up over time, and could affect
  downstream components or air quality when used as
  a compressor.
• Installation costs will be higher due to water
  supply requirements and control of feed water.

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Rotary Claw Pumps
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Rotary Claw Pumps

• Performance Range
• Rotary Claw Pumps are generally used for vacuum
  service up to approximately 24 Hg. and volumes
  under 1000 CFM.
• Benefits
• Mechanically high efficiency operation.
• Compact design reasonably small footprint.
• Direct driven so no vee belts.
• Usually supplied with vacuum limiting regulator
  to prevent operation at excessive limits, which
  could result in over-temperature.

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Rotary Claw Pumps

• Disadvantages
• High initial capital cost.
• Gear oil will require changing at specified
  times.
• As they are air-cooled, they should be protected
  with temperature and vacuum level
  monitoring/limiting devices.

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THANK YOU
Company Air Power Products Limited Website
www.airpowerproducts.com Address 191 Shearson
Crescent, Cambridge, ON , N1T 1J5, Canada Email
info_at_airpowerproducts.com Phone
888.622.2034 Fax [phone]