Gardner Denver has released a new air-cooled version of its Ultima technology, the first air-cooled oil-free compressor to offer heat recovery for process water.
With the air-cooled model capable of recovering up to 98% of heat generated during compression, cost savings are possible. The technology’s patented closed package cooling system means the energy captured when compressing air can be used to provide process water heating, delivering usable water temperatures of up to 85 degrees C.
Operators can choose between either air-cooling, water-cooling or both, depending on the most economic means of cooling at the time. For example, air-cooling might be more cost-effective to use during the winter period, as the heated cooling air can then be re-purposed for space heating in a facility. On the other hand, during summer months, when there is no demand for space heating, a water-cooled operating mode might be more economic.
Its highly-engineered oil-free airends, designed and manufactured at Gardner Denver’s Centre of Excellence in Simmern, Germany, feature a special coating to help protect the machinery and avoid performance degradation throughout its lifetime.
Ultima is also the quiet, with noise levels not exceeding 70 dB(a) for the air-cooled model.
It is available with a pressure range from 4 to 10 bar, volume flow from 6.7 to 23.9 m3/min at 8 bar, and motor power from 75 to 160 kW. The technology is equipped with iConn, Gardner Denver’s digital analytics platform, too, helping operators to measure, optimise and improve compressed air usage.
The oldest known working Gardner compressor dates from 1936 and is housed at The University of Manchester.
