Iron and Steel Industry
Retrofitting Needs
For customer steel plants, promoting high-quality development, green energy-saving, and low-carbon initiatives by retrofitting high-energy-consuming existing equipment to reduce costs and increase efficiency.
Energy-Saving Solution
Through multi-dimensional evaluation, an efficient retrofitting plan has been formulated: replacing 2 Roots Blowers (232KW) with 1 Air Suspension Centrifugal Blower (150KW), achieving up to 34% energy savings, improving efficiency, reducing energy consumption, and delivering savings while in use.
Retrofitting Advantages
High Efficiency & Energy Savings – Energy-saving rate of up to 34%, with a payback period within one year
Improved Space Utilization – Eliminates unnecessary construction, requires no secondary plant modifications, and enables on-site utilization
Convenient Maintenance – Lubrication-free system, maintenance-free, and avoids secondary pollution
Smart "Expert" – Intelligent operation and maintenance platform featuring remote control, machine alerts, maintenance reminders, and other user-friendly services, reducing labor costs
Annual cost savings of approx. $100,000, with an electricity saving rate of up to 34%
A Magnetic Levitation Blower (also known as a Maglev Blower or Magnetic Bearing Blower) is a type of industrial blower that utilizes magnetic forces to levitate its rotating components (like the impeller and motor shaft). This means there is no physical contact between the moving parts and the stationary parts.
Here's a breakdown of what makes them unique and their key characteristics:
Working Principle: Instead of traditional mechanical bearings (like ball bearings or oil-lubricated bearings), magnetic levitation blowers use a system of electromagnets and sensors. The sensors detect the precise position of the rotating shaft, and a control system constantly adjusts the magnetic fields to keep the shaft suspended in the air, preventing any mechanical friction or wear. The impeller is typically directly driven by a high-speed permanent magnet synchronous motor.
Key Features and Advantages:
No Friction or Wear: This is the most significant advantage. Eliminating physical contact means no friction, no wear on bearings, and no need for lubrication.
High Efficiency: Without friction, energy loss is drastically reduced. Magnetic levitation blowers are significantly more energy-efficient than traditional blowers (e.g., Roots blowers or conventional centrifugal blowers), often saving 30% or more in energy consumption.
Low Noise and Vibration: The absence of mechanical contact results in extremely smooth operation, leading to much lower noise levels and minimal vibration. This can be crucial in sensitive industrial environments or areas near residential zones.
Oil-Free Operation: Since there are no lubricated bearings, the air produced is completely oil-free, which is essential for applications where air purity is critical (e.g., food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, certain chemical processes).
Low Maintenance: With no mechanical wear, maintenance requirements are greatly reduced. Routine maintenance typically involves only changing air filters.
Long Service Life: The lack of wear and tear contributes to a much longer operational lifespan, often exceeding 20 years.
High Reliability: The advanced control systems and lack of mechanical parts make them very reliable for continuous operation.
Compact Design: Direct drive (no gearbox) and integrated design lead to a smaller footprint compared to some traditional blower systems.
Intelligent Control: They often come with advanced control systems that allow for precise speed regulation, real-time monitoring, and automatic anti-surge protection.
Common Applications:
Wastewater Treatment: Widely used for aeration in sewage treatment plants due to their energy efficiency and quiet operation.
Chemical Processing: For various processes requiring compressed air or gas, especially where oil-free air is necessary.
Food and Beverage: In processes like fermentation, drying, and packaging, ensuring clean and hygienic air.
Textile and Dyeing
Cement and Steel Industries
Paper Making
Pharmaceuticals
In summary, magnetic levitation blowers represent a significant technological advancement in industrial air movement, offering superior energy efficiency, reduced maintenance, and environmental benefits compared to older blower technologies.
Sewage Industry
Retrofitting Requirements
The customer's sewage system originally used Roots blowers, which have experienced reduced operational efficiency and can no longer meet the increased production demand. The existing equipment needs to be retrofitted to fulfill production requirements with additional capacity, while achieving noise reduction, high efficiency, and easier maintenance.
Energy-Saving Solution
Through on-site technical discussions with the customer, the plan involves retrofitting three Roots blowers by removing them and installing air suspension centrifugal blowers in their original locations. This upgrade achieves 30% energy savings and reduces noise to below 80 dB.
Retrofitting Advantages
High Efficiency – Utilizes permanent magnet high-speed motors with 97% efficiency and a rotational speed of 40,000 rpm
Energy & Cost Savings – Saves 2.45 million kWh of electricity annually, reducing monthly electricity costs by $130,000
Safe & Easy Maintenance – Oil-free bearing system eliminates lubrication needs and associated hazards. Only filter cotton replacement is required, taking just 10 seconds
Reduced Labor Costs – Intelligent control enables easy operation and maintenance, with multi-layer protection ensuring efficient performance
Annual savings of approx. $120,000, with an electricity saving rate of up to 32%.
Energy-Saving Comparison: Replacing Roots Blowers with Air Suspension Centrifugal Blowers
Replacing one 255kW Roots blower with a 185kW air suspension centrifugal blower results in an annual electricity savings of:
2,233,800 kWh - 1,620,600 kWh = 613,200 kWh
At an electricity rate of $0.008/kWh, the annual cost savings per unit is approximately $5000
By replacing three units of the same model in the sewage system, the total annual savings amount to $131,400.