FEATURE COMPRESSED AIR
EXPLORING NEW WORLD of energy efficient compressors
Lontra because its Blade Compressor applies to such regulations.
BLADE COMPRESSOR IN PRACTICE The Blade Compressor is best imagined as a piston and cylinder with the latter wrapped around in a doughnut shape. It functions by having a constantly open intake port and unlike the traditional piston and cylinder that has to stop and change direction, the blade operates in a continuous cycle inducing air behind and compressing air in front. One of the first companies to trial the
Blade Compressor was Severn Trent Water. A seven-month site trial proved its capability to deliver significant energy savings. On average the Blade was over 21% more efficient than previous blower technology used by the company. Severn Trent Water was impressed by
Most factories in the UK rely on screw technology from 1935, most of which are oil-flooded. A fresh approach from Lontra provides an oil-free compressor which is more energy efficient and reliable
M
anufacturers are facing challenging, unpredictable times due to global
political shifts. Despite the wider backdrop environmental concerns remain important as does energy efficiency. An often overlooked aspect of energy consumption is the impact of inefficient compressors. As vital components in the operation of factories, compressors are often described as the fifth utility due to their prominence in our lives as being comparable to water and electricity. Collectively, air compressors account for
10% of industrial electricity use in Europe and as much as 40% in some plants. That equates to over 10TWh of electricity every year and 4.3 million tonnes of CO2, leading to significant amounts of energy being consumed and representing a large cost to manufacturers’ businesses. As pressures to meet environmental targets and reduce costs remains competitive, the answer for manufacturers may lie in more efficient air compressor systems.
TRADITIONAL COMPRESSORS Given the global scale of compressor usage it may not come as a surprise to learn that they occupy a market worth £25bn. Why is it then that in over 80 years, a time in which technical
16 DECEMBER/JANUARY 2017 | FACTORY EQUIPMENT
progress has made great advancements, the compressor industry still relies so heavily on the traditional screw compressor design patented in 1965? Compressors are an overlooked opportunity for manufacturers aiming to reduce energy due to the many ways in which outdated designs compromise efficiency and reliability. Such inefficiency arises due to pressure
drops during air intake, internal leaks of air through poor seals and through loss of air in the process of blowing out. Addressing these shortcomings is a radical new design of compressor: the Lontra Blade Compressor, a double-acting rotary design which aims to provide significant improvements across industry with its unique design and proven efficiency.
NEW REGULATIONS The European Union (under the Ecodesign Project Lot 31) is drafting new regulations on environmental targets expected to come into effect within the next three to five years. These should establish a labelling system for relative compressor efficiency similar to that which has already been implemented for electric motors and drive the adoption of more efficient compressors. This is excellent news for us
the improved efficiency which offered a potential 3% reduction in annual energy costs for the entire business. When rolled out across its whole network the Blade Compressor is projected to save the business more than £1.8 million per annum. Similar savings are expected in industries including food, pharmaceutical, baking, chemical and cement.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES To accelerate entry into new markets Lontra has a licensing business model enabling it to sign deals with firms in multiple sectors and businesses. The Blade Compressor is already in production with a growing installed base across Europe. Since signing its first licensee for the municipal wastewater market Lontra is taking on new licensees in new markets, geographies and applications. Lontra’s supporters from Innovate UK to
the European Commission and The Carbon Trust have provided the financial means to see the technology develop and position the company as an innovative challenger to the global market. As energy demands escalate across all aspects of our global society, rising energy, increased competition and environmental pressures are a growing concern for industry leaders. Lontra’s technology addresses these concerns while offering users the triple benefit of being oil-free, more energy- efficient and reliable.
Lontra T: 01926 811102
www.lontra.co.uk
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