Welcome to the clean air zone

“Only 12 to 15 percent of the total energy supplied to an air compressor is converted into compression of the air. The rest is usually wasted” - Igor Nagaev, CEO of Finnish compressor maker Tamturbo.

In the past, companies might have been able to ignore those low-efficiency figures, since the simplicity, convenience and reliability of pneumatic power easily outweighed the high energy bills. That’s no longer the case.

As more manufacturers set ambitious targets to reduce their CO2 emissions, energy-intensive equipment is coming under increased scrutiny. And in a lot of their facilities, you’ll find energy-hungry air compressors.

But there is no need to remove your trusted air compressor as Tamturbo offers a more efficient alternative.

Most compressors squeeze air using scrolls, pistons or vanes and get their power from large electric motors. With so many components, a sophisticated lubrication system is required to minimize friction and reduce inevitable wear.

Turbo compressors, on the other hand, have just one moving part! A rapidly rotating turbine that accelerates the incoming air. The turbine spins without contacting the compressor housing, and the high operating speed means it can be connected directly to a motor with no intermediate gearing.

Tamturbo products, have one further trick up their sleeve. Instead of conventional rolling element bearings, their motors spin on active magnetic bearings, which support the rotor, shaft and turbine using magnetic levitation, eliminating metal-to-metal contact altogether.

The contactless design dramatically reduces friction and wear in the compressors, and means that Tamturbo compressors require “No oil, not a single drop,” says Nagaev. That brings multiple benefits, he explains. It simplifies maintenance, eliminating the need to monitor and manage a complex lubrication system, the cost of periodic oil changes and the environmental burden created by disposing of used oil. The oil-free design also means that no lubricant traces enter the compressed air distribution system. That can be a critical benefit in applications such as food and beverage production, where users need to guard against product contamination.

"Tamturbo’s magnetic bearing technology comes from SKF, and the two companies have worked together from the beginning to integrate active magnetic bearings into the novel compressor design. It is a collaboration that goes well beyond the typical relationship between machinery maker and supplier.

It really is co-working, our teams work extremely closely together, constantly, consistently and very precisely focused on superior efficiency as a final result” - Igor Nagaev.