CompAir Ultima air-cooled oil-free compressor

Gardner Denver has released an air-cooled version of its Ultima compressor technology, claiming to be the first air-cooled oil-free compressor to offer heat recovery for process water.

The technology’s closed package cooling system means the heat energy captured when compressing air (up to 95%) can be used to provide process water heating, delivering usable water temperatures of up to 85°C.

Its hybrid cooling capabilities offer extra flexibility for the user too. 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 repurposed 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 economical.

The air-cooled Ultima compressor is said to offer cost savings of up to 13% when compared with industry standards, even without the additional application of heat recovery. Due to speed-regulated fans, the power consumption in standard ambient conditions or at partial load is reduced even further.