When you are in the market for ISO 8573-1 Class Zero air quality it is important to understand the difference between an “oil-free” air compressor and an “oil-less” air compressor. This is especially critical in the 30HP and under compressor market. “Oil-less” and “oil-free” are not interchangeable terms. The primary differentiator is the presence of oil in the machine and the impact that it has on air quality over time. Here is what you need to know to make the best decision regarding how to achieve your ISO 8573-1 Class Zero compressed air quality.
Rotary Screw Oil-Free Compressors – Almost without exception, an oil-free rotary screw compressor does indeed have oil in it. The oil is sealed in the gear box to provide lubrication to the gears and bearings, but is sealed from the air chamber in order to prevent it from getting into the compressed air stream. As the units age, the seals do harden and wear out due to heat and shelf life. Therefore, as they age, oil will migrate into the air stream and negatively impact air quality. As this happens, air end “slippage” increases and inter-stage temperatures will creep up. Most people do not discover that their air quality has been compromised until the compressor reaches cessation on a high inter-stage temperature shutdown. By then, many pints, quarts or even gallons of oil may have migrated into the process air and piping. Also, most oil free screw compressors (with the exception of the Sullair DSP) have a vented gear box that exasperates oil laden vent air into the compressor, right near the intake filter. The vent on the gearbox adds oil vapors, which are almost immediately sucked back into the air filter and introduced to the air stream. So they are “oil-free” because they do not have oil in the air stream by design. But they are not truly an oil less solution. Mitigation of air contamination, oil maintenance and disposal, and oil leakage containment all must still be considered when applying an oil free rotary screw compressor technology.
Reciprocating Oil-Free Compressors
Reciprocating compressor designs are sold in either oil less or oil free up to about 50HP. They can also be configured into duplex, triplex or quadraplex packages to get up to cover air demands up to about 450 CFM. “Oil-free” compressors in the reciprocating market, like the screw market, do actually have oil in them. They use an extended connecting rod in an extra-tall block known as a “distance piece”. This configuration lengthens the distance between the oil sump and the compression chamber. They usually include extra oil rings as well to help prevent the oil in the crank case from migrating into the air stream. However, over time; oil and compression rings wear out in a reciprocating compressor just like they do in a car engine. So over time, oil will begin to migrate past the rings and into the compression chamber and eventually into the air stream. Most oil free compressor users do not discover their oil contamination problem until they notice a drop in system air pressure related to worn out rings. So once again, the oil free technology still comes at the cost of air and piping contamination, oil maintenance and disposal, and oil leak containment.
Oil-less Reciprocating Compressors
The true oil-less reciprocating compressors, like our Champion V & W, or the MTO II series air compressors have no oil in the crank case at all. They are a 100% true oil-less design and come in simplex, duplex, triplex or quadraplex packages including NFPA 99 compliant packages for hospital grade air. This technology is far more costly, but it provides the true outcome that the customer is aiming for: ISO 8753 Class 0 air quality, and reduced maintenance associated with lubrication systems.
Oil-Free Scroll Compressors
Scroll compressors, like our Sullair model SRL, should really be called oil-less to distinguish them from the oil-free style compressors mentioned above. Like the oil-less reciprocating, the oil less scroll compressors contain no oil at all. They are built on a platform of low maintenance intervals, and guaranteed air quality for life.
If a customer has a critical need for truly Class 0, oil free air quality, they should strongly consider using either an oil less technology like the Sullair SRL scroll package or Champion V & W series. These technologies are admittedly limited to the 100HP and below Class 0 oil free market place. So in the event that an “oil free” solution like the Sullair DSP must be used, or is already in place; customers should consider installing early detection of oil content to prevent piping and process contamination. Air quality monitoring systems like our Beko Metpoint OCV will ensure that they maintain air quality that is in compliance with ISO 8573 for oil free quality air.
Looking to switch over to oil-free or oil-less air compressors? Northwest Pump sells air compressors in the Seattle and Washington regions, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Reach out to Northwest Pump today –sales@nwpump.com or call 1-800-452-PUMP.
This new acquisition of Air Compressor Service (ACS) expands our Industrial portfolio and assists in our growth in the Seattle area.
Northwest Pump has purchased the Assets of D.R. Smith Co., Inc. dba Air Compressor Service of Everett, WA, right outside of Seattle, effective May 1st, 2021. Founded in 1990 by Dave and Rick Smith, Air Compressor Service (ACS) is a sales and service company of Air Compressors and related equipment.
When looking at an acquisition in addition to being profitable we try to find companies that have a similar commitment to customer service and a culture that will fit into our employee-owned company. ACS fits on all three levels. After going through the process and interviewing all the employees we have decided to add on their whole team, giving us 3 new Service Technicians, 1 Service Coordinator and 3 Sales members to add to our Industrial Division and continue our goal of expanding to new markets and locations.
We will be adding the current ACS location as our 18th location. The new branch is located at 1420 80th St SW STE E, Everett, WA 98203. Phone number is 425-290-1888. Unlike most equipment distributors, ASC’s objective is not to sell as much equipment as they can. Their philosophy is to partner with ourcustomers to help salvage net profit. In the long run, helping you to succeed in your business will help us succeed also.
ACS looks for long-term relationships with customers built on a foundation of earned trust, respect for our expertise, quality service and exceptionally well-designed and manufactured Gardner Denver products. ACS insures your compressed air system operates at its optimum efficiency and provides you favorable life cycle cost.
For more information on Air Compressor Service, and what we offer in and around the Seattle area, please reach out to sales@nwpump.com and we can assist in all your air compressor needs.
Like any chain, the beer supply chain relies on each link. Given the world’s current predicament with COVID-19, CO2 is suddenly an issue. Supplies are lower than normal, prices are creeping up, and quality is a concern. According to the Brewers Association, the trade organization representing America’s small and independent brewers, CO2 suppliers have increased prices by about 25% due to reduced supply. Because of the shortage of CO2, more breweries are turning to Nitrogen for many of their processes.
From purging tanks between uses to keeping wort, beer and residual mash from oxidizing and contaminating the next batch of beer, nitrogen is the ideal gas for breweries. Nitrogen can also be used to push beer from one tank to the other, and in the final stages of the brewing process, it’s used to pressurize kegs prior to shipment and final use. If the quality of the product is to be ensured, then it needs to be constantly protected.
N2 for Brew – On-Site Nitrogen Gas Generation for the Brewing Industry
On-site nitrogen gas generation produces a continuous supply of ultrapure, food grade nitrogen from readily available compressed air. When the true costs are accounted for, on-site gas generation is the most economical source of nitrogen. Subsequently, nitrogen gas generators give brewers control over their gas pressure, purity and flowrate and minimize production downtime due to the permanent availability of an on-demand nitrogen supply. So what type of nitrogen generator should you select?
The nitrogen gas generator technology of choice for breweries use a method called pressure swing adsorption (PSA). This technology uses 2 vessels (or 2 sets of vessels) filled with carbon molecular sieve (CMS) to separate compressed air. Oxygen and other waste gases are selectively adsorbed under pressure by the CMS, allowing nitrogen to pass through to the application.
Parker domnick hunter offers different types of Nitrosource generators, but for brewery applications it is usually their standard Nitrosource Nitrogen Generator. The larger models of those generators, like the N2-65 to N2-80 range, are the best switch from CO2. With a complete N2 system using Sullair compressors and Parker Nitrogen generation system reduces particulates (atmospheric dust, rust and pipe scale), microorganisms, oil and water aerosols and water vapor. These particular generators are modular so customers can size for current use but that it is easy to expand as they grow, so there is no need to oversize upfront. Together with substantially lower servicing costs, reduced downtime and a longer working life, it adds up to the most cost-efficient nitrogen supply available.
With over 30 years of experience in the market, and over 50,000 gas generators installed globally, Parker domnick hunter is the first choice for innovative and reliable gas generation technology.
Contact our sales staff at sales@nwpump.com or call 1-800-452-PUMP to learn how we can lower your costs with Parker domnick hunter’s on-site nitrogen gas systems today!
It is with great honor that Northwest Pump accepted one of the 2019 Industrial Water & Wastes Digest Top Project Awards on September 23rd at the WEFTEC Conference in Chicago, IL. It was a labor of love and a whole team effort that got this project up and running this past summer in such a short amount of time. A special thanks to our Lead Engineer, David Bynum, for taking charge of this project and working directly with PGE Beaver Power Plant.
Project Overview:
In June 2019 Northwest Pump had the pleasure of working on the PGE Beaver Power Plant in Clatskanie, Oregon. PGE Power is a 500-megawatt combined-cycle natural gas plant and 24.8-megawatt steam turbine that has been operating since 1976.
Northwest Pump provided the design, equipment, fabrication, and installation for the replacement of three outdated failing sewage lift stations. Each lift station was completed within an 8-10 hour workday as to not disrupt their operations. The job needed significant advanced planning as the remote site required safety meetings and special requirements.
Complete Demolition of old equipment and installation of new equipment within a 3-day span
Our innovative design of the guide rail system allowed a safer and less intrusive installation of the Quick Disconnect Elbows to the bottom of the lift station. Base elbows, piping, and valves are pre-assembled and were mounted to a common stainless steel plate. This assembly was then lowered as a complete unit in the water well.
New custom stainless steel hatch covers and control panels were also installed with an extended vent pipe. The extended pipe works to prevent personnel from being overwhelmed with odors from the lift station. This large concern was something that has been a huge help to everyone that works on this job site.
Project Year: 2019
Owner: Portland General Electric
Project Designer: Northwest Pump
Project Contractor: Northwest Pump
Sub-Contractors: Charter Mechanical, Oregon Electric Group, Inc.
Manufacturers: Ebara Pumps America Corporation, Win Supply of Portland, West Coast Metals, SJE, Inc.
Cost: $200K
Size: 300 GPM
About Northwest Pump:
Northwest Pump is the West’s largest distributor of petroleum equipment and industrial pumps and compressors, since 1959.
NWP has been an industry leader in selling and servicing petroleum products since 1959. We offer top-quality products, decades of experience, and unparalleled customer service. When we added our industrial division over 10 years ago, those same qualities were established immediately. Employee-owned since 2006, that pride in ownership is reflected in everything that we do. For more information on our company, please visit our website at www.nwpump.com.
