Submerged aeration systems require a pressurized air source to compress air for release below the water surface. The INVENT iTURBO-Blower was designed specifically for this application.
According to Dr. Marcus Höfken, president, CEO and founder of INVENT, the blower can be customized to the unique requirements of any wastewater treatment plant. This ensures the energy consumption and operating range is optimized for the specific process. The result is a dedicated machine operating at peak performance.
“We continuously evolve to reduce energy consumption and operating costs for utilities,” says Höfken. “Typical aeration system blowers can account for up to 70% of a wastewater treatment plant’s energy consumption.”
The iTURBO-Blower is a radial compressor in either single or two stage configurations. The compressor is direct-driven by a high-speed permanent magnet motor. It incorporates “rigid” cartridge style air cushion bearings, not foils. The result is a dependable bearing without the complexity of active electronic control. The turbo impellers are optimized for the pressure and flow range required by any aeration system. They are modeled with computational fluid dynamic analysis in addition to test tuning to achieve peak efficiency.
Motor cooling is accomplished with a “two-pass” pressurized system for maximum heat transfer. As the system is independent of the process air, the blower can be used in extreme environments where ambient temperatures exceed 122 degrees F.
The integrated blower package uses Siemens or Rockwell Industrial PLC controllers and HMI panels. All measurement sensors required for the safe and reliable operation of the blower are included to constantly monitor air flow, pressure and temperatures. A communications connection to the blower allows all operating and diagnostic information such as power consumption, speed, and operating hours to be transferred to the plant SCADA or DCS systems. The acoustic enclosure is robust and durable, utilizing heavy section powder-coated zinc anneal sheeting. Fasteners, fixings, and hinges on the blower enclosure are 316 stainless steel. They are available in a range from 22 to 400kW, with discharge pressure capability to 150 kPa.
“When we looked into the question of how to improve the overall aeration system efficiency, we found that even the most modern turbo blowers still had a significant potential for optimization,” says Höfken. “We didn’t invent the principle, but we designed and developed a much better turbo machine.”
