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Centrifugal & Turbo Blowers

High-efficiency oil-free air supply for wastewater aeration — up to 45% energy savings, noise below 85 dB, and full PLC automation versus conventional positive-displacement blowers

Overview

What is Centrifugal & Turbo Blowers?

Centrifugal and turbo blowers supply the compressed air required for diffused aeration in wastewater treatment. Unlike positive-displacement (PD) blowers, centrifugal technology accelerates air through high-speed impellers to generate pressure, producing smooth, pulse-free, 100% oil-free air delivery. This eliminates the need for oil filtration systems and the risk of oil contamination of the wastewater or downstream treatment processes.

Two configurations are available. Multistage centrifugal blowers use multiple impeller stages in series to achieve the required discharge pressure, operating without a bull gear and offering reliable, low-maintenance performance across a wide flow range. Single-stage turbo blowers use a high-speed direct-drive impeller with a variable frequency drive (VFD) inverter on the motor, enabling precise flow control that matches blower output exactly to the biological oxygen demand — delivering the largest energy savings of any blower technology.

Turbo blower packages are fully pre-assembled and include the compression unit, blow-off valve, VFD-controlled motor, PLC controller, and HMI interface as standard. The HMI continuously monitors and displays airflow, discharge pressure, motor current, and energy consumption, providing operators with real-time process visibility and enabling automated alarm responses without external instrumentation.

Process

How Centrifugal & Turbo Blowers Work

1

Ambient Air Intake

Filtered ambient air enters the blower inlet. Integrated inlet filters remove particulates that could damage impellers. Inlet silencers reduce intake noise to meet site noise requirements.

2

Impeller Compression

Air is accelerated radially by high-speed impeller(s). In multistage units, each impeller stage adds pressure incrementally. In turbo blowers, a single high-speed impeller (operating at 15,000–60,000 RPM) delivers the full discharge pressure in one stage.

3

Oil-Free Discharge

Compressed air exits at discharge pressure without any contact with lubrication oil — the bearing systems are air-foil or magnetic, entirely separate from the air stream. 100% oil-free air is delivered to the diffuser network.

4

Automated Flow Control

The VFD adjusts motor speed in real time to match blower output to the DO setpoint in the aeration tank, eliminating over-aeration and reducing energy consumption during low-load periods. The PLC handles blow-off valve control, anti-surge protection, and alarm management automatically.

Benefits

Key Advantages

  • Up to 45% energy savings compared to conventional positive-displacement (lobe) blowers
  • 100% oil-free air delivery — no contamination risk, no oil filtration maintenance
  • Low noise below 85 dB versus 90–110 dB for PD blowers — improved site conditions
  • No gearbox eliminates lubrication, gear wear, and associated maintenance
  • VFD speed control precisely matches output to biological demand, preventing over-aeration
  • Built-in HMI monitors flow, pressure, and energy in real time
  • Pulse-free delivery for consistent diffuser performance and membrane life
  • Compact footprint compared to equivalent PD blower installations

Applications

Industries & Use Cases

Municipal Wastewater Treatment AerationMBBR & IFAS Reactor Air SupplySequencing Batch Reactors (SBR)Activated Sludge Aeration TanksMembrane Bioreactor (MBR) AerationIndustrial ETP AerationAerobic Sludge DigestionIndustrial Process Air SupplyAquaculture Aeration

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