A catalytic converter for pure compressed air
November 1st 2007 Compressed-air processing at its finest: absolutely oil-free and dry, compressed-air class 1 and better. Produced in a single process step subsequent to compression. Bekokat, the catalysis method for compressed-air processing by Beko Technologies, claims to make it possible
One single system for complete compressed-air de-oiling, with pure water as condensate, which may be discharged directly into the wastewater. With Bekokat, Beko technologies has a catalytic system which has been developed and optimised specifically for the total oxidation of hydrocarbons. Association of the name with cars was calculated because everybody has already heard of catalytic converters for petrol and diesel engines. Here, contaminants in the waste gas, in particular hydrocarbons, are combusted to carbon dioxide and water vapour.
Bekokat technology now also makes good use of this principle for compressed air. In the compressed air of oil-lubricated compressors, hydrocarbons are available in the form of lubricants and oils, and further air components in the form of gas, vapour and aerosols. They are sufficiently well-known as impurities and condensate and require, depending on the application, extensive filtration, discharge and condensate processing. The Bekokat systems fully convert these very substances into carbon dioxide and water.
For compressed-air processing with Bekokat, a pressure vessel is filled with a specifically developed granular material. First, the entire vessel is heated up to an operating temperature of 150 °C. The oil components of the compressed air streaming through the heated vessel are then fully converted into water and carbon dioxide at the surface, in the pores of the granular material of the catalytic converter.
Subsequently, the purified compressed air is cooled down in a heat exchanger to a temperature of approx. 10 to 15 °C higher than at the inlet and is available for the application required. The Bekokat operates independently of the ambient conditions, oil inlet concentration and relative humidity of the compressed air. Fully de-oiled compressed air leaves the vessel. The air is so clean that it may be used as breathable air. The condensate accumulated during the cooling down of the compressed air is also absolutely oil-free and can be discharged into the sewerage system without needing to be processed. Highly advantageous, as far as cost-effectiveness is concerned, is the long durability of the specific Bekokat granular material: only after a good 20000 hours will replacement be required.
"The customer benefit of the Bekokat technology is obvious", says Melanie Müller-Preuß, Bekokat product manager. "With Bekokat, we produce oilfree compressed air from oil vapours and aerosols. With this, we outperform even the severe requirements on compressed air in accordance with DIN EN8573-1/ISO 8573-1, class 1oil content. This also applies to higher inlet temperatures up to 100°C and to partial load operation. Even the best commercially available filters reach their limits in this case.
"With Bekokat, we open up new markets, for example with regard to compressed-air solutions for clean and ultraclean rooms" comments Melanie Müller-Preuß. But applications for breathable air, medical engineering, pharmaceutics, measurement technology or the transport of hygroscopic food also suggest themselves.
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