At a glance
- Type
- Air-floating compressor
- Power range
- 110-220 kW
- Pressure range
- 2-3 bar
- Air delivery
- 33-78 m³/min
Overview
AirGlide AC is an air-floating, oil-free compressor for high-flow, low-pressure process air. It is a different machine from PureFlow screw and from BreezeGlide blowers, so it is selected from the AirGlide table only.
Model range
AirGlide AC covers 110-220 kW at 2-3 bar, with air delivery of 33-78 m³/min across the series.
Power and pressure
110-220 kW
- Pressure range
- 2-3 bar
- Air delivery
- 33-78 m³/min
- Not the same as
- PureFlow or BreezeGlide
How to choose
By process duty
- Start with
- Required FAD at 2-3 bar
- Then check
- Why air-floating is required
- Before a quote
- Confirm the AC model
Technology
Technology Platform
AirGlide AC is an air-bearing (air-floating) oil-free centrifugal compressor. It shares the air-bearing technology platform with the BreezeGlide BB series but operates at a higher pressure range: 2–3 bar(g), which places it in the low-pressure compression category rather than blower territory.
Performance Boundaries
AirGlide AC is positioned at 110–220 kW, 2–3 bar. The following comparison shows how it relates to alternative technologies in this pressure range:
Pressure Range
AirGlide AC is offered at 2 bar and 3 bar. For oil-free air at 4–5 bar, see the DUALLUBE D VPM-B series (oil-injected, with downstream oil removal).
More technical detail
Technology Platform
Working principle of centrifugal compression at low pressure: Air enters the high-speed centrifugal impeller, where it is accelerated to extreme velocity (tip speed 200–300 m/s), then decelerated in the diffuser, converting kinetic energy into pressure energy. The pressure ratio of a single-stage centrifugal compressor typically does not exceed 3:1 to 4:1. The 2–3 bar(g) of AirGlide AC falls within the effective pressure ratio range of single-stage centrifugal compression.
Air-bearing specificity at compressor conditions: Compared with blower conditions, compressor conditions involve higher pressure, a larger pressure differential across the impeller, and therefore a higher bearing load requirement. Air bearings still operate stably at 2–3 bar, but with less design margin than at blower conditions. This is why only 2 bar and 3 bar models have been released; 4 bar and 5 bar are not released as SIND SKUs.
Performance Boundaries
The core value of AirGlide AC is: completely oil-free compressed air at 2–3 bar while maintaining centrifugal efficiency and low noise.
Selection Logic
AirGlide AC selection follows directly from the parameter table:
Important: the same motor power produces different flow at 2 bar versus 3 bar. For example, 110 kW delivers 42 m³/min at 2 bar but only 33 m³/min at 3 bar. Do not select by power alone — select by pressure and flow.
- Determine required pressure: 2 bar or 3 bar.
- Determine required flow: match the FAD column in the table.
- Read the corresponding model and power.
Selection & quote checklist
- the exact AirGlide AC model
- process working pressure
- free air delivery at that pressure
- electrical supply
- why air-floating is required
- the current datasheet and package contents
Applications
Scenario A — Food packaging, bottle blowing
: A beverage plant’s PET bottle blowing line requires 30–60 m³/min at 2 bar of oil-free compressed air.
Scenario B — Chemical process gas
: A chemical plant’s reactor requires 40–70 m³/min at 3 bar of oil-free process gas. The previous setup used an oil-injected screw with multi-stage oil removal filtration downstream.
Scenario C — Fermentation aeration
: A pharmaceutical plant’s fermenter requires 30–50 m³/min at 2 bar of sterile air. The previous setup used an oil-injected screw with multi-stage filtration and steam sterilisation.
More application detail
Industry Matrix
| Industry | Typical flow (m³/min) | Typical pressure (bar) | Recommended models |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food & Beverage | 30–70 | 2 | AC-42-2 to AC-78-2 |
| Chemical | 30–70 | 2–3 | AC-33-3 to AC-78-2 |
| Pharmaceutical | 30–50 | 2 | AC-42-2 to AC-54-2 |
| Electronics | 30–70 | 2–3 | AC-42-2 to AC-78-2 |
| Textile | 30–50 | 2 | AC-42-2 to AC-54-2 |
Installation Considerations
- Inlet air quality: Compressor conditions demand higher inlet air quality than blower conditions. Filter precision must meet the design specification.
- Oil-free verification: Oil-free air path by design; ISO 8573-1 class to be confirmed per project.
- Two package sizes: 110–150 kW models use a 2000 × 1100 × 2000 mm package; 185–220 kW models use a 2500 × 1300 × 2200 mm package. Confirm actual dimensions for the selected model when planning the plant room layout.
Installation Considerations
AirGlide AC installation follows the same principles as BreezeGlide BB, with the following additional points:
FAQ
What power range does AirGlide AC cover?
AirGlide AC covers 110–220 kW across the series.
What pressure does it run?
The series covers 2–3 bar, with current delivery of 33–78 m³/min. The released SKU range operates at 2–3 bar.
Is AirGlide AC truly oil-free?
Yes. The compressed air path is completely oil-free: air bearings, oil-free impeller, and oil-free piping. No lubricating oil is used anywhere in the compression chamber or the air path.
What is the difference from BreezeGlide BB?
BreezeGlide BB is a blower operating at 0.4–1.2 bar. AirGlide AC is a compressor operating at 2–3 bar. They serve different pressure ranges and are not interchangeable.
Can it replace an oil-injected screw plus oil removal system?
Yes. This is the most common replacement scenario for AirGlide AC. The savings go beyond energy: filter replacement costs and oil contamination risk are eliminated as well.
More questions
Does the air-floating compressor need lubrication?
No. The air bearings are self-acting — they use the process air itself to form the bearing film. No lubrication is needed in the compression chamber or the bearing assembly.
Ownership & service
Energy, maintenance and service
Energy Savings Framework
AirGlide AC typically replaces one of two existing technologies: low-pressure oil-injected screw compressors or Roots blower + booster combinations.
Replacing low-pressure oil-injected screw:
Annual savings = (screw specific power − air-bearing specific power) × flow × annual operating hours.
At 2–3 bar with an oil-free requirement, an oil-injected screw needs an expensive oil removal system (activated carbon + multi-stage filtration) and still carries the risk of oil vapour breakthrough. AirGlide AC eliminates oil from the architecture entirely, removing the oil removal system’s maintenance and replacement costs.
Replacing Roots blower + booster: Some installations originally used a Roots blower (0.5–1 bar) plus a booster (to reach 2–3 bar) as a two-stage solution. AirGlide AC replaces this combination with a single-stage centrifugal compressor, reducing equipment count, lowering the number of maintenance points, and improving overall system efficiency.
Typical assumptions (for estimation, not a guarantee):
- At 2–3 bar, the specific power of the air-bearing centrifugal is better than the combined energy consumption of an oil-injected screw plus oil removal system.
- For installations running 6,000–8,000 hours per year, payback period is typically 2–4 years.
- Savings on oil filter replacement costs further shorten the payback period.
Maintenance Cost Structure
AirGlide AC maintenance is similar to BreezeGlide BB:
Key advantage: no lubricating oil, no oil separator, no oil removal filters. When replacing an oil-injected screw combined with an oil removal system, the following maintenance items are eliminated entirely: oil changes, oil filters, oil separator elements, activated carbon elements, and coalescing filter elements. The annual consumable cost savings are significant.
| Maintenance item | Typical interval | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Inlet filter | 1,000–2,000 h | Replace when differential pressure reaches set value |
| Outlet silencer inspection | 8,000–16,000 h | Check condition of silencing material |
| VFD inspection | 16,000–32,000 h | Capacitors, fans, and other wear components |
| Air bearing inspection | 40,000+ h | Check bearing surface condition |
Service
Same service framework as other SIND series. The high-speed motor and VFD of an air-floating compressor require specialist diagnostic tools — a maintenance agreement is recommended.
Reference data
Full specification and reference tables
| Comparison dimension | AirGlide AC (air-bearing centrifugal) | Oil-injected screw (low-pressure type) | Roots blower + booster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air path | Completely oil-free | Residual oil present | Oil-free at Roots section |
| Pressure range | 2–3 bar | 2–6 bar | 0.5–1 bar (single-stage) |
| Efficiency | Medium-high | Medium | Low |
| Noise | Low | Medium | High |
| Maintenance | Minimal (no oil) | Moderate (oil changes) | Moderate (oil + belts) |
| Flow range | 33–78 m³/min (released) | Broader | Broader |
