At a glance
- Type
- Air-floating blower
- Power range
- 15-300 kW
- Pressure range
- 0.4-1.2 bar
- Air delivery
- 11-330 m³/min
Overview
BreezeGlide BB is an air-floating blower for high-volume, very low-pressure air. It is not an AirGlide compressor and not a plant-air screw machine.
Model range
BreezeGlide BB covers 15-300 kW at 0.4-1.2 bar, with series air delivery of 11-330 m³/min.
Blower range
15-300 kW
- Pressure range
- 0.4-1.2 bar
- Air delivery
- 11-330 m³/min
- Not the same as
- AirGlide AC
How to choose
By blower duty
- Start with
- Required flow at 0.4-1.2 bar
- Then check
- Why a blower is required
- Before a quote
- Confirm the BB model
Technology
Technology Platform
BreezeGlide BB is an air-bearing (air-floating) centrifugal blower. The centrifugal impeller is direct-driven by a high-speed motor, and the rotor is supported on air bearings rather than traditional rolling or oil-lubricated bearings.
Performance Boundaries
The core advantages of an air-bearing centrifugal blower compared with traditional positive-displacement blowers (Roots, screw):
Key Design Decision: Why Air-Bearing Instead of Magnetic Bearing?
Both air-bearing and magnetic-bearing are contact-free bearing technologies, but they differ in implementation:
More technical detail
Technology Platform
Air bearing principle: The air bearing uses the gas-film pressure generated by the rotor’s own rotation to support the rotor. At startup the rotor contacts the bearing surface; when the speed reaches a threshold (typically several thousand rpm), the gas-film pressure fully lifts the rotor, achieving contact-free operation. Throughout the running process the rotor floats on a thin gas film with no mechanical contact, which means:
Blower vs. compressor distinction: Blowers operate at lower pressure ratios (typically below 1.5:1) and deliver high flow. The BreezeGlide BB pressure range of 0.4–1.2 bar(g) falls squarely in typical blower territory — the working range for wastewater treatment aeration, pneumatic conveying, and fluidized bed processes.
- No lubricating oil is needed — the compression air path is completely oil-free.
- No friction losses — bearing energy loss is extremely low.
- No mechanical vibration — operation is smooth and noise is low.
- No wear — bearing life is not limited by traditional fatigue mechanisms.
Performance Boundaries
Industry knowledge: at rated conditions, an air-bearing centrifugal blower saves 20–40 % energy compared with a Roots blower. The actual figure depends on operating pressure, flow, load factor, and annual running hours. This range is category knowledge, not a SIND commitment to a specific machine.
Key Design Decision: Why Air-Bearing Instead of Magnetic Bearing?
At the 0.4–1.2 bar low pressure-ratio conditions typical of blower duty, the stiffness and damping characteristics of an air bearing are fully sufficient, with a clear cost advantage. Magnetic bearings are better suited to higher pressure ratios or frequent start-stop applications (such as vacuum pumps). Selecting air-bearing for BreezeGlide BB is the rational engineering decision for this duty.
- Air-bearing: Uses the aerodynamic forces generated by rotor rotation to self-form a gas film. The structure is simple, no external control system is required, and cost is lower. However, there is contact during start-up and stop, and start-stop frequency is limited.
- Magnetic bearing: Uses electromagnetic force to actively levitate the rotor, requiring sensors and a real-time control system. The structure is complex and cost is higher, but there is zero contact (including during start-up and stop) and no limit on start-stop frequency.
Selection Logic
BreezeGlide BB selection follows the model naming rule directly:
Note: the same flow number at different pressures gives different power. For example, BB-220-0.4 is 185 kW while BB-220-0.8 is 300 kW. The same flow number does not mean the same power.
The 15 kW and 22 kW models have no 1 bar or 1.2 bar variants. If the pressure requirement is above 1 bar, you must select 37 kW or above.
- Determine the required flow (m³/min) — from aeration, conveying, or process requirements.
- Determine the required pressure (bar) — from pipeline resistance plus endpoint resistance.
- Match the model: for example
BB-100-80, then read the required power from the parameter table.
Selection & quote checklist
- the exact BreezeGlide BB model
- working pressure
- required flow
- electrical supply
- why a blower is required
- the current datasheet and package contents
Applications
Scenario A — Municipal wastewater treatment aeration.
A 100,000 ton/day municipal wastewater treatment plant. The biological pool aeration system requires 50–150 m³/min at 0.4–0.8 bar of continuous air supply.
Scenario B — Cement plant pneumatic conveying.
A cement plant raw-material powder conveying system requires 80–200 m³/min at 0.8–1.2 bar. The existing Roots blowers consumed high energy and needed frequent maintenance.
Scenario C — Chemical fluidized bed process.
A chemical plant fluidized-bed reactor requires 30–80 m³/min at 0.6–1.0 bar of continuous air supply. The process demands oil-free air.
More application detail
Industry Matrix
| Industry | Typical flow (m³/min) | Typical pressure (bar) | Recommended model range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal wastewater | 30–200 | 0.4–0.8 | BB-35 to BB-220 |
| Chemical | 20–150 | 0.6–1.2 | BB-22 to BB-176 |
| Cement | 50–300 | 0.8–1.2 | BB-56 to BB-330 |
| Food & beverage | 20–100 | 0.4–0.8 | BB-22 to BB-100 |
| Textile | 20–80 | 0.4–0.6 | BB-22 to BB-70 |
| Paper | 50–200 | 0.4–1.0 | BB-48 to BB-220 |
Installation Considerations
- Inlet air quality: Air bearings are sensitive to dust and oil mist in the inlet air. The inlet filter must meet the specified efficiency rating. In high-dust environments, increase the filter area or add a pre-filter stage.
- Start-stop frequency: Air bearings experience contact during start-up and stop. Frequent start-stop cycles (e.g. multiple times per hour) accelerate bearing surface wear. If the process requires frequent start-stop, consider a magnetic-bearing solution or another blower type.
- Ventilation: The VFD generates heat and the machine room needs adequate ventilation. If the ambient temperature exceeds 40 °C, derating or machine-room air conditioning may be required.
- Noise: Although the air-bearing machine itself operates quietly, high-speed airflow in the piping generates aerodynamic noise that still requires silencer treatment. The outlet silencer is part of the standard package.
Installation Considerations
Air-bearing centrifugal blowers require particular attention to the following installation conditions:
FAQ
What power range does BreezeGlide BB cover?
15 to 300 kW.
What pressure does it run at?
0.4 to 1.2 bar(g). This is blower territory — not compressor territory.
Is BreezeGlide BB truly oil-free?
Yes. The air path is completely oil-free: air bearings, oil-free impeller, and oil-free piping. However, the inlet air must be filtered to the specified efficiency to protect the air bearings and the downstream process.
How much electricity does it save compared with a Roots blower?
At rated conditions, the typical range is 20–40 % energy savings. The actual figure depends on operating pressure, flow, load factor, and annual running hours. SIND can provide a specific estimate based on your operating data.
How much noise reduction can I expect?
At the category level, air-bearing centrifugal blowers operate below 80 dB(A), compared with 85–100 dB(A) for a Roots blower — a reduction of 10–20 dB(A). The exact figure depends on the specific model and installation.
More questions
Are there start-stop limitations?
Yes. Air bearings experience mechanical contact during start-up and stop. Excessively frequent start-stop cycles (e.g. multiple times per hour) should be avoided, as they accelerate bearing surface wear. If your process requires very frequent cycling, discuss alternative solutions with SIND.
Ownership & service
Energy, maintenance and service
Energy Savings Framework
The most common retrofit scenario is replacing a Roots blower. The calculation framework:
Typical assumptions (for estimation, not a commitment):
At 8,000 annual running hours, the payback period for replacing a Roots blower with an air-bearing centrifugal blower is typically 1.5–3 years. The actual value must be calculated for each specific duty.
- Roots annual consumption = Roots shaft power / motor efficiency × annual hours × load factor
- Air-bearing annual consumption = air-bearing shaft power / motor efficiency × annual hours × load factor
- Annual energy savings = Roots annual consumption − air-bearing annual consumption
- Annual cost savings = annual energy savings × electricity price
- Payback period = air-bearing purchase cost / annual cost savings
- Roots specific power: approximately 0.08–0.12 kWh/(m³/min·bar)
- Air-bearing specific power: approximately 0.05–0.08 kWh/(m³/min·bar)
- Annual running hours: 6,000–8,000
- Electricity price varies by region
Maintenance Cost Structure
An air-bearing centrifugal blower has significantly fewer maintenance items than a positive-displacement blower:
Key advantage: no lubricating oil changes. Roots and screw blowers require regular gear oil / lube oil and oil-filter changes. The air-bearing design eliminates this entirely. At an 8,000-hour oil-change interval with 20–50 litres per change, the savings in oil and filter materials alone amount to a significant annual cost reduction.
| 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 parts |
| Air bearing inspection | 40,000+ h | Check bearing surface condition |
Service
BreezeGlide BB is covered by the same service system as all other SIND series. The VFD and high-speed motor require specialist diagnostic tools — a maintenance agreement is recommended.
Reference data
Full specification and reference tables
| Comparison dimension | Air-bearing centrifugal | Roots blower | Oil-injected screw blower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air path | Completely oil-free | Oil-free but requires gear oil | Residual oil present |
| Bearing type | Air bearing | Rolling / sliding | Rolling / sliding |
| Lubrication need | No lube oil | Gearbox requires oil | Oil sealing + lubrication |
| Typical efficiency | High (isentropic 70–80 % +) | Medium (50–65 %) | Medium-high (60–75 %) |
| Noise | Low (<80 dB(A) at category level) | High (85–100 dB(A)) | Medium (75–90 dB(A)) |
| Maintenance | Minimal — no oil changes | Moderate — oil + belts | Moderate — oil + filters |
| Flow control | VFD, wide range | Bypass or VFD | VFD |
