During my latest trip in Asia, I came across so many frustrations on the short lifetime and high cost related to the screw compressors.  The high ambient temperatures and high humidity results in short lifetime of the screw blocs.  Customers having multiple small screw compressors 55kW which are running often in partial load.

 The contaminated condense produced at these temperatures has to be disposed, the number of filters to be replaced and disposed, the oil carry-over multiple times higher than at 0 degrees ambient.  Every 3 months the screw compressors requiring an intervention.

A new trend is coming from the Industrial reciprocating compressors which offer the benefits of being Oil-free, low maintenance and long durability and highest energy efficiency.

Industrial Air-compressors are different than Semi industrial piston compressors, which are air-cooled, no cross-head, fast running, are perceived as low value air-compressors.

Contrary to the Industrial compressors, they are water-cooled, slow running compressors, low noise level, low vibration.  Complete the opposite as what is perceived by most users. 

The industrial piston compressors offer High energy efficiency, very long service intervals and have almost an infinite lifetime.  The gap between a 55kW Oil-free screw compressor and an industrial reciprocating air-compressor can often be up to 30kW less power consumption!

On top, the high energy efficiency in partial load, there is no need for sophisticated electronics like frequency converters, which will fail and have short lifetime of less than 5 yrs.

Replacing one screw compressor by an Industrial piston has mostly a return on investment of less than one year and you have contributed to the reduction on Carbon foot print.