A catalytic converter for pure compressed air
October 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,
makes it possible
ne 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 wellknown
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 compressedair
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. More articles from Beko Technologies Ltd: | 
