Compression

Compressors are mechanical devices that increase the pressure of a gas by reducing its volume. Calnetix Technologies’&nbsp;<a href="/high-speed-electric-motor-generators">Magnaforce™ permanent magnet (PM) motors</a>, with their high efficiency, small size, and high-speed capabilities, are ideal prime movers to drive these devices.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Calnetix designs and manufactures high-speed superior performance motors utilizing its&nbsp;<a href="/active-magnetic-bearings">Powerflux™ active magnetic bearing</a>, <a href="https://www.calnetix.com/sensorless-power-electronics" title="Power Electronics">Vericycle™ variable speed drive</a>&nbsp;and permanent magnet motor technologies to meet the challenging requirements of industrial compressors. The use of magnetic bearings allows the compressor to operate without the use of oil for lubrication, which reduces energy losses. The variable speed drive on the motor allows the compressor to operate more efficiently at partial loads than standard compressors.
The compact and lightweight Magnaforce™ high-speed motor that drives the compressor allows the system to be more efficient and have a smaller footprint. Calnetix’s permanent magnet motors, with typical speeds ranging from 15,000 rpm up to 100,000 rpm, allow for a compact motor with ideal speeds for impeller design. This results in a compact compressor without a gearbox and oil-lubrication system, thus making it oil-free and appropriate for applications that require 100 percent oil-free air or process fluid.&nbsp;From units that have set new highs in efficiency for large HVAC chillers to those used to generate oil-less compressed air for use in numerous industrial applications, Calnetix has broad experience in designing PM motor solutions for compressors of all types:
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Air compressors
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Cryogenic gas compressors
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Natural gas compressors
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Process gas compressors
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Other&nbsp;industrial compressors
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Overview

Centrifugal compressors are used in many applications, including vapor compression refrigeration, water cooled chillers in the commercial air conditioning industry and pipeline transport of natural gas. The centrifugal compressor is a non-positive displacement type. It increases the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant by converting kinetic energy into pressure. They are usually the most economical means to cool large buildings. In modern configurations of centrifugal compressors, ultra-high-speed electric motors are used to drive the impellers.
Calnetix Technologies’&nbsp;<a href="/high-speed-electric-motor-generators">Magnaforce™ permanent magnet motor generators</a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="/active-magnetic-bearings">Powerflux™ magnetic bearings</a>&nbsp;are a great match for driving&nbsp;these compressors, reducing downtime and operating costs for the end user.&nbsp;Variable speed centrifugal chiller compressors with active magnetic bearings save energy as compared to the conventional chillers by eliminating losses due to bearing friction and reducing maintenance costs. There is increasing market demand for low maintenance, oil-free compressors with variable speed for capacity control.
Calnetix Technologies is a preferred source and trusted partner of many industry-leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in this market segment.

HVACR

Calnetix Technologies has partnered with several original equipment manufacturers (OEM) to design and produce air compressor and gas compressor systems for industrial applications. Air and gas compressors that use variable speed drives to improve the overall compressor efficiency and performance have been commercially available since 1990’s. Gas compressors are being used in applications, such as oil extraction, transportation and refinement processes. Some of these compressors can be easily modified in their internal bearing and sealing systems to be used for both air and gas compression.&nbsp;The compact and lightweight&nbsp;<a href="/high-speed-electric-motor-generators">Magnaforce™ high-speed motor</a>&nbsp;that drives the compressor allows the system to be more efficient and have a smaller footprint.&nbsp;The high-efficiency permanent magnet variable frequency motor has a simple structure and offers reliable operation. It can achieve higher performance than traditional motors.
Calnetix also has developed an oil-free air compressor product line with a major compressor OEM, using Magnaforce™ motor and&nbsp;<a href="/active-magnetic-bearings">Powerflux™ magnetic bearing&nbsp;</a>technologies to eliminate all risk of oil contamination, as well as reduce operating costs.

Industrial

Marine Air Bubble Lubrication Systems (MALS) are being developed to increase ship energy efficiency. These systems release compressed air from an air blower to reduce friction between the ship’s hull and seawater, using the air bubbles as a cushion.&nbsp;The blower uses a motor to generate the bubbles and is mainly designed for use on flat hulls. Air Bubble Lubrication System is one of the promising technologies that would enable ships to reduce energy losses, reduce carbon emissions, improve substantial fuel savings and overall efficiency. In order to combat global warming in the area of marine transportation, companies consider development of energy-saving technology for ships as one of the most imperative tasks.
Calnetix Technologies’&nbsp;<a href="/high-speed-electric-motor-generators">Magnaforce™ PM motor</a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="/active-magnetic-bearings">Powerflux™ magnetic bearings</a>&nbsp;directly coupled to the compressor’s impeller eliminates bulky, low-speed motors and oil lubricated gearboxes, which require a significant amount of space and maintenance, increasing efficiency and reducing maintenance costs for ship owners and operators.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Navy vessels and powerboats have been using this technology for decades to enhance their cruising speed without much consideration to the fuel economy. The shipping industry is now employing this concept for its cargo ships and in the development of the future generation of green vessels.

Marine

From natural gas pipelines to offshore production platforms, compressors are widely used in the oil and gas industry.&nbsp; They are used to liquify and transport the natural gas from one location to another. There has been an increase in high-speed electric compression in the oil and gas industry, where high-speed electric motors drive compressors directly without intermediate gears. Permanent magnet machine technology promises a robust and reliable system design in applications where the motor and compressor are integrated and share the same process gas environment. In today’s fast paced world, compressors driven by an electric variable speed drive system are considered superior to other conventional compressors.
In some cases, natural gas produced with crude oil is flared because there are few pipelines or infrastructure to bring it to market. New regulations are requiring oil companies to reduce flaring, and new natural gas&nbsp;compressor systems with Calnetix Technologies’&nbsp;<a href="/high-speed-electric-motor-generators">Magnaforce™ PM motors</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/active-magnetic-bearings">Powerflux™ magnetic bearings</a>&nbsp;are being designed to compress the gas for use onsite or to be processed for sale.
Directly coupling Calnetix’s motor system to the compressor eliminates the need for conventional gearboxes and auxiliary systems. The Magnaforce™ motor has a small footprint, requires minimal maintenance and causes no disruption to production activities.
Another oil and gas application with broad applicability to large regions of the United States is down-hole gas compression. Down-hole gas compression, close to the reservoir, is the most effective approach in lowering the field abandonment pressure and hence increasing ultimate energy recovery. Calnetix’s affiliate, Upwing Energy, is developing downhole or subsurface technology to improve the production and life of gas fields in an environmentally robust manner.&nbsp;For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.upwingenergy.com/" rel=" noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.upwingenergy.com</a>.

Oil & Gas

Compression equipment is utilized by numerous industries, such as aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, food and beverage, electronics and medical, to name a few. These industries can benefit from the reduced maintenance, increased reliability, significant reduction in size and removal of all conventional lubrication systems provided by Calnetix Technologies’&nbsp;<a href="/high-speed-electric-motor-generators">Magnaforce™ PM motors</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/active-magnetic-bearings">Powerflux™ magnetic bearings</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/sensorless-power-electronics">Vericycle™ power electronics systems</a>. Please&nbsp;<a href="/contact-us">contact us</a>&nbsp;for more information on how our products and technologies can best meet your needs.

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