How Do I Choose the Right Positive Displacement Blower for My Application?
Choosing a positive displacement blower isn’t simply a matter of finding one that can produce enough air. The right blower needs to match the airflow, pressure or vacuum, operating schedule, environment, and installation requirements of your specific process.
An undersized blower may struggle to meet demand, while the wrong blower technology can lead to unnecessary energy use, noise, maintenance, or performance issues.
Lewis Systems offers several Gardner Denver positive displacement blower and vacuum technologies designed for different industrial applications and operating requirements.
Start With Your Airflow and Pressure Requirements
One of the first questions to answer is how much airflow your process requires and at what pressure or vacuum level.
A blower used for wastewater aeration may have very different requirements than one used for pneumatic conveying or an industrial vacuum application. Choosing equipment based on the actual demands of the process helps ensure the blower can provide the performance you need without unnecessarily oversizing the system.
Before selecting a blower, consider:
- Required airflow
- Required pressure or vacuum
- Normal and peak demand
- Changes in process demand
- Operating conditions
These requirements provide a starting point for determining which blower technology and size may be appropriate.
How Often Will the Blower Run?
Duty cycle matters because a blower that operates occasionally has different requirements than equipment expected to run continuously.
For continuous-duty applications, reliability and energy efficiency can become especially important. Even relatively small differences in efficiency can affect operating costs when equipment runs for long periods.
Lewis Systems offers blower technologies designed for demanding continuous-duty applications as well as systems suited to other operating requirements.
Do Noise and Pulsation Matter for Your Application?
Noise isn’t just a comfort consideration. Depending on where the blower is installed, sound and pulsation can affect operators, surrounding work areas, and sensitive downstream equipment.
Different positive displacement blower designs can address these concerns in different ways.
For example, Gardner Denver HeliFlow blowers use a helical tri-lobe design engineered to reduce pulsation and noise. TriFlow vacuum pumps also use a three-lobe design to provide lower noise, vibration, and pulsation compared with traditional two-lobe vacuum products.
If noise or pulsation is already a problem with your existing equipment, it should be part of the conversation when selecting a replacement.
Which Positive Displacement Blower Design Is Right for You?
There isn’t one positive displacement blower design that’s best for every application.
Lewis Systems offers several Gardner Denver technologies, including:
- CycloBlower for applications where energy efficiency, continuous operation, higher pressure or vacuum capability, and reduced pulsation are priorities
- HeliFlow for applications where lower noise, reduced pulsation, and reliability are important
- TriFlow for industrial vacuum applications requiring lower noise, vibration, and pulsation with flexible installation
- DuroFlow for applications that prioritize durability, dependable performance, oil-free air, and mounting flexibility
- Sutorbilt for demanding continuous-duty applications with multiple configuration options
- IQ blower packages for facilities looking for an integrated package with controls, monitoring, noise reduction, and simplified installation
The right choice comes down to what your process actually requires rather than simply choosing the blower with the highest airflow or pressure rating.
What Applications Use Positive Displacement Blowers?
Positive displacement blowers are used across a wide range of industrial processes. Lewis Systems supports applications including:
- Wastewater treatment
- Pneumatic conveying
- Dry bulk handling
- Chemical processing
- Industrial vacuum systems
- Power generation
- Food and dairy processing
- Environmental remediation
Because the operating conditions can vary significantly between these applications, equipment should be selected around the specific process rather than the industry alone.
Find the Right Blower for Your Application
Choosing the right positive displacement blower starts with understanding what your process needs today and how the equipment will operate over time.
Lewis Systems can evaluate your airflow, pressure or vacuum, duty cycle, energy use, noise concerns, available space, and maintenance requirements to help identify the right blower technology and configuration for your application. Lewis Systems also provides installation, preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, repairs, replacement parts, and long-term support.
Need Help Choosing a Positive Displacement Blower?
Talk with Lewis Systems about your application and get help selecting a blower based on your actual operating requirements.
Find the Right Positive Displacement Blower: Explore Lewis Systems Positive Displacement Blowers
