Welcome to the Clean Compressed-Air Era with SKF and Tamturbo
Tamturbo of Finland is pioneering improvements in the efficiency of industrial compressed-air systems through energy-efficient, environmentally friendly oil-free compressors, in cooperation with SKF, a global leader in bearing technology and power-transmission solutions.
The uncomfortable truth about compressed air
Only 12–15% of the total energy supplied to a compressor is converted into usable compressed air; the rest is lost as heat and friction. As businesses increasingly focus on reducing CO2 emissions and saving energy, traditional compressed-air systems are revealing growing limitations in operating costs and environmental impact.
Founded in Tampere, Finland, in 2010, Tamturbo has developed compressors with a simplified design and a minimal number of components. They operate without mechanical friction or lubricating oil, delivering outstanding efficiency and reliability.
Key technology: floating on air
Unlike conventional compressors that use pistons, discs or screws and require complex lubrication systems, a Tamturbo compressor has only one moving assembly: a high-speed turbine directly driven by an electric motor without a gearbox. Most notably, the Tamturbo motor uses SKF active magnetic bearings, allowing the rotor, shaft and turbine to remain fully suspended by magnetic force and eliminating metal-to-metal contact.
“The SKF and Tamturbo engineering teams work extremely closely together, with a continuous focus on maximizing efficiency.”
Igor Nagaev, CEO, Tamturbo
This design substantially reduces friction and wear. The compressor therefore requires no lubricating oil, maintenance is simplified, oil-change costs are eliminated and there is no risk of oil contaminating the compressed-air system—an especially important benefit in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries.
SKF’s magnetic-bearing system also makes operating-condition monitoring straightforward through rotor-position and vibration-force sensor data. It also provides the foundation for a digital twin that tracks equipment health in real time.
Moving toward zero waste
Beyond the current technology, Tamturbo and SKF are developing new generations of higher-speed motors that convert electrical energy into compressed air more efficiently. Another notable feature is the recovery of heat generated during compression—which represents most of the energy consumed—to produce hot water or heat industrial liquids to as much as 90°C. This lets businesses recover energy and lower operating costs.
Statistics show that approximately 50% of the Tamturbo compressors sold today are equipped with heat-recovery systems, and this share continues to rise rapidly because of the compelling economic benefits.
Complete motor assemblies from SKF
- SKF supplies Tamturbo with two motor-module ranges: 75 kW for smaller units and 150 kW for larger units.
- Each is a high-speed permanent-magnet motor operating at up to 35,000 rpm and integrating three active magnetic bearings: two radial bearings and one axial bearing.
- A dedicated controller monitors rotor position up to 15,000 times per second and continuously adjusts the magnetic field to keep the rotor perfectly balanced.
- Each motor can use one or two impellers, depending on the application.
5. Frequently asked questions about SKF–Tamturbo oil-free compressors
Q: Does an oil-free compressor genuinely require no oil?
A: Yes. The entire drive system and turbine use magnetic bearings, require no lubricating oil and generate no waste oil.
Q: Which applications are most suitable?
A: Food, beverage, pharmaceutical, electronics and clean-manufacturing applications, as well as any environment requiring completely clean compressed air.
Q: Can the machine’s condition be monitored online?
A: The active magnetic-bearing system continuously monitors vibration and shaft status, providing a foundation for predictive maintenance.
Q: Can the heat be recovered for other purposes?
A: Yes. Tamturbo integrates a heat-recovery system that supplies hot water for production or domestic use.
Conclusion
- Tamturbo–SKF compressors improve performance, lower maintenance costs, eliminate lubricating-oil contamination, reduce environmental impact and optimize energy consumption.
- SKF magnetic-bearing technology establishes a new standard for high-speed rotating equipment and supports greener, more sustainable manufacturing.
This is clear evidence of the powerful digital and green transformations taking place in global industry today.
LDT is proud to be a major SKF partner. In addition to supplying genuine products, LDT’s sales engineers provide advice and propose optimized technical solutions.
Dear customers, contact LDT using the information below for advice and special offers!
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