GE Launching Roots Turbo Blower, an Efficient Aeration Solution for Wastewater Treatment
- New Product Expands GE Portfolio of Aeration Blowers
- Designed to Cut a Plant’s Monthly Electric Utility Bill
- Available in Models Ranging from 22.5 to 300 Kilowatts
MUNICH, GERMANY—May 7, 2012—Expanding its portfolio of aeration blowers for the wastewater treatment and process industries, GE (NYSE: GE) is introducing the Roots Turbo Blower at IFAT 2012, the International Trade Fair for Environment, Wastewater and Waste Disposal being held in Munich May 7-11.
The cost-effective, low-maintenance Roots Turbo Blower offers an efficient aeration solution for a wastewater treatment plant. For a typical aerobic digestion wastewater treatment plant, the aeration blower accounts for 50-60 percent of the total electricity used by the facility. Improving the process by a few percentage points can have a significant impact on the plant’s monthly electric utility bill and the Roots Turbo Blower provides that process improvement.
“The Roots Turbo Blower is the newest member of a product line that has been providing aeration blowers since 1929,” said Jim Drees, product line leader, roots blowers and compressors, GE Measurement & Control. “The new blower is available in units ranging from 300 kilowatts down to 22.5 kilowatts and offers the next generation of oil-free bearing technology. We believe its Bump Type airfoil bearing delivers better performance than earlier technology.”
Aeration equipment, including turbo blowers, is used in biological oxygen demand (BOD) removal, nitrification and aerobic digestion processes within the wastewater treatment plant. In the aeration basins, where the BOD removal and nitrification process occur, bacteria feed on the waste that is coming into the plant. These bacteria are kept alive and their biological activity maintained at an optimal level by aerating or adding oxygen to the process. The simplest and most cost-effective way to provide the oxygen to the bacteria is to compress atmospheric air and distribute it into the aeration basins through fine bubble diffusers, using turbo blowers to force the air through the piping.
“This process of capturing air and forcing it into the aeration system requires electricity, or some form of power, and as energy costs have increased, plants are seeking more efficient ways of delivering this air,” noted Drees. “Our Roots Turbo Blower was developed to address with this objective in mind.”
GE Measurement & Control is a leading innovator in advanced, sensor-based measurement, non-destructive testing and inspection and condition monitoring. Providing healthcare for our customers’ most critical assets, we deliver accuracy, productivity and safety to a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, power generation, aerospace, metals and transportation. Headquartered in the Greater Boston Area, USA, Measurement & Control has over 40 facilities in 25 countries and is part of GE Oil & Gas. For further information, visit www.ge-mcs.com.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.
GE Energy works connecting people and ideas everywhere to create advanced technologies for powering a cleaner, more productive world. With more than 100,000 employees in over 100 countries, our diverse portfolio of product and service solutions and deep industry expertise help our customers solve their challenges locally. We serve the energy sector with technologies in such areas as natural gas, oil, coal and nuclear energy; wind, solar, biogas and water processing; energy management; and grid modernization. We also offer integrated solutions to serve energy- and water-intensive industries such as mining, metals, marine, petrochemical, food & beverage and unconventional fuels.
The cost-effective, low-maintenance Roots Turbo Blower offers an efficient aeration solution for a wastewater treatment plant. For a typical aerobic digestion wastewater treatment plant, the aeration blower accounts for 50-60 percent of the total electricity used by the facility. Improving the process by a few percentage points can have a significant impact on the plant’s monthly electric utility bill and the Roots Turbo Blower provides that process improvement.
“The Roots Turbo Blower is the newest member of a product line that has been providing aeration blowers since 1929,” said Jim Drees, product line leader, roots blowers and compressors, GE Measurement & Control. “The new blower is available in units ranging from 300 kilowatts down to 22.5 kilowatts and offers the next generation of oil-free bearing technology. We believe its Bump Type airfoil bearing delivers better performance than earlier technology.”
Aeration equipment, including turbo blowers, is used in biological oxygen demand (BOD) removal, nitrification and aerobic digestion processes within the wastewater treatment plant. In the aeration basins, where the BOD removal and nitrification process occur, bacteria feed on the waste that is coming into the plant. These bacteria are kept alive and their biological activity maintained at an optimal level by aerating or adding oxygen to the process. The simplest and most cost-effective way to provide the oxygen to the bacteria is to compress atmospheric air and distribute it into the aeration basins through fine bubble diffusers, using turbo blowers to force the air through the piping.
“This process of capturing air and forcing it into the aeration system requires electricity, or some form of power, and as energy costs have increased, plants are seeking more efficient ways of delivering this air,” noted Drees. “Our Roots Turbo Blower was developed to address with this objective in mind.”
GE Measurement & Control is a leading innovator in advanced, sensor-based measurement, non-destructive testing and inspection and condition monitoring. Providing healthcare for our customers’ most critical assets, we deliver accuracy, productivity and safety to a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, power generation, aerospace, metals and transportation. Headquartered in the Greater Boston Area, USA, Measurement & Control has over 40 facilities in 25 countries and is part of GE Oil & Gas. For further information, visit www.ge-mcs.com.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.
GE Energy works connecting people and ideas everywhere to create advanced technologies for powering a cleaner, more productive world. With more than 100,000 employees in over 100 countries, our diverse portfolio of product and service solutions and deep industry expertise help our customers solve their challenges locally. We serve the energy sector with technologies in such areas as natural gas, oil, coal and nuclear energy; wind, solar, biogas and water processing; energy management; and grid modernization. We also offer integrated solutions to serve energy- and water-intensive industries such as mining, metals, marine, petrochemical, food & beverage and unconventional fuels.
