Digital control technology for blowers and compressors

14/05/2020

Everyone is talking about digitalisation, automation and Industry 4.0. Integrating digital applications in the control of blowers and compressors also offers great potential for increasing machine availability, reliability and information transparency in the higher-level control system of the machine operator. Therefore, AERZEN develops its portfolio in the field of assembly control consequently and counts on the advantages of digitalisation. With the newly developed AERtronic, AERZEN has now succeeded in extending the functional spectrum of its predecessor by digital applications.

As a customer-oriented and practical experienced manufacturer of highly efficient blower and compressor technology AERZEN always works close to the needs of the customers. The technology pioneer has therefore quickly realised that the further development of digital functions in the control technology of process air systems brings extensive advantages for the operators of the machines: The software-based recording, analysis and evaluation of relevant process parameters not only makes digital solutions more user-friendly, but also enables significant optimisation in operation.

The new generation of the AERtronic machine control system has therefore been specially developed to meet the customer requirements of the various industries. AERZEN offers the system in the three versions Basic, Advanced and Premium. These differ in their range of functions and can therefore be tailored to the individual needs of the plant operator.

The AERtronic Basic variant acts as a digital machine parameter display and fault indicator. The user can now read the relevant process parameters such as pressures and temperatures on a modern display and transfer them easily and conveniently to the control room via Modbus RTU interface - unlike its predecessor, an analogue display unit with circular instrumentation. In addition to these functions, the AERtronic Advanced control unit offers the possibility of actively controlling processes.

The device uses the sensors to identify critical states in the process and switches the machine off if necessary to prevent damage. In addition, the plant operator has the possibility to transmit the recorded parameters via Modbus RTU to his higher-level systems such as Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA). This function makes it possible to make processes in the plant even more transparent and to identify potential for improvement at an early stage. This variety of functions plays out its advantages above all with the Delta Screw screw compressor and is therefore provided as standard. If you are looking for an "Industry 4.0 ready" solution for your processes, you will find an advanced and user-friendly machine control in the AERtronic Advanced. Customers also have the option of using the Advanced control unit to access additional interfaces such as Modbus TCP, ProfiNet® and Profibus® or to visualise all information on smartphone, tablet or PC via WebView.

The premium version of the AERtronic is based on the Advanced control unit and enables the operator to access further services via the AERZEN platform to increase availability, efficiency and evaluation. The artificial intelligence trained and programmed on the basis of more than 150 years of mechanical engineering experience ensures even more efficient, reliable and smarter machine operation. The innovative AERZEN control units set the course for operators of blowers and compressors towards digitalisation of production. Thanks to the extensive functional diversity of the systems, it is possible to combine the highest safety standards with maximum user comfort and process efficiency. The use of an AERtronic control unit also extends the service life of the system by protecting the machine specifically against failures caused by overloads.