BEKO Technologies, The Perfect Partner For Compressed Air Solutions In The Chemical And Process Industry

Virtually all manufacturing industry uses compressed air. There are some industries however where the quality of the compressed air is critical. The chemical and process industry being one such sector. There are too many processes to mention but to name a few, agitation and aeration blending of liquids, process instrumentation, pneumatic conveying and operation of devices where a spark may be dangerous. These are all examples of the reasons to use high quality, clean dry, oil free air.

BEKO TECHNOLOGIES is an international company founded in Germany and based in Bromsgrove in the UK. The company specialises in conditioning compressed air downstream of a compressor, the management of condensates and measurement systems for compressed air and gases. As well as the standard range of treatment products such as filters, drains, separators, fridge dryers and desiccant dryers, BEKO TECHNOLOGIES provide some key products to ensure safe and low cost continuous operation in process plants.

Catalytic converters are a relatively new product solution to providing oil free compressed air. The principle is simple and the same as operating in millions of vehicles. The application of heat to a catalyst cuts down hydrocarbon chains with the end products carbon dioxide, water and very pure compressed air. Many plant engineers will say “Not applicable to our situation, we use 100% oil free compressors” Not necessarily true. What 100% oil free means from the compressor manufacturer is that no oil will be added during the compression process. Atmospheric air contains a significant number of hydrocarbons which varies with location dependent on proximity to roads and industry. The BEKOKAT, catalytic converter will take out all the hydrocarbons independent of inlet conditions. The product is ideal for providing the “braces” to the oil free compressor’s “belt” in the small number of critical applications where any oil would be potentially catastrophic.

Staying with the subject of oil free compressed air. The world recognises the ISO 8573-1 2010 as the standard for compressed air quality for particulate, oil content and water/vapour content. There has been a lot of discussion in the last decade about extending the classification for oil to a “Class Zero” for oil free compressors. BEKO TECHNOLOGIES have no problem with this but would ask “Who is measuring?” and for those who are “How, by impact tubes?” In BEKO TECHNOLOGIES experience very few companies including “blue chip” know what their air quality really is. Impact tubes cannot measure low enough to cover the ISO specification.

There is a solution. The METPOINT OCV will measure down to 0.003 ppm hydrocarbon in vapour content. The technology is PID, photo ionisation detection, which enables the METPOINT OCV to be installed inline and give a continuous output which can also be available to alarm, SMS, Ethernet or 4-20mA signals to provide the connectivity required in the 21st century. Every senior manager knows that if something is measured then it can be managed!

Finally BEKO TECHNOLOGIES have the complete range of drying products from the smallest membrane dryer to large fridge dryers. What is not always known is the product EVERDRY which is a range of large desiccant dryers including Heat of Compression (HOC) and genuine Zero Purge. Many sites are still wasting compressed air via “Heatless dryers” or heated dryers with purge air. BEKO TECHNOLOGIES have provided many solutions with 6 months payback on investment for heatless and even against heated purge type a less than 2 year payback is common. The product is exceptionally reliable, Matthew Harrison UK Sales Manager “We have sold a number of EVERDRY units into very prestigious locations and I am very happy to report that there has not been a single breakdown so far. This is exactly what the Chemical and Process industry requires”.