Voith air compressors – energy efficiency, low-emissions, reduced weight and longer service intervals

Voith’s two-stage air compressors offer a range of benefits to commercial vehicle operators, including a high degree of energy efficiency, low-emissions, reduced weight and longer service intervals.

The key  to this range of benefits is an inter-cooling system that ensures consistently high air quality and noticeably lower fuel consumption. An extended compressor lifetime is another advantage of the two-stage principle, which benefits all bus and truck operators using any Voith air compressor.

The latest Voith air compressors, the LP 725 and the LP 490, are based on a cast aluminium concept. These compressors, in light-weight version, are already being incorporated as standard into Mercedes Benz Actros trucks, among others. A two-stage Voith air compressor with a grey cast iron design is integrated as standard into MAN city buses fitted with D08 and D20 diesel engines, as well as Volvo buses in Sweden.

The two-stage principle features an intermediate chamber with cooler between the suction and pressure chamber.

This allows air to be cooled as it makes its way from the first to the second compression stage. Lowering the temperature of compressed air allows the compressor to achieve an up to 85% longer duty time, increases air availability and improves energy efficiency.

This is because the intercooling set-up performs a compression function and thus ensures low temperature levels throughout the compression process.

The intercooler’s functioning principle ensures a decrease in power consumption during transport, thus saving fuel. With its light-weight aluminium construction, this model is roughly 7kg lighter than conventional single-stage compressors, which ensures further reductions in fuel consumption. In addition, the automatic idle system (SLS) reduces consumption when the vehicle is in non-transport mode.

The intercooler’s functioning principle ensures a decrease in power consumption during transport, thus saving fuel.

As the demand for compressed air is particularly high in city buses, these vehicles are able to make full use of the Voith air compressor’s efficient operation. In doing so, the unit is able to save up to 1 litre of diesel for every 100km.

Another advantage of the compression is that it reduces the mechanical strain on pressurised components,

Another advantage of the compression is that it reduces the mechanical strain on pressurised components, thus extending lifetime. During compression, temperatures of up to several hundred degrees are reached, which can be problematic, e.g. for oil. Lowering the temperature also reduces the strain on the unit and prevents the oil from cracking. It also stops by-products developing which may damage downstream devices in the compression system.

The risk of compressor failure due to the over-heating that occurs during compression is thus reduced. Ensuring a consistently high air quality means compressor components last significantly longer and makes low-emission vehicle operation possible.