Choosing the right air blower comes down to 4 factors: required air flow rate (m³/h), discharge pressure or vacuum level (mbar), technology (Roots / screw / turbo), and oil-free air requirement. A wrong selection leads to overloading, excessive power consumption, or failure to reach the required pressure.
Step 1 — Determine Air Flow Rate
Convert the required air flow rate to m³/h (or m³/min) based on the application: aeration of aerobic tanks, pneumatic conveying, or vacuum suction. The typical range for industrial air blowers is approximately 30 – 15,000 m³/h. Refer to the general range on the air blower page.
Step 2 — Calculate Discharge Pressure (or Vacuum Level)
For aeration, the required pressure ≈ the water column height above the air diffuser plus pipeline and diffuser losses. Quick rule: every 1 m of water column ≈ ~100 mbar. For example, a diffuser submerged at 4.7 m → ~470 mbar, plus ~150 mbar losses → blower required: ~620 mbar. For pneumatic conveying or vacuum applications, use the system resistance (vacuum up to ~−500 mbar).
Step 3 — Choose Between Roots, Screw, or Turbo Technology
Roots (3-lobe) has lower initial cost and suits lower pressures (~up to 1,000 mbar); screw type offers higher efficiency and energy savings at continuous high pressure (up to ~3,500 mbar); turbo handles very high flow rates with stable output. For 24/7 operation, prioritize energy efficiency. See the comparison section on the air blower page.
Step 4 — Oil-Free Air, VFD & Noise Level
The working air section of Roots/screw/turbo blowers delivers 100% oil-free air — critical for water treatment, food processing, and environmental applications. A variable frequency drive (VFD) allows flow rate adjustment on demand (e.g., based on dissolved oxygen levels), achieving significant energy savings. Consider a sound enclosure if the blower is installed near operational areas.
Step 5 — Select Configuration & Brand
Finalize the protection class, mounting type (direct/belt-driven), control panel, and CO-CQ (certificate of origin/quality) requirements. Thái Khương Pumps is an authorized distributor of Aerzen (Germany) — Roots (Delta Blower), screw (Delta Screw), turbo — and Robuschi (Italy). Submit your specifications for consultation.
Pre-Order Checklist
- Application (aeration / pneumatic conveying / vacuum)
- Air flow rate (m³/h) and control range
- Discharge pressure or vacuum level (mbar) — or tank depth
- Oil-free air, VFD, and noise level requirements
- Voltage, protection class + CO-CQ
A common application is wastewater treatment aeration — see details in the article on air blowers for wastewater treatment aeration.
Operating Range by Technology — Lobe, Screw, Turbo
Industrial air blowers cover flow rates up to approximately 15,000 m³/h, discharge pressures up to 3,500 mbar, and vacuum down to −500 mbar — entirely oil-free, a mandatory requirement for biological tanks and product-contact air.
Select technology based on scale and load profile: Roots (lobe) is durable and economical for small-to-medium stations; screw type delivers clear energy savings under variable loads; turbo offers the highest efficiency for large stations running continuously at baseload. At the same operating point, the difference in electricity costs between technologies over 5 years typically exceeds the difference in capital investment.
| Technology | Suited for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Roots / lobe (Robuschi Robox) | Small-to-medium stations, simple operation | Durable, widely available spare parts; noisy — sound enclosure recommended |
| Screw (Aerzen Delta Hybrid) | Variable loads, energy reduction target | Higher capital cost than lobe; payback through energy savings |
| Turbo | Large stations running at baseload 24/7 | Highest efficiency; requires technical team familiar with the equipment |
See also: industrial air blower catalog — comparison of 4 technologies (side-channel / Roots / screw / turbo), selection table by application, and Aerzen / Robuschi / FPZ product lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specifications should I use to select an air blower?
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Air flow rate (m³/min or m³/h), discharge pressure (calculated from tank depth + pipe losses + diffuser head), and operating duty cycle. Underestimating discharge pressure is the most common mistake — the blower fails to push air to the bottom of the tank.
Roots, screw, turbo — which technology should I choose?
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Roots (lobe) is durable, has lower capital cost, and moderate efficiency — suitable for small and medium stations. Screw type is more energy-efficient under variable loads. Turbo achieves the highest efficiency for large stations running continuously at baseload.
How is noise from air blowers managed?
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Select a unit with a sound enclosure, install anti-vibration mounts and flexible connectors, and arrange adequate ventilation in the machine room. Noise levels stated in the catalogue are measured under standard conditions — actual levels in an enclosed room will be higher.
Spare parts for air blowers: see the in-stock catalog by model.
Submit your air flow rate, pressure (or tank depth), and application — Thái Khương Pumps engineers will advise on technology + unit size and provide a quotation with CO-CQ within 24 hours. Request a Quotation →
