CAPS Australia’s Sauer high-pressure compressor is helping researchers at the University of Melbourne develop precise test methods.
When the University of Melbourne PhD researcher Junqiu Jiang walks into the mechanical engineering laboratory to perform hydrogen gas tests with a plug-flow reactor, the first thing he does is turn on the Sauer high-pressure compressor unit that the laboratory received from CAPS Australia.
The unit, which was co-developed and supplied by CAPS Australia in Melbourne, can compress air with a maximum pressure of 80 bar and a flow rate of 30 grams per second. The Sauer high pressure unit also has a high pressure Beko air dryer system to remove moisture and oil from the air – something that is critical to Jiang’s testing processes.
Jiang’s research aims to create an accurate theoretical model for hydrogen oxidation by simulating a high flow reactor. Hence, his study relies on high pressure compressed air to dilute the gases with which he is experimenting.
“When you have to design something, you want to be able to simulate it first instead of building a prototype each time. That’s what I do. I’m trying to make an accurate model of hydrogen combustion, ”says Jiang.
CAPS Product Manager for Gases and Specialty Products, William Chan, says CAPS designed the facility with the specific needs of research in mind.
“We followed the process that we normally use for any CAPS customer, which is to collect information about flow rate, pressure, gas type and required air quality. Based on these parameters, we recommended the Sauer high-pressure compressor and the BEKO air dryer, as they represent the best combination for laboratory use, ”says Chan.
After the CAPS engineers had defined the parameters, the unit was manufactured by Sauer and shipped to Australia by sea. The total time from order to delivery was less than 20 weeks. The local CAPS service team in Melbourne then supported the university with the final commissioning.
The University of Melbourne isn’t the only college where CAPS compressors support research. William says CAPS ‘oil-free and high pressure compressors are installed at several universities in Western Australia, Victoria, Queensland and ACT.
Martin Wahl, Area Manager for CAPS Australia, says that as the largest independent compressed power generation provider in Australia, CAPS enables the custom development of compressor units in collaboration with leading global manufacturers – without being limited to the products of a single company.
“CAPS is working with a number of local companies to help with the piping and installation. In this case, the University of Melbourne did the installation itself, but our engineers did the pre-commissioning checks to make sure everything was installed correctly, ”says Wahl.
“CAPS is the exclusive distributor of the Sauer industrial range in Australia. We are also the largest local distributor of BEKO dryer systems. Both companies are known as high-end brands in their respective fields. At CAPS we are never limited to off-the-shelf products. This enables us to offer our customers custom-fit compressors. “
CAPS Australia is headquartered in Perth and employs over 200 people in nine offices across the country. For this reason, too, the University of Melbourne opted for CAPS after choosing CAPS.
“When the University of Melbourne decided to purchase a compressor unit, CAPS was the only compressor company with a local presence in Victoria that could provide the service they wanted. With a team of engineers, support staff and an aftermarket service team, we were able to meet and exceed the university’s expectations. “
Since installing the device almost two years ago, the CAPS service team has carried out an annual routine maintenance and provided the laboratory with after-sales support, Jiang explains.
“CAPS has been very helpful in providing after-sales services. When we had concerns about the heat generated in the room last year, the CAPS service team responded quickly with a solution that included advanced suction from outside the room and suggested installing powerful fans to solve the heat problem. ”Jiang says.
Although the Sauer compressor unit can provide up to 80 bar pressure, Jiang is currently using around half of this pressure for his study. But the pressure can easily be regulated to a higher level for any future research program carried out in the laboratory.
“The compressor is a great addition to our laboratory. In the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, we had never had a compressor of this size before. I am sure the compressor unit will work for many years and researchers after me will continue to see its benefits. ”
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