Imagine an urban construction site. Some of the things that come to mind are likely noise, harmful fumes, particles and emissions. Atlas Copco Power Technique is at the innovative forefront working towards changing this scene.
The world is facing an immense challenge in its efforts to phase out fossil fuels and slow down global warming. One piece of the puzzle is finding energy-efficient solutions and choosing electric as an alternativ to fossil fuels.
“Diesel regulations are being tightened and the construction industry, as well as other industries using our solutions, are looking at alternative technologies,” explains Kenneth De Vocht, program and team leader engineering at Atlas Copco Power Technique. “There is a pull from the market. At the same time, mandatory cleaning components are making diesel-powered equipment more expensive to manufacture. This creates an extra push on us to innovate and develop alternatives.”
In-house innovation
As a technology leader, Atlas Copco has the capacity to develop solutions in-house. A prime example is the E-Air compressor, in which proven technologies from other products have been combined and made more robust to develop an electric-powered compressor that is capable of meeting the demands of construction sites.
Since this helps retain the equipment’s resale value, it is an important plus for the rental companies that are a large part of Atlas Copco’s customer base. A further advantage compared to competing products is the versatility of the socket connections, letting customers use their existing installation to hook up the E-Air.
“The E-Air compressors are designed as a plug-and-play solution. They can be used in the same applications as a standard diesel compressor. Since we are using variable-speed drive (VSD) technology and a motor with high efficiency and low impact current to the power grid, the E-Air machines are suitable for a wide range of applications. The working pressure can also be adjusted via PACE (a patented technology from Atlas Copco) for better versatility as well,” says Haiying Cong, Product Marketing Manager at Atlas Copco Power Technique.
Hide the caption
Hide the caption
The windings are covered with special material that protects against condensation, and the surrounding components come from Atlas Copco's 8-series diesel-powered compressors.
A further advantage compared to competing products is the versatility of the socket connections, letting customers use their existing installation to hook up the E-Air.
Silent and efficient
There are obvious environmental benefits of electrification when it comes to exhaust emissions and urban air quality. Of course, the electric power has to be generated somehow and in a lot of cases fossil fuels are being used for this. But even then, there are benefits.
“Power plants have much higher efficiency. Also, by centralizing the power supply, you have a better chance of optimizing it and also eventually switching over to one of the many carbon-neutral options such as nuclear, hydro, wind or solar energy,” says Cong. Another benefit in urban applications is that these compressors run more silently. The compressor’s footprint is also much smaller, making it easier to move around.
“For the customers there is a very beneficial total cost of ownership. Constant refueling, along with maintenance, make the operational costs of the diesel options double by comparison, making them more expensive in the long run,” explains De Vocht.
Fast and flexible energy supply
Electrical power is often required at immediate notice, and Atlas Copco has this need covered as well. The portable and electric QAS 5 generators are specially designed for metropolitan construction and based on ‘plug and play’ connectivity to provide a safe, fast and flexible energy supply. Equipped with up to eight sockets, the generators can be powered up within five seconds. The generators are nearly silent, due to a VSD motor-driven fan that adjusts the cooling flow to the specific requirements of the engine.
Electric pumps for de-watering
Even in areas where electric-powered equipment has been around since the 1920s, Atlas Copco is investing in innovation. De-watering is an important part in metropolitan construction, and Atlas Copco has several electrical solutions for it.
“We have a complete range of high-quality and lightweight electric submersible pumps designed specifically for drainage, sludge and slurry pumping applications,” says Hrishi Kulkami, Product Marketing Manager at Atlas Copco Power Technique.
Battery-powered light towers
Another product area where a shift toward electric power is occurring is light towers. This development is especially strong in urban settings, where emission and noise restrictions are becoming major factors. Other benefits with hooking up light towers to the grid or running them on battery, which is the next big innovation area, is that they can be much smaller and lighter and, thus, easier to transport. Since there is no engine inside, the electric light towers also become extremely reliable.
“I want to highlight our fully battery-powered light tower which can work for a full working week without access to main supply or a generator,” says Félix Gòmez, Product Marketing Manager at Atlas Copco Power Technique. “The trend towards electric and battery equipment is here to stay, and Atlas Copco is definitely ready for it.”
