A regenerative blower is an air-moving machine that creates continuous pressure or vacuum with a spinning, non-contacting impeller. Air enters the blower, is accelerated repeatedly around a ring-shaped housing, and leaves at higher pressure or is drawn through under vacuum. Because the impeller does not contact the housing and no lubricant is introduced into the air path, the airflow is oil-free.
Why regenerative blowers are used
- Continuous air for pressure or vacuum service
- Oil-free airflow, which matters in aquaculture, food production and animal life support
- Compact equipment footprint
- Low acoustic noise. The manufacturer rates ROTRON blowers as quiet within OSHA standards when properly piped or muffled
- A single rotating assembly with permanently sealed bearings. Bison states over 25,000 hours of maintenance-free operation on applicable industrial models
- Pressure or vacuum from the same basic machine
- A broad range of sizes, motor arrangements and application-specific configurations
What they are not suited to
Very high pressure. Regenerative blowers work in inches of water rather than tens of PSI. They also need protecting: debris drawn into the impeller causes expensive damage, and a blocked or heavily throttled system drives the blower into overheating.
How a regenerative blower differs from other air machines
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Regenerative blower: Non-contacting impeller recirculates air around an annular housing. Steady flow, moderate pressure or vacuum, oil-free, compact.
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Centrifugal fan: Air passes through the impeller once. High flow, relatively low pressure.
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Positive displacement blower: Fixed volumes are trapped and displaced. Higher pressure, pulsating flow, often lubricated.
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Reciprocating compressor: A piston compresses air in a cylinder. High-pressure compressed air rather than the moderate range of a regenerative blower.
A note for aquatic users
A regenerative blower moves air. It does not generate or concentrate oxygen. In an aeration system, air released through diffusers transfers oxygen into the water and helps strip carbon dioxide. The blower delivers the air; gas transfer happens in the water.