Systems BEKOKAT ®

Process technology

BEKOKAT®: catalytic technology

for hydrocarbon-free
compressed air
For installations where absolute air-cleanliness is a must.
“The residual oil-content was a great unknown
for us – until we changed over to catalysis tech-
nology. The BEKOKAT® offers the surety of
constantly oil-free air at all times.”

Advance through performance:

trend-setting catalysis technology for process and product safety
Process air cleanliness creates different requirements depending the point where air cleanliness becomes a technical challenge. The
upon the application: the more sensitive the application, the more BEKOKAT® boosts performance to a level that is barely achievable
demanding the requirements for air quality – especially where with other compressed-air processing systems. Product quality and
air comes into direct contact with products. Contamination from process safety, profitability and environmental compatibility are
hydrocarbon-residues or airborne organic agents can strongly the results of this trend-setting catalysis technology: hydrocarbons
impair process safety and compromise the quality of end- are fully converted in carbon dioxide and water through total oxida-
products. This is exactly the point where air-cleanliness becomes tion. Thus absolute compressed air cleanliness is assured.
a critical control point for business success – and this is also exactly

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 Systems | Process technology | BEKOKAT®

BEKOKAT® - compressed air processing to the highest level

During the compression of air, cleanliness of the air becomes a of air quality can the contamination of processes and products be
critical factor since compressed air always absorbs a certain amount prevented. Here, the BEKOKAT® sets new standards with its trend-
of hydrocarbons from the intake air, from compressor oil, and from setting technology: with a residual oil content down to a barely
lubricated line-mounted valves in the compressed-air system. The measurable 0.001mg/m3 - and an absolute absence of biological
absence of oil needs to be systematically established in the course contaminants – air cleanliness is taken to a new level.
of downstream processing since only through constant monitoring

The BEKOKAT® advantages as a glance

Germ-free compressed air Independent of the ambient tem- Certified reliably oil-free com-
perature, air humidity, and oil inlet pressed air in spite of oil-lubrica-
concentration ted compression or oil-contamina-
Partial-load operation without re- ted intake air
striction from 20 % to 100 %
Flexible installation in central
processing or at the terminal point Long service live
Environmentally friendly, no
hazardous waste, clean, and oil- Can also be retrofitted in existing Absolute safety through conti-
free condensate plants without replacing the nuous process monitoring
already available compressors

Improvement of the total

Easy-to-install set-up
efficiency by using Lower total investment
energy-saving compression costs, compared with oil-free
methods + BEKOKAT® = direct Constant oil-free compressed air, compression = direct cost savings
energy savings better than ISO8573-1, class 1

Ecological. Economical. Effective. For absolutely oil-free compressed air BEKOKAT® offers performance at the highest level.

3
 Cost-efficient - right from the start

Compromises are often made during the planning of a In conventional positive displacement compressors, such as
compressed-air station in order to balance the needs for the best piston or screw compressors, gaps are sealed and return flows
possible and safest processing with an economically justifiable are prevented with lubricants in the compression chamber. The
investment cost. Oil-free compression is frequently shown to result is compression that is more energy-efficient. In most cases,
be disadvantageous in terms of significantly higher investment the combination of a BEKOKAT® with an energy-efficient and
and maintenance costs, whereas oil-lubricated compression conventionally oil-lubricated screw compressor offers increased
with a low-cost activated carbon solution does not guarantee energy-efficiency when compared with an oil-free screw-
constant process safety. The BEKOKAT® offers a solution that compressor: this is due to the superior overall system efficiency.
unites the advantages of both systems: low investment costs The air-air heat exchanger in the BEKOKAT® maintains average
through conventional oil-lubricated compression are combined power consumption at a very low level - down to 0.003kWh/m3.
with the highest process safety through the certified absence of This ensures the energy-efficient production of best quality
oil down to a value of 0.001mg/m3. This creates an unsurpassed compressed air, irrespective of the suction conditions. Therefore
price-performance ratio. The processing solution with BEKOKAT® with BEKOKAT®, completely reliable process monitoring is
offers cost-efficiency right from the start, providing top-quality available and which offers immediate competitive advantages to
compressed air – without compromises. your production processes.

Unequalled: the BEKOKAT® combines efficiency and process safety

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 Systems | Process technology | BEKOKAT®

Constantly oil-free compressed air through catalysis:

the operating principle of BEKOKAT®
For compressed air processing with the BEKOKAT® the specially have been removed leaves the reaction chamber. The conden-
developed granular material is heated in the pressurised reaction sate that accumulates during the cooling of the compressed air is
chamber to a temperature of 150 degrees C. Any oil and hyd- also free of oily residues and can be introduced into the sewerage
rocarbons in the compressed air (1) that is flowing through the system without further processing. As regards the design of the
heated vessel are then fully converted into water and car- BEKOKAT®, the relevant parts are arranged outside the vessel
bon dioxide (3) during surface contact inside the pores of the offering easy access for maintenance. Additionally, the design of
catalytic convertor’s granular material (2). Fully conditioned the vessel also benefits from the absence of internal fitting which
compressed air where hydrocarbon, oil and organic compounds otherwise could have a negative effect on flow conditions.

Heating system

1
Phase
1 Compressed air inlet
containing oil and
ambient hydrocarbons

2 Oil molecules break down

2
Phase into two constituent parts
in the catalytic convertor

3 Catalysis continues

3
Phase
4 Hydrocarbon molecules are
oxidised into H2O and CO2

5 Compressed air outlet:

oil-free compressed air

Oil molecule (carbon and hydrogen) Catalytic converter N-nitrogen O2-oxygen CO2-carbon dioxide H2O-water

5
“We all need to understand that the employment of oil-free
compressors is not a guarantor of oil-free compressed air. With
the BEKOKAT® from BEKO TECHNOLOGIES has given us the
optimum solution for supplementary processing.”

Oil-free compression is a guarantor of oil-free compressed air?

Not necessarily.
The main source for oil in compressed air is the compressor: some regions with a low motor vehicle and industrial density, the share
of the lubricating oil from oil-lubricated machines always enters of hydrocarbons in the air far exceeds the limit value of Class 1
the compressed air. In order to prevent this, the installation of (0.01mg/m3 total oil content). This means: those who exclusively
compressors with oil-free compression is often favoured. But in rely on using oil-free compression cannot prevent hydrocarbons
doing so, compressed air users may be lulling themselves into a in the intake air from entering the compressed air system and
false sense of security: the compression method prevents additio- accumulating there to higher concentrations.
nal lubricating oil from entering the compressed air. However, this
is by no means a guarantee that the compressed air is free from Hence, compressed air of the highest quality according to
oil. Contaminants in the ambient air are the reason for this. ISO 8573-1 can only be guaranteed with oil-free compression
when supplementary processing is also installed. The BEKOKAT®
In combustion processes in motor vehicles, in industrial pro- offers an ideal system solution for this: in a single process step,
duction, and from natural sources such as bogs and forests, the BEKOKAT® breaks down hydrocarbons inside the compressed
hydrocarbons are released. Most of these chemical compounds air into water and a very small amount of carbon dioxide. The-
are classified as non-hazardous, and because of the varying reafter, the residual oil content significantly outperforms the
effect potential of the various components, guide values rarely requirements of Class 1 according to ISO 8573-1.
exist. However, measurements have shown that even in rural
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 Systems | Process technology | BEKOKAT®

Constant oil and germ-free compressed air, oil-free condensate

Ludiwigshafen Residual oil content class 1
The intake air for compressed-air genera-
Centre Fr.-Ebert Residual oil content downstream
of the BEKOKAT® tion is usually contaminated with hydro-
CnHm-CH4(mg/Nm³)

carbons. Therefore, a processing solution

0,12 is required even for oil-free compressed-
air generation.

0,09 The BEKOKAT® offers constantly oil-free

0,05 - 0,1 mg/Nm³ compressed air that is better than class
1 according to ISO 8573-1. The catalytic
0,06
compressed-air processing breaks down
all the hydrocarbons in the air into carbon
dioxide and water. In this respect, it is irre-
0,03
levant as to where they derive from.
0,01
0,00
Data source : Rheinland-pfälzisches Landesamt
01.03.13 15.03.13 29.03.13 12.04.13 26.04.13
für Umwelt, Wasserwirtschaft und Gewerbe

The condensate fro the process is oil-free and can be introduced into the sewerage system without needing to be processed.

7
 The solution for highly sensitive processes

The purity of compressed air dictates final product quality – ducts makes the highest demands on cleanliness: the oil introdu-
particularly where compressed air comes into direct contact with ced via compressed air could have severe consequences. Here, the
the products during processing and production. The manufacture BEKOKAT® offers the safety of oil and germ-free compressed air.
of highly sensitive products such as food or pharmaceutical pro-

Food industry

Perfect consistency:
compressed air makes ice cream enjoyable

In ice cream production, the “overrun” designates the injection

of compressed air into the base mass of the ice cream. In this
decisive production process, the ice cream receives its rich and
creamy consistency and becomes enjoyable.

Here, the compressed air comes very intensively into contact with
the ice cream. The lowest oil shares or only a few germs make the
ice cream inedible. Only the BEKOKAT® is capable of realising oil
and germ-free processing in a single step.

The catalysis technology of the BEKOKAT® provides an even

overrun with guaranteed oil-and germ-free compressed air – for
the safe enjoyment of your products.

Pharmaceutical industry

Absence of oil: for constant recovery

In the production of pharmaceutical preparations, the strictest

hygiene standards apply. This also applies, of course, to the neces-
sary compressed air. The latter is applied during the fabrication of
tablets: downstream of the tablet press, dust is removed by means
of compressed air.

Here, oil in compressed air is not only a hygienic problem but can
also lead to the swelling of the pressed tablets. Expensive rejects
would be the consequence. At this point, the BEKOKAT® assures
the quality of the products.

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 Systems | Process technology | BEKOKAT®

Automotive industry

Absence of oil: for perfect paintwork

There is no other field in the automotive industry where the

demands on compressed air quality are as high as in paint coating.
The process air comes into extensive contact with the varnish and
surface. Every minor contamination leads to imperfections in the
paintwork. In this manner enormous extra costs arise during the
manufacturing process.

With its process conditioning, the BEKOKAT® safely ensures oil-

free compressed air, independent of any inlet concentration. It is a
very comforting feeling to be on the safe side with the BEKOKAT®

Electronics industry

Absence of oil: for technology that works

In the electronics industry, compressed air is applied in many ways:

as a transport and cleaning medium, or as an energy carrier for
pneumatic tools. In each application, the demands on compressed
air are enormous. Even the slightest contamination can lead to
defective products during the exposure of printed circuit boards.
Absolutely oil-free compressed air ranks among the most impor-
tant requirements for trouble-free production.

Here, the BEKOKAT® offers the safety of constantly oil-free com-

pressed air.

The classified directory of our expertise

Pharmaceutical Chemical Construction

Food industry Petrochemistry
industry industry material industry

Metalworking Automobile Surface Electronics

Glas
industry industry technology industry

Packaging
Paper industry Energy Enviroment Gas
industry

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 Evidence furnished and validated by a complex test series: the BEKOKAT® produces absolutely germ-free compressed air.

Oil and germ-free compressed air

Certified safety for your processes
The higher the demands for compressed air quality, the higher BEKOKAT®, outperforms the specification for class 1 of ISO 8573-1.
the requirements for documentary proof. Quality Management In a second test series with the Gesellschaft für Produktions¬hygiene
systems require the employment of specifically suitable devices und Sterilitätssicherung mbH (GfPS), it was confirmed that
with independently verified quality certification. This can be even compressed air which was intentionally contaminated with
problematic for many devices since they can only prove their suita- bacteria, is processed in a germ-free manner in the BEKOKAT®.
bility after the fact. Subsequent to the treatment, living bacteria could no longer be
detected in the compressed-air flow. With this, the test results from
In contrast, BEKO TECHNOLOGIES furnishes the required evidence two well-respected test institutes prove, independently of one
in the run-up. We have undergone complex tests with independent another, the high efficiency of the innovative catalysis technolo-
institutes which have confirmed and certified the effectiveness of gy. The two certificates give you security regarding the decision for
the BEKOKAT®. Together with TUV Nord, it was proved under actual compressed-air processing with the BEKOKAT®.
operating conditions that compressed air which is processed with the

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 Systems | Process technology | BEKOKAT®

BEKOKAT® catalytic converter

A
A

B C B C

BEKOKAT® CC - 060 CC - 120 CC - 180 CC - 360 CC - 720 CC - 1200

Volume flow (m /min)*

3
1 2 3 6 12 20

Pressure (bar[g]) 16 16 16 16 16 11 **

Power supply (ph/V/Hz) 1/230/50 1/230/50 3/400/50 3/400/50 3/400/50 3/400/50

Inst. performance (kW) 1 1,64 2,6 5,1 8,7 13,8

Connection 1" 1" 1" 1½" 2" 2½"

Dimension

A (mm) 1734 1719 1440 1578 1747 2166

B (mm) 800 950 950 1300 1550 1650

C (mm) 420 450 525 715 850 1050

Weight (kg) 130 200 275 315 525 805

Flexible employment Economical operation

The installed performance is needed mainly in the heating phase

The technical data are indicated for an operating pressure of 7 subsequent to the activation of the BEKOKAT®. During operation,
bar(g). Deviating pressures are possible without problems. We will the BEKOKAT® functions economically and efficiently in a heat
be happy to individually design a plant for your case of application. exchange: with low energy consumption of up to 0.003 kW/m3 on
Feel free to contact us. average.

Other voltages upon request. Other models upon request. From model CC-180 onwards without housing.
* related to +20°C and 1 bar(a)
** 16 bar(g) version upon request.

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Systems | Process technology | BEKOKAT®

Systematic quality: worldwide

We at BEKO TECHNOLOGIES develop, manufacture, and distri- Since its founding in 1982, BEKO TECHNOLOGIES has conti-
bute products and systems for an optimised compressed-air and nuously given decisive impulses to compressed-air technology.
compressed gas quality throughout the world. From the proces- Our pathbreaking ideas have exerted considerable influence on
sing of compressed air and compressed gases through filtration the development. With this expertise and with our personal com-
and drying, via proven condensate technology, to instruments mitment, we at BEKO TECHNOLOGIES stand for trend-setting
for quality supervision and measurement. From the small com- technologies, products, and services.
pressed-air application to demanding process technologies.

METPOINT® OCV

CLEARPOINT® CLEARPOINT®

CLEARPOINT®

BEKOMAT® BEKOMAT®
CLEARPOINT®
BEKOMAT®

KOMPRESSOR BEKOMAT® BEKOMAT® BEKOKAT® DRYPOINT® RA

The product and system categories

Measurement instrumentation
Condensate drainage | BEKOMAT® Filtration | CLEARPOINT®
METPOINT®

Condensate processing Process technology

Drying | DRYPOINT® | EVERDRY®
ÖWAMAT® | BEKOSPLIT® BEKOBLIZZ® | BEKOKAT®

BEKOKAT®– catalytic compressed-air processing

for reliably oil-free compressed air

BEKO TECHNOLOGIES GmbH

Im Taubental 7 | D-41468 Neuss

Head office:
Tel +49 (0) 21 31 / 988 -0
Fax +49 (0) 21 31 / 988 -900

info@beko-technologies.com
www.beko-technologies.com
Subject to technical changes without prior notice; the information and data do not represent prod-
uct characteristics within the meaning of the German Civil Code (BGB). | ® Registered trademark of
XP BK00 INT001 | Effective 2013-10 BEKO TECHNOLOGIES GmbH, Neuss