Sterling TT's Avantair - Advanced Compact Air Cooler
Avantair is a high-performance cooling solution that uses heat pipes (also known as thermosyphons) to transfer energy from a generator to the surrounding environment using forced air movement and an extended finned surface.
Generator air cooling for refineries and offshore applications
The combination of the very effective block fin together with the efficient heat pipe design provides a robust, high-performance solution.
Avantair has been proven in more than 150 tough and challenging projects throughout the world, including refineries and liquefied natural gas plants, TLPs (Deepwater Tension Leg Platforms) and FPSOs (Floating Production Storage and Offloading Facilities).
Using heat pipe/thermosiphon technology
Heat pipes were initially developed for the space industry but are now used in more sectors. Avantair is a low maintenance, efficient and cost-effective cooling system ideal for hazardous and challenging environments from offshore to desert locations.
Most air-to-air coolers are too large for offshore use, but Avantair is extremely compact because of its highly efficient means of rejecting heat.
No water
There is no need for water, or the piping, pumps or filters associated with water cooling methods (TEWAC). That means no flooding, no power loss and no corrosion and long service life. Installation is fast and simple. All it needs is a low voltage electricity supply.
Compact yet powerful
Avantair is much smaller than conventional TEAAC and fits on top of the generator, within the footprint of the machine. Delivering cooler air, potentially, reduces the size of generators or increases power output.
Low maintenance
Downtime is eliminated through on-line maintenance and plug-and-play replacement of components completed while the machine is running.
Long-lasting and reliable
Intelligent design and use of materials deliver a 20-year service life with minimal erosion or corrosion. Avantair rarely breaks down and provides 100% availability.
In operation, Avantair sends cooled air into the generator at less than 10 degrees above ambient conditions. This compares with at least 20 degrees for a standard air-to-air cooler. Maintenance, which takes place every 8,000 service hours, lasts around 2 hours, and can be carried out while the generator is working, with no need for shutdowns. Few spare parts are ever required, thanks to the simplicity of design.