Could the Carnot Compressor Displace Conventional Air Compressor Technology the Way Electric Vehicles are Displacing Gas-Fueled Vehicles?

Image provided by Carnot Compression

The following post was written and/or published as a collaboration between Benzinga’s in-house sponsored content team and a financial partner of Benzinga.

Carnot Compression wants its products to be viewed as the electric vehicles of the air compression industry. Similar to how EVs are displacing internal combustion engines, Carnot believes its novel compressor will displace legacy technologies such as piston, rotary screw, and scroll compressors.  In the process, The Scotts Valley, California-based company’s patented technology is helping to address a significant global energy challenge with the potential to reduce the amount of electricity used by electric motor-driven compressors — about $227 billion annually — by 20%.

In the United States, industrial air compressors account for more than 12% of manufacturing electricity consumption, or 399 British thermal units (BTUs). Globally, compressors driven by electric motors account for 32% of electricity consumption from electric motor-driven systems.

Compressed air is air that is kept under a pressure that is greater than atmospheric pressure. It’s used for power tools such as air hammers, drills and wrenches as well as to atomize paint and to operate air cylinders for automation. It also can be used to propel and to stop vehicles — brakes applied by compressed air made large railway transportation safer and more efficient to operate, and compressed air brakes also are found on large highway vehicles.

Carnot’s patented process delivers low-temperature, oil-free compressed air, and its simple design gives customers a low-maintenance, long-operating-life product. Over a 10-year period, electricity accounts for 76% of the cost of operating a typical air compressor. Equipment and maintenance each account for 12% of the cost.

“Carnot’s proprietary technology cuts down on the total cost of ownership, eliminating the need for frequent routine service visits,” according to the company’s StartEngine page. “The minimal amount of moving parts reduces service costs and increases uptime.”

Carnot says its technology transforms compression by removing heat during the compression process rather than after it has been compressed. By capturing the waste heat of compression throughout the compression process, the energy required to compress air can be significantly reduced compared to common compressor technology.

The technology is expected to scale to cover a broad range of pressure and flow requirements for industrial compressed air. It also could be applied to compress many gases in addition to air, including natural gas, various industrial gases and refrigerants.

The global compressed air market size value this year is $32.36 billion and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.4% from now until 2028, when the market is expected to reach $40.98 billion, according to Grand View Research.

The air compressor market has been adversely affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic. But as the world emerges from the health crisis, an increasing focus on energy efficiency, energy recovery and the reduction of CO2 emissions is expected to propel the demand for air compressors, Grand View reports. Industries that are likely to contribute to the rise in demand for air compressors include brewing, agriculture and automotive. Companies such as Anheuser Busch InBev SA BUD and Molson Coors Beverage Co. TAP are potential candidates for Carnot’s technology.

Carnot is in the midst of a crowdfunding campaign on StartEngine that’s raised more than $622,000. To invest in the company, click here.

The preceding post was written and/or published as a collaboration between Benzinga’s in-house sponsored content team and a financial partner of Benzinga. Although the piece is not and should not be construed as editorial content, the sponsored content team works to ensure that any and all information contained within is true and accurate to the best of their knowledge and research. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice.