EP-CM160BF Water-Lubricated Oil-Free Screw Air Compressor
The EP-CM160BF is a 160 kW fixed-frequency water-lubricated oil-free screw compressor delivering up to 28.85 m³/min at 0.8–1.25 MPa — the highest single-motor fixed-frequency output in the CMB series, engineered for petrochemical plants, pulp and paper mills, large mining compressed air stations, and heavy industrial utilities demanding Class 0 oil-free air at the 28+ m³/min scale.
EP-CM160BF | 160 kW Fixed-Frequency Flagship — 28.85 m³/min, the Highest Single-Unit CMB Output
Heavy industry — petrochemical complexes, pulp and paper mills, large mining operations, and major continuous process plants — operates compressed air systems at a scale where a single compressor unit must supply the equivalent output of an entire compressed air station in a smaller facility. At this scale, the technology selection decision carries consequences that extend over the entire operating life of the equipment: the energy cost of suboptimal compression thermodynamics, the maintenance burden of complex multi-stage oil-free designs, and the contamination risk of filter-dependent oil-free systems all compound over 20–25 year operating horizons into financial impacts that dwarf the initial capital difference between technology options.
The EP-CM160BF is the definitive answer to this challenge within the CMB water-lubricated fixed-frequency series. At 160 kW (220 HP) with a peak free air delivery of 28.85 m³/min (1,019 cfm) at 0.8 MPa — the highest single-motor fixed-frequency output in the entire CMB product family — it delivers heavy-industrial-scale compressed air volume with the water-lubricated single-screw platform's structural ISO 8573-1 Class 0 guarantee, isothermal energy efficiency, and 25-year design service life. For heavy industrial facility engineers specifying central compressed air utilities, the EP-CM160BF sets the ceiling of what a single fixed-frequency water-lubricated compressor unit can deliver. View the complete CMB series to understand the full range of configurations available.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | 0.8 MPa | 1.0 MPa | 1.25 MPa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motor Power | 160 kW / 220 HP | 160 kW / 220 HP | 160 kW / 220 HP |
| FAD (m³/min) | 11.54–28.85 | 9.81–24.52 | 8.87–22.17 |
| FAD (cfm) | 408–1019 | 346–866 | 313–783 |
| Noise Level | 78 dB(A) | 78 dB(A) | 78 dB(A) |
| Weight W-cooled | 5300 kg | 5300 kg | 5300 kg |
| Weight A-cooled | 3720 kg | 3720 kg | 3720 kg |
| Dimensions W-cooled (mm) | 4300×2000×2500 | 4300×2000×2500 | 4300×2000×2500 |
| Dimensions A-cooled (mm) | 3100×1700×2090 | 3100×1700×2090 | 3100×1700×2090 |
| Air Quality | ISO 8573-1 Class 0 | ISO 8573-1 Class 0 | ISO 8573-1 Class 0 |
| Lubrication | Pure water — zero oil | Pure water — zero oil | Pure water — zero oil |
Petrochemical Applications: Instrument Air at Heavy Industrial Scale
A large petrochemical complex — an integrated refinery or a major ethylene/propylene plant — may have thousands of pneumatic control devices across dozens of process units, all dependent on a continuous, high-quality instrument air supply. The consequence of instrument air contamination at this scale is not a localised production quality issue but a process control failure that can affect safety-critical systems: emergency shutdown valves, pressure safety valve position indicators, and flare system controls all depend on clean, dry, oil-free instrument air.
The EP-CM160BF's 28.85 m³/min output and structural Class 0 oil-free guarantee address both the volume and quality requirements of large petrochemical instrument air systems from a single unit. The isothermal compression thermodynamics — maintaining compression at ambient +15°C throughout the operating cycle — are particularly advantageous in petrochemical environments where high ambient temperatures in process areas make adiabatic compressor cooling more challenging and less efficient. In 40–50°C ambient conditions, the water-lubricated design maintains consistent output and efficiency where dry alternatives experience thermal derating.
Key Features
28.85 m³/min — CMB Series Fixed-Frequency Maximum
The EP-CM160BF delivers the highest single-motor fixed-frequency FAD in the CMB water-lubricated series: 28.85 m³/min (1,019 cfm) at 0.8 MPa. This output capacity covers large petrochemical instrument air networks, major paper machine air systems, and large mining compressed air stations from a single machine — the definitive single-unit choice for heavy industrial fixed-frequency applications.
Air-Cooled Variant for Remote Installations
The air-cooled EP-CM160BF variant (3720 kg, 3100×1700×2090 mm) requires only electrical connection and compressed air outlet piping — no cooling water infrastructure. This self-contained configuration is ideal for remote mining sites, offshore facilities, and locations where cooling water availability or cost makes water-cooled installations impractical. Fan cooling maintains discharge temperature below 55°C in ambient conditions up to 40°C.
Isothermal Efficiency — 128,000 kWh Annual Saving
At 160 kW and 8,000 annual operating hours, the 10%+ specific power advantage of isothermal compression versus dry adiabatic alternatives represents approximately 128,000 kWh of annual electricity saving — the highest absolute energy saving in the fixed-frequency CMB series. For petrochemical and mining operations with continuous 24/7 operating profiles, this saving is realised every year across the 25-year service life of the machine.
No Rotor Coating — Zero Mid-Life Capital Event
Dry oil-free screw compressors require PTFE or polymer rotor coatings that degrade over time and eventually require replacement — a major capital event at mid-life for 160 kW class machines. The EP-CM160BF's water lubrication mechanism seals and lubricates without any coating on the compression elements. There is no rotor coating to degrade, no mid-life replacement to budget for, and no performance degradation mechanism associated with coating wear.
Structural Class 0 for Safety-Critical Process Air
In petrochemical and mining facilities where compressed air serves safety-critical instrument and control systems, the structural Class 0 guarantee of water lubrication is qualitatively different from filter-dependent alternatives. There is no failure mode — no filter bypass, no carbon breakthrough, no thermal desorption — that can introduce oil contamination into the instrument air supply. Quality is maintained by the design of the machine, not by the condition of a consumable filter.
25-Year Design Life — Heavy Industrial Asset Longevity
At 160 kW capital cost, the 25-year design service life of the EP-CM160BF air end provides the longest possible capital recovery horizon for heavy industrial facility operators. The low rotational speed (~3,000 rpm) and balanced radial loads of the single-screw geometry sustain structural integrity across this extended service life — making the EP-CM160BF a capital asset investment rather than a medium-term consumable item.
Customer Case Studies
Netherlands — Large Petrochemical Complex
Industry: Petrochemical Processing | Application: Central instrument air supply for a major propylene derivatives complex with 3,000+ pneumatic control devices
"Our instrument air specification requires structural Class 0 oil-free air — the safety case for our emergency shutdown system air supply does not permit filter-dependent oil removal methods. The EP-CM160BF at 28.85 m³/min covers our entire instrument air network from a single unit with capacity for future expansion. The isothermal performance advantage in our hot process environment — 35–42°C ambient in summer — has been particularly valuable: consistent output year-round without the seasonal derating we experienced with our previous dry oil-free system."
★★★★★
Finland — Integrated Pulp and Paper Mill
Industry: Pulp & Paper Manufacturing | Application: Process air for paper machine press section, coating station, and coated board grade production
"Our coated board grades are used in food packaging — FSSC 22000 certification requires Class 0 oil-free air at all coating process air points. The EP-CM160BF's 28.85 m³/min output covers our entire paper machine air system simultaneously. The water-lubricated design has also been notably reliable in our mill environment — wet conditions that have historically caused early failure in dry oil-free equipment. In 24 months of operation, no unplanned maintenance events attributable to the compressor."
★★★★★
Australia — Large Open-Cut Mining Operation
Industry: Mining | Application: Compressed air for drilling equipment control, sample analysis, and ore processing instrumentation at a remote iron ore site
"Remote site operation means every piece of equipment must be self-sufficient and reliable. The air-cooled EP-CM160BF was the only 160 kW class water-lubricated compressor available in a self-contained configuration without cooling water requirement. In 37°C average summer ambient, performance has been consistent with commissioning baseline. The structural Class 0 air quality satisfies our sample analysis laboratory's instrument air requirements and our process control valve specifications from the same machine."
★★★★★
Frequently Asked Questions
Heavy Industrial Scale. Fixed-Frequency Simplicity. Maximum Output.
Petrochemical complexes, pulp and paper mills, and large mining operations in the Netherlands, Finland, Australia, and 50+ markets rely on Ever Power 160 kW water-lubricated technology for central compressed air utilities at the heaviest industrial scale. Contact our engineering team for a complete central station design proposal.
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