Latest News
Compressor wheel finishes manufacture ready for OFTTech's gas bearing supported helium circulators for the ESS
Europe's newest and largest neutron source. 300 kW circulators.
OFTTech Ltd won the tender supported by CVr Husinec in 2017 and will soon be running the factory trials.
ESS pictures: https://europeanspallationsource.se/media-bank
New Paper published - A Turbo-Brayton Cryocooler for Future European Observation Satellite Generation
CLICK IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD PAPER.
Several types of active cryocoolers have been developed for space and military applications in the last ten years. Performances and reliability continuously increase to follow the requirements evolution of new generations of satellite: less power consumption, more cooling capacity, increased life duration. However, in addition to this increase of performances and reliability, the microvibrations requirement becomes critical. In fact, with the development of vibration-free technologies, classical Earth Observation cryocoolers (Stirling, Pulse Tube) will become the main source of microvibrations on-board the satellite. A new generation cryocooler is being developed at Absolut System using very high speed turbomachines in order to avoid any generated perturbations below 1000 Hz. This development is performed in the frame of ESA Technical Research Program - 4000113495/15/NL/KML. This paper presents the status of this development project based on Reverse Brayton cycle with very high speed turbomachines.

Helium Circulator for nuclear applications
OFTTech completes design and testing of a helium circulator for nuclear applications. The hermetic blower design is CE marked and designed for 50,000 hours' continuous use

OFTTech wins ESA cryogenic brayton cycle bearing design tender
OFTTech starts work on the design of gas bearings for a cryogenic expander and compressor for the ESA

OFTTech moves over to the ANSYS Finite Element Analysis
OFTTech moves over to the ANSYS Finite Element Analysis for structural, thermal, modal and other mechanical engineering analyses for internal and consulting work. After 30 years history using PATRAN, PAFEC and ALGOR we have chosen ANSYS as being the best available at this time for the anlyses we regularly undertake. Please contact us for a quote
OFTTech forms association with de Graaff Engineering
OFTTech forms association with de Graaff Engineering to design and supply Gas Bearing supported blowers for helium, hydrogen and air. These will incorporate hydrodynamic gas bearings, high efficiency permanent magnet motors and centrifugal compressor/blower wheels, all designed and assembled in-house
OFTTech completes the design of a range of oil-free air compressors to cover 75 to 132 kW
OFTTech completes the design of a range of oil-free air compressors to cover 75 to 132 kW with delivery of 5, 8 and 10 bar. These compressors are designed to be low cost and will compete with oil-free screw compressors as well as oil injected screw compressors. They use direct drive permanent magnet motors, compressor wheels and bearings all targeted at maximising efficiency. Contact OFTTech Ltd for further details or download the 3d pdf (needs Adobe Reader 9 or later - available free)
Trumpf Maschinen AG, Switzerland
Trumpf Maschinen AG takes out patent protecting their laser application with OFTTech gas bearings operating at very low ambient pressure. US2013022065 "Gas Laser having Radial and Axial Gas Bearings"

Turbo compressors shipped for Air Cycle PSA filtration
Turbo compressors shipped for Air Cycle PSA filtration prototype supported on ceramic self acting hydrodynamic gas bearings designed and manufactured by OFTTech
Participation at the conference on new technologies in the automotive industry
OFTTech participates in the conference on new technologies in the automobile industry highlighting advantages of oil-free technology for renewable applications in the transport sector for turbo chargers, heat recovery, energy recovery and exhaust heat recovery

15 years of collaborative R&D
15 years of collaborative R&D finally results in a successful high speed miniature direct drive heat pump compressor with refrigerant lubricated gas bearings
Originally trading as Kinetic Engineering Ltd, established in March 1983
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Older Projects
Tests published at Purdue Compressor Conference (1996)
Tests published at Purdue Compressor Conference (1996) showing performance of Hybrid ceramic ball bearings lubricated only with refrigerant r134a; enabling true oil-free compressor operation, both scroll and centrifugal