Air‑Suspension Technology: The Green “Levitation Code” for Industrial Energy Efficiency—Written on the Occasion of the 24th China International Environmental Protection Exhibition

Air‑Suspension Technology: The Green “Levitation Code” for Industrial Energy Efficiency — Written on the Occasion of the 24th China International Environmental Protection Exhibition

From June 2 to 4, 2026, the 24th China International… Environmental Protection Exhibition (CIEPEC 2026) was held as scheduled at the China International Exhibition Center in Beijing—Chaoyang Hall. This year’s event, themed “Transformation and Upgrading, Smart Innovation for the Future, Jointly Driving New Industrial Development,” focused on the policy directions and cutting-edge technological trends shaping the eco‑environmental industry during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. With an exhibition space of 30,000 square meters, it attracted nearly 500 domestic and international enterprises, institutions, and research institutes, showcasing new equipment, materials, and technologies in areas such as energy conservation and emissions reduction, pollution control, and carbon mitigation. We cordially invite all colleagues to visit Booth 2505 of AVIC Huaqiang in Hall 2, where you can offer your guidance and explore together the emerging opportunities in environmental protection and energy efficiency. Among the many exhibits, a category of energy‑saving equipment branded with “air suspension” has drawn particular attention: free of lubricants and mechanical friction, these innovative solutions are quietly reshaping the landscape of energy efficiency in industrial production and environmental infrastructure through their outstanding performance.

What is air suspension technology?

The core principle of air‑bearing technology is straightforward: a high‑speed rotor generates a micron‑scale air film between the bearing and the journal, enabling the rotor to levitate completely and achieve frictionless, contactless high‑speed operation. This technology integrates cutting‑edge innovations such as air bearings, high‑speed permanent‑magnet synchronous motors, highly efficient three‑dimensional flow impellers, and intelligent variable‑frequency control, thereby eliminating the gear‑based, oil‑lubricated, and mechanically supported drive systems traditionally used in conventional machinery.

In simple terms, conventional equipment relies on direct mechanical contact, resulting in significant frictional wear and requiring regular lubrication and maintenance. In contrast, air‑suspension technology enables the rotor to “float” and rotate in mid‑air, fundamentally eliminating mechanical friction and energy losses. This approach can achieve motor efficiency exceeding 97%, dramatically extend service life, and reduce total lifecycle maintenance costs by up to 90% compared with traditional screw compressors.

Core Product Portfolio: Beyond Just “Blowers”

Air‑suspension technology is not a single product, but rather a growing family of energy‑saving equipment. To date, the market’s core product lines based on this technology have expanded into multiple sectors:

Air-suspension blower It is the most widely used model. Centered on applications such as wastewater‑treatment aeration, biofermentation, and pneumatic conveying, it delivers energy savings of over 30% compared with conventional Roots blowers, keeps operating noise below 80 decibels, and requires neither a foundation nor an acoustic enclosure—making it a truly “quiet, energy‑efficient powerhouse.”

Magnetic levitation air compressor It targets the high-end industrial gas‑supply market. By the end of 2025, China’s first 10‑kg‑class magnetic‑levitation centrifugal air compressor with fully independent intellectual property rights will achieve industrialization, covering a pressure range of 3 to 10 kg. It will provide a one‑stop compressed‑air solution for high‑consumption industrial applications such as food processing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, cement production, and automotive manufacturing, thereby filling the domestic gap in high‑pressure magnetic‑levitation air compressors.

Air-Suspended Vacuum Pump It is another key product line. By overcoming the longstanding technical challenges of lubrication and friction in conventional vacuum pumps, it delivers oil-free, clean operation and stable, controllable vacuum levels, offering distinct advantages in industries such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and food processing.

Dedicated fan for desulfurization and denitrification It is custom‑designed for flue‑gas treatment. Addressing the stringent requirements of desulfurization and denitrification processes in industries such as power generation, glass manufacturing, cement production, and steelmaking, it delivers stable, precise airflow and pressure, ensuring efficient chemical reactions and supporting ultra‑low emissions.

In addition, as technology advances, air‑suspension central air-conditioning systems are gaining prominence. Central air-conditioning units featuring static‑pressure air suspension—such as those introduced by Haier and other industry leaders—eliminate rotor‑mechanical friction entirely, delivering energy savings of more than 50% compared with conventional compressors. These systems have been included in the National Development and Reform Commission’s Green Technology Promotion Catalog, with a part‑load performance coefficient of 10.27, meeting the national Level‑1 energy efficiency standard.

Application Deployment: From Wastewater Treatment to Industrial Desulfurization

The value of air‑suspension technology ultimately manifests itself in concrete, real‑world operational data.

In the wastewater treatment sector, aeration is typically the most energy‑intensive process, accounting for the largest share of the plant’s total energy consumption. With the adoption of air‑suspended blowers, the aeration system’s energy share can be reduced from 60% to below 40%. A 75 kW unit has been successfully commissioned at the Fengxi Wastewater Treatment Plant in Zhuzhou, demonstrating the technology’s proven performance in plants with a daily treatment capacity of less than 100,000 tons. Moreover, its oil‑free operation effectively prevents oil contamination of the activated sludge system, ensuring consistent effluent quality that consistently meets regulatory standards.

In the field of flue gas desulfurization and denitrification, flue gas treatment systems in industries such as thermal power plants and glass manufacturing place extremely high demands on the reliability of oxygen‑supply equipment. Specialized blowers for desulfurization and denitrification, equipped with an intelligent control system, offer flexible airflow regulation within a range of 50% to 99.9%, and can operate continuously for thousands of hours without shutdowns or maintenance, ensuring that the concentration of pollutants in the outlet flue gas remains consistently stable and compliant with standards. At a wastewater treatment plant in Ningxia, an air‑suspended blower—featuring advanced air bearings and a high‑speed permanent‑magnet motor—has demonstrated reliable performance in the harsh, dry, and dusty conditions typical of Northwest China, delivering energy savings of over 30%. This not only reduces operating costs but also significantly cuts maintenance requirements.

Aquaculture is also the primary application area for air‑suspension oxygenators. China is the world’s largest aquaculture producer, accounting for more than 60% of global output. Air‑suspension oxygenators automatically adjust oxygen delivery based on dissolved‑oxygen levels, operate quietly and smoothly without disturbing fish or shrimp, and significantly boost stocking density and survival rates, making them indispensable tools in modern, high‑tech aquaculture facilities.

According to estimates, China’s air compressor market is valued at approximately RMB 60 billion, with screw compressors accounting for about RMB 15 billion. These compressors consume roughly 10% of the nation’s total electricity generation. Air‑bearing and magnetic‑bearing compressors offer significant advantages in energy efficiency, environmental performance, and智能化, enabling annual electricity savings of 30% to 50% of the equipment’s purchase cost. Over the next 5 to 10 years, they are expected to replace more than 50% of screw compressors in the mid- to high-end segments, contributing to a reduction of approximately 329 million tons of carbon emissions.

New Opportunities Driven by the Dual Carbon Goals

Under the “dual carbon” goals, the value of air‑suspension technology is becoming increasingly evident. In the National Development and Reform Commission’s “Catalogue of Promoted Green Technologies (2024 Edition),” key energy‑saving technologies for high‑efficiency gas‑suspended centrifugal chillers are prominently listed; one benchmark project—the Ningbo Huanchi Bearing Group’s eight gas‑suspended chillers—achieves annual carbon reductions of 1,120 tonnes. From Shandong to Ningxia, and from wastewater treatment plants to cement‑manufacturing facilities, air‑suspension equipment, with real‑world energy savings of 30% to 50%, has become a standard choice for green upgrades in industrial enterprises.

Industry analyses indicate that by 2030, the global market for air‑bearing‑related equipment is expected to exceed US$5 billion, with China’s market posting a compound annual growth rate of over 20%. As core technologies such as air bearings, high‑speed motors, and intelligent control continue to advance, costs will further decline, and the range of applications will keep expanding.

Written at the Closing of the Exhibition

The 2026 China International Environmental Protection Exhibition is drawing to a close, yet the story of air‑levitation technology has only just begun. From aeration tanks at municipal wastewater treatment plants to flue‑gas desulfurization towers in power plants, from oxygen‑injection discs in aquaculture ponds to central air‑conditioning systems in precision‑manufacturing workshops, an energy‑saving device centered on “levitation” is helping China’s industries cut carbon emissions, reduce costs, and boost efficiency across a wide range of applications.

Whether you’re an environmental professional, a corporate manager, or simply a reader interested in green development, the next time you hear the term “air suspension,” pay close attention: it may be quietly operating in some factory corner, lifting a lower‑carbon future with zero friction.