Notre Dame organ hits the right note with Jun-Air compressor

17 August, 2016

However, via its French distributor Enerfluid, the Gast Group – designer and manufacturer of precision air products and member of IDEX Corporation’s Health & Science division – has supplied and installed a Jun-Air OF1202 compressor for ‘Le grande orgue de Notre Dame de Paris’, the main organ at Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral which, receiving over 14 million visitors each year, is the most visited location in the city.

Modernisation

As part of the organ’s pneumatic system modernisation – which started in September 2013 – the pneumatic stop tie machines were completely restored and a register system, motorised by high-pressure pneumatic actuators, was supplied to replace the old ‘Cavaillé-Coll’ system that had been used in the organ since its original installation in 1865.

An oil-free Jun-Air OF1202-40MQ3 compressor was specified for the new pneumatic system due to its combination of low operating noise and for providing a supply of clean compressed air – that is free of oil, water and dust – to the air cylinders, which are opening sets registers to ring the pipes installed in the organ.

The Jun-Air OF1202 compressor serves as the compressed air source for the control system for the instrument, with the amount of air supplying air cylinders which are activated depending on which sound is desired from the organ. For this type of control, a set of pneumatic cylinders have been installed above the Cavaillé-Coll system and provide a force of 200N on an adjustable stroke of up to 6cms and with a working pressure of 1.2bar. This allows for the full Cavaillé-Coll system to remain in place.

More modern and miniaturised

Commenting for Orgues Quoirin, engineer Laurent Mesme said: “The Jun-Air compressor has been installed in the north tower room next to the organ and has actually enabled us to use a very similar technology that Cavaillé-Coll has used for 150 years. It’s just more modern and miniaturised.”

Very little in the transmission of the draw of the original games elements has changed and the operation of the assembly is as quiet as that of the original Cavaillé-Coll pneumatic machinery. Additionally, because the Jun-Air compressor is enclosed in a soundproof box, it is virtually inaudible.

Servicing problem solved

Mesme added that the Jun-Air equipment has also solved a servicing problem for the customer as the OF1202 compressor can run for several thousands of hours without maintenance, which is essential for this installation.

The Jun-Air OF range of oil-free compressors provides clean, dry air for a wide range of applications. It has an output of up to 260 l/min at 8 bar and the 50/60Hz dual-frequency also provides greater flexibility for exporting OEMs, as it can operate anywhere in the world without the need for modification. Versions are also available to operate at 10 bar maximum pressure.

The OF range operates at just 65 to 79dB(A) as free standing units. When housed in optional silent-running cabinets noise levels are reduced to between 46 to 63dB(A).

www.jun-air.com