malagigi:
I've used every type of blower that is available out in the marketplace and I've yet to hear of a "rotary piston type". Any displacement machine utilizing a piston is inherently intended for relatively high pressures. This characteristic would, by logic, put it out of the blower classification (inches of water column total head) and into the compressor classification - approx. > 15 psig.
I've used the Roots-Connersville rotary lobe blower for the regeneration of Hydrogenation catalyst and it's worked very well. The Roots patent is now copied by many other manufacturers. I always used the XA model which was for heavier duty and had its bearings on the outside and independent packing glands on both shaft ends. This model also had a higher discharge pressure rating - 15 psig as I recall.
I've also used multi-staged centrifugal blowers for this purpose and found them OK as well - although I don't like the characteristic variance of the capacity with the discharge head. The Roots blower is a semi-positive displacement machine and delivers a pretty constant flow of air - regardless of the discharge pressure variance; therefore, it's easier to design a system for it.
I hope this experience helps out.
Have you thought of posting this query in the Compressor Forum instead of here? I believe it would be more appropriate there and probably get more response from interested parties.
Art Montemayor
Spring, TX