Why compressed air preparation?
Untreated compressed air contains contaminants in the form of particles, water and oil. Water and oil can be in liquid or gaseous form and change from one state to another within the compressed air system. None of these three contaminants are present in a compressed air system in their pure form; they form a mixture. The composition of this mixture can vary greatly at different times in different places in the system. For example, water can collect in branch lines, or particles can become deposited in a dead zone over time, and then be propelled along at one stroke by a pressure surge.
Each cubic meter of compressed air contains millions of dirt particles, significant quantities of water and oil, and even heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury. If these are not filtered out, the proper functioning of the system components cannot be guaranteed over the long term. Furthermore, these hazardous materials significantly impair product quality. Correct compressed air preparation is therefore vital in order to reduce machine breakdowns and downtime and guarantee process and product reliability.
Poorly prepared compressed air causes faults such as:
- Fast seal wear
- Oiled-up valves in the control unit
- Dirty silencers
Possible impact on the user and machine:
- Reduced machine availability
- Higher energy costs due to leaks
- Higher maintenance costs
- Shorter component and system service life