Contaminated air is one of the top reasons for pneumatic system failure. Dust, moisture, and heavy metal parts reduce the working efficiency of air compressors and lower their lifespan. An industrial air compressor filter eliminates these contaminants using centrifugal force and offers clean, contamination-free air to the pneumatic systems.
This comprehensive blog post will explore industrial air compressor filters, including their basics, types, needs, and how to choose the right filter for your air compressor.
A] What are Industrial Air Compressor Filters?
An industrial air compressor filter is an air-cleaning device that removes various contaminants, such as dust, moisture, oil, carbon, or even heavy metal, from the air. It blocks most contaminants from entering the machine, preventing associated equipment from failing. It is widely used in multiple industries to clean ambient and compressed air.
When compressed air enters the filter, a deflector swirls the air quickly to generate centrifugal force. The swift swirling pushes the large contaminants to the bottom while minute particles are filtered through a filter element. Consequently, it saves pneumatic equipment from recurrent maintenance and increases lifespan.
B] Why Do I Need A Filter On My Air Compressor?
An air compressor filtration system plays a pivotal role in providing clean and contamination-free air to pneumatic systems. It offers an array of benefits, including protecting equipment, improving efficiency, extending the lifespan of air compressors, and reducing overall machinery vibration. If ambient air seems contaminated, installing a filter to eliminate the chances of machinery failure and improve overall efficiency is essential.
C] Types of Industrial Air Compressor Filters
1. Dry Particulate Filters
As the name suggests, it is a type of industrial air compressor filter that removes dry particulates, such as corroded particles, from the airstream. It intercepts dry particulates and filters them by diffusion mechanism. On the other hand, when particles move in Brownian motion, minute particles are filtered through electrostatic attraction. Dry particulate filters may be air compressor intake filters or airline filters.
2. Coalescing Inline Filter
A coalescing inline filter is an industrial air compressor filter that removes mist, oil carryover, and dry contaminated particles from the airstream. It is widely used to eliminate these impurities from compressed air before reaching the point of use. It intuitively eliminates dry and liquid particulates, providing contamination-free air throughout the pneumatic system.
3. Adsorption Filters
Adsorption filters are particularly used to filter out vapour, gases, chemical fumes, and odour, providing a cleaner airstream throughout the systems These filters contain micropores that seamlessly remove traces and other contaminated gas molecules. Also, eliminating these micropollutants protects equipment and increases the pneumatic systems’ lifespan.
D] Which Filter is Right for My Air Compressor?
Choosing the right compressed air filter type depends on the air compressor and its filtration level. Each air compressor generates different kinds of contamination. The following air compressors offer intuitive suitability with the above-mentioned filter types.
1. Reciprocating Air Compressor
Dry particulate filters are highly suitable for reciprocating air compressors, as they generate dust and rust from continuous piston movements. These filters remove dry contamination from compressed air, such as dust, dirt, and rust particles.
2. Screw Air Compressor
Based on application and filtration level, dry particulate, coalescing inline, and adsorption filters are suitable for screw air compressors as it generates odour and solid contaminants. These filters remove solid particles from compressed air and provide purified air throughout the systems.
3. Oil-Free Air Compressor
Oil-free air compressors offer completely oil-free and odourless air. Adsorption filters provide a protective layer for oil-free reciprocating air compressors by removing odour and moisture from compressed air, if any.
4. Oil-Free Scroll Air Compressor
Oil-free scroll compressors often produce oil vapours and mist into the systems. Coalescing filters remove oil droplets and air aerosols from the compressed air, providing cleaner and contamination-free airstream to the systems
E] Industrial Air Filters: Ways to Choose the Right Filters for Your Compressor
1. Assessing Compressor Type
Every compressor produces different kinds of contamination. They require compatible filters to remove the contaminants produced by them effectively. So, to choose the best air compressor filter, one must assess the air compressor type. It ensures you get a compatible and effective filter for your compressor.
2. Air Quality Standard
Before choosing the right compressed air filtration system, it is essential to carefully assess your area’s air quality standard. Based on the air quality standard, selecting an appropriate filter is suggested. For basic or pneumatic air filtration, 0.3 to 1 mm micron filtration efficiency is sufficient. On the other hand, medical, food processing, and pharmaceutical applications demand ultraclean air. For these applications, 0.01-micron filtration efficiency is required.
3. Operating Conditions
The presence of humidity, dust, airborne contamination, and other extreme operating conditions hamper the working efficiency of filters. In these conditions, filters demand frequent cleaning. Therefore, it is essential to choose filters that withstand harsh industrial conditions intuitively and provide seamless filtration despite the presence of heavy contaminants.
4. Frequency of Use
The different facilities required distinct air filtration demands. The frequency and intensity of air demands influence the working efficiency of filters and put significant loads on them. Therefore, it is essential to choose a robust and highly efficient filter that is made to match the high air filtration demands.
5. Based on the Industry and Contamination to be Filtered
Different kinds of filters deal with distinct types of contaminations. Therefore, based on the facility, it is essential to assess the types of pollutants and the quality of air to be obtained. After evaluating these essentials, choose those filters that perfectly align with your needs and fulfill the pollutant-removal needs based on your industry.
F] How Often Should Air Compressor Filters Be Changed?
The decision to change air compressor filters depends on multiple factors, including runtime, operating conditions, and the quality of ambient air. If the filter has been run for more than 8,000 hours, it is time to change it. Also, If the filter operates in a highly polluted environment, the condition of the filter should be checked periodically and replaced accordingly. Moreover, It is recommended to change your filter annually, even if you are not noticing any air pressure drops. Following these changing parameters allows the pneumatic system to operate with clean, pollutant-free air.
Conclusion
An industrial air compressor filter is a vital device that helps keep pneumatic and other compressed air-operated systems intact. Through its robust purification mechanism, it allows industries to use contamination-free air throughout their pneumatic systems. It ultimately extends the lifespan of associated equipment and enhances the efficiency of the workflow.
Bimpex India is a leading and renowned air compressor supplier, sought after for its cost-effective and highly efficient air compressors. If you intend to buy a long-lasting air compressor for your business, contact us today!