Air Compressor Filtration: Frequently Asked Questions
Many people are curious about air compressor filtration and how to make sure they are maximizing their filters’ benefits. These are some of the most commonly asked questions about inline filters.
Do I Need a Filter on My Air Compressor?
Yes. Without a filter, your compressed air will retain millions of particles that will cause premature wear and tear, increasing your maintenance costs and shortening the life of your compressor.
What Is a Micron?
A micron, also called a micrometer, is a unit of measurement equaling 0.001 millimeters or around 0.000039 inches. The official symbol for a micron is μm. Air compressor inline air filters are measured by the size of particles they can trap, which are measured in microns.
What Level of Air Quality Should I Have?
Air quality is defined by the international standard ISO 8573–1:2010. The standard uses class ratings for solid particles, oil and water condensate content, with scores in these classes ranging from one to nine. The lower the number, the lower the level of contamination, and therefore, the higher the air quality.
Your applications and processes determine how clean your air needs to be. Many pneumatic applications of compressed air need a standard dry particulate filter. Other processes may require OSHA-approved elimination of vapors and aerosols. Refer to factory recommendations and specifications to determine the air quality you need.
Where Are Inline Filters Located?
For the most part, inline compressor filters are found right after the compressor, before and after dryers and before drops. They should be installed upstream from valves, actuators, lubricators and regulators. Some applications or facility configurations have different or additional filter locations to suit unique needs.
Do I Need a Regulator on My Air Compressor?
In most cases, yes. The pressure regulator allows you to increase or reduce the pressure of the airflow coming out of the compressor tank. Being able to adjust the PSI is necessary to match tool specifications and have your tools function properly. Nearly all industrial air compressors have a built-in regulator.
When Should I Replace the Intake Filter?
If a compressor is used several days each week, then the air intake filter should be cleaned every week. When you start noticing that it is more difficult to clean out debris, or you notice holes or tears appearing, it’s time to replace the filter. The length of time between intake filter replacements varies significantly depending on the application.
Does My Air Compressor Need a Water Separator?
Yes. Water condensed from the ambient air will accumulate without a water separator, and will cause damage to the compressor and connected components if not removed by a water separator.
How Do Air Water Separators Work?
Water separators use one of two methods to remove condensate:
Centrifugal separators create a rotary motion that causes particles to radiate outward as they accelerate. As the particles reach the outside of the separator, they drain into the filter bowl. This works for solid particles larger than five microns and for water. The great advantage of centrifugal separators is that this process does not require maintenance.
Coalescing separators cause air to flow from the inside of the filter element to the outside. When using this type of water separator for air compressors, you have to replace the filter cartridges frequently, which results in a buildup of downtime due to maintenance.
If you need professional guidance, we are a leading and professional manufacturer of Rotary Vane Compressors and High performance Oil injected two stages compressed and Oil free Piston compressors in the world!
We established 1999;
We have 723 people working in NAILI Group(Report from Jan2019);
We have factory plant 50,700㎡;
We bring you a better optional choice for Rotary vane compressor, Oil free piston compressors and Auxiliary Equipment solutions in various Industries and transportations!
Certificates:
ISO9001; ISO14000, CE and GC.
For transportation IATF16949; DVS-ZERT;
With strong technical force and excellent after-sales service, we will provide you the best compressed air system solutions.
NAILI Rotary Vane Compressed Air system are widely used in Transportation application like Electric Bus, Mini Van and Trucks, Refitted Vehicles, City Metro, in Power transmission applications like Mining, Metal smelting, Textile, Pharmaceutical, Petroleum, Chemical, Cement, Food Package, Printing and packaging, and other industries. NAILI Equipment exported to more than thirty countries and regions in Europe, Southeast Asia, South America, Middle East and USA so on! If you are interested, please contact us.